DROOPYS FLARE remains on course to go one better in this year’s Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger at Dunstall Park with the track’s racing manager Martin Seal agreeing Sean Parker’s star stayer is the one to beat in the race for the £20,000 Classic.

“She was superb and came through a test against Vhagar with flying colours and I’m sure connections are more than happy with her,” said Seal of the track record holder for the 715m trip. “She glides around here and is now three-from-three over the trip and looks good heading into the semis – a worthy favourite!”

Seal is delighted to be overseeing the St Leger again having spent many years at Perry Barr – and after last year’s event was staged at Nottingham.

“Due to the timing of Perry Barr’s closure and Dunstall Park opening, Nottingham took on the St Leger and the Birmingham Cup last year. However, it’s great to have them back and both events look top notch with a host of big winners and quality performers.

“I’d say in the St Leger Droopys Flare is definitely the one to beat, but I thought Zenith Pasha ran well and I’d also expect Droopys Bookem to improve for his heat win. He didn’t lead on Saturday in the heats but is capable of doing so, although you’d have to say that first semi-final against Zenith Pasha and Vhagar is a cracker.”

However, heading into Saturday’s semis, Droopys Flare is quickest after winning heat three on Saturday as last year’s runner-up to Mongys Wild at Nottingham reeled in pacesetting Vhagar (Mark Wallis) before going on down the back-straight second time on her way to a three and three-quarters length success over that rival in 43.10sec (-35).

Next quickest was the Jimmy Fenwick-trained Zenith Pasha who stopped the clock in 43.53sec (-35) as the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic third made all in heat two from Resonate (Kevin Hutton), while the latter’s kennelmate Venetian Mick was on the mark in heat one in 43.78sec (-35), leading home Tooreen Rose for a Hutton one-two here.

The remaining heat four went to Paul Young’s Droopys Rhona who finished well along with Greenwell Gypsy (John Flaherty) to edge that rival by half a length in 43.99sec (-35).