BETSYS BULLET landed trainer Belinda Green her third GBGB Category One title with a brilliant all-the-way victory in the Coral Brighton Belle at Hove on Saturday.

Trained by Green and partner Gary Whittington for owners Billy Boyle, Greg Hatcher and Tony Ryan, the June 2020 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Razzler went off the outsider of the field in the £10,000 bitches-only annual but there was nothing fortuitous about success for the Ladbrokes Winter Derby finalist.

Well away and soon in command, Betsys Bullet crucially got first run on defending champion Whats Up Eva (Richard Rees) and was always bossing proceedings, fending off the challenge of her trackmate before holding the running-on Lively Lauren (Matt Dartnall) by a length and a quarter in 30.29sec (-10) for the 515m trip.

After victories for Ninja Kerry in last year’s Coral Sussex Cup and this year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby at Monmore with Bradys Bullet, Betsys Bullet added her name to trainer Belinda Green’s big-race CV and the success delighted her trainer who revealed the Oaks would be a long-term target.

Interviewed by RPGTV at the presentation with her daughter Harriet in arms, Green said: “She had to be foot-perfect in such a classy field and thankfully was. It’s great to win another big race for Billy (Boyle) and the lads. He’s a longstanding and loyal owner of ours and it’s great we can repay that support in this way.”

For his part, Boyle said: “Well done to Lindy and Gary for all their hard work. Betsys is proving a really good competition bitch having made two finals at Monmore, including a really top-class Winter Derby, then the Brighton Belle – and now winning a Cat One is brilliant and no more than she deserves.

“She’s named after my niece Betsy, so that’s nice for the family – and, while it was a nice surprise on the night, we managed to have a couple of quid on at 66s with the sponsors, so thanks to them – twice! We’re going to roll the dice with her now and give the Derby at Towcester a go with her.”

Hove racing manager Rob Abrey paid his own tribute to what was a local success with Betsys Bullet in the Coral Brighton Belle Final.

He said: “After weeks of trial stakes and heats, last Saturday saw the conclusion of our first Category One competition of 2023, the Coral Brighton Belle, which was deservedly won by Betsys Bullet. After failing to win her heat or semi, she definitely saved best for the race that counted most for Team Green and connections!

“Betsys blasted out the traps to take control of the race early and, although Lively Lauren and Whats Up Eva tried to get to her, she saw it out well to claim the prize.

“The annual Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup lived up to all expectations with Ballymac John proving favourite backers wrong to land the Category Two comp by over four lengths at an SP return of 7-1. The spotlights in the race programme suggested Mark Wallis’s youngster had “more to come” but had to “be paw-perfect from the start”. He was!”

“The night as a whole was fantastic with even the sun coming out to play! The greyhounds did their best on the track and the ex-racers representing Brighton Retired Greyhounds also starred in the stands. They looked an absolute picture.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=396493&raceId=933397