COOLAVANNY SHADO initiated a high-class double for trainer Patrick Janssens in the heats of the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse at Nottingham on Monday.

 

The June 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Perlena, second in the BresBet East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth in September, was soon in command in the opening heat of the £20,000 showpiece at the Colwick Park venue and raced away for a six and a half lengths success from Signet Goofy (John Mullins) and Aero Squeak (Arran Dunn). The winning time for the 500m trip was a fast 29.30sec (+20).

 

The Janssens double was completed by Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks heroine Slick Sakina in heat three as the July 2020 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Ring paced up to lead into the first bend and proved another comfortable winner for the former champion trainer, winning by four and a quarter lengths from local star Churchill Holly (Lynn Cook) and Da Bold Freddie (Stuart Tighe) in 29.53sec (+20)

 

Bockos Palace made a winning UK debut in heat two as the Kevin Boon-trained August 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Vigorous Hilary produced a strong-running performance to catch Puppy Classic winner Distant Podge (Barrie Draper), the longtime leader, on the line to win by a short-head in 29.64sec (+20). Ramors Jet (Peter Holland) qualified for Monday’s semi-finals in third here.

  

The other Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse heats were won by the Carol Weatherall-trained Untold Yen (30.30sec +10), who held off the challenge of Derby finalist Mickys Barrett (Jason Gray) in heat four; Richard Yeates’s strong-running British-bred star Ballyblack Speed (30.15sec +10) in heat five and Laurence Tuffin’s Gizmo Smasher (30.00sec +10), who caught Aero Dylan (Arran Dunn) in heat six.

 

Rob Crawford, working as track commentator on the night as well as handling the social media output for the Eclipse heats, said: “There were a few standout performances from Monday – not least from Coolavanny Shado. With conditions hardly that fast, Coolavanny Shado gave for me what was the performance of the year so far at Nottingham.

 

“Kevin Boon won the second heat with Bockos Palace and he and Barrie Draper’s Distant Podge provided the finish of the night. Kevin told me afterwards he’s still getting to know the dog since he arrived from Ireland, but that he’s settled in well and that he’s a pleasure to train for his owners. If he comes on for the run, he could be the main danger to the ante-post favourite, as will be Oaks heroine Slick Sakina.

 

“She fairly blew away her rivals in heat three and it was great to see her jubilant connections, led by Keith Allsop, making a real fuss of her directly after the race. Kennelhand Jamie McGee told me afterwards that he has a soft spot for her – and you can see why. She’s another outstanding tracker for Patrick Janssens.

 

“Untold Yen and Ballyblack Speed both won heats in the driving rain for trainers Carol Weatherall and Richard Yeates respectively, while conditions had eased somewhat for the final heat where Laurence Tuffin’s Gizmo Smasher slingshot into the home straight to pick up Aero Dylan near the line. 

 

“It was great that connections were generous with their time and spoke to me both before racing and after the heats for social media and the feedback I’ve received from the wider greyhound community has been fantastic – even if I have to work on my camera work!”

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=391179&raceId=889934

 

Trap draw for Monday’s semis: https://www.nottingham-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/