NOTTINGHAM general manager David Evans believes Monday’s first semi-final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse ranks as one of the best of the year.

Pitting fastest heat winner Proper Heiress against fellow heat winners Gary The Arb, Droopys Aladdin and Zenith Tanju against each other, the 500m contest is a must-watch affair in the £20,000-to-the-winner Category One annual – and Evans puts the race just behind the Select Stakes line-up at Colwick Park earlier this year.

“It’s definitely right up there,” he said. “Four heat winners, a Derby finalist in both Ireland and England, and competition winners and finalists. I’m sure connections of runners in the other two semis are happy to miss that one!

“It’s just great Nottingham continues to attract top-class greyhounds for these top competitions. Remember a certain Droopys Plunge was fastest in the Eclipse heats last year and he ended up winning the following year’s Derby. Wicky Ned won the Eclipse last year and he was named Greyhound of the Year.

“So looking at the entry this year and now the semi-finals have shaped up, once again the Eclipse could be pivotal in the major awards to come – especially if Proper Heiress wins!”

An Irish Derby finalist at Shelbourne Park in September, Proper Heiress numbers three Category One victories this year in the Ladbrokes Winter Derby, Arc Kent Plate and Coral Sussex Cup, as well as winning the Time Juvenile Championship.

A red-hot favourite to win his heat, Mark Wallis’s star was soon in command in heat four and drew away from Oaks third Raebella Bullet (Belinda Green) to win by six and a quarter lengths-plus victory in a fast 29.17sec (+10), the quickest of the night.

Raebella Bullet’s kennelmate Gary The Arb made all in heat five, the strong-running Coral Champion Stakes third pulling right away for a five and a quarter lengths win over Untold Racing Stewards Cup winner Ballymac Sargie (Tom Heilbron) in 29.37sec (+10).

Mike Burton and Jimmy Fenwick both landed doubles on the night.

Valley trainer Burton struck with Droopys Aladdin (29.36sec +10) and Droopys Suprstar (29.43sec +10), while Newcastle handler Fenwick weighed in with Elusivenomore (29.63sec +10) and Zenith Tanju (29.52sec +10).

The latter was previously known as Sole Mio and made the English Derby final at Towcester for Peter Cronin.

Trap draw for Monday’s semis:

First semi: 1 Proper Heiress, 2 Gary The Arb, 3 Droopys Aladdin, 4 Kilmore Dancer, 5 Zenith Tanju, 6 Team News (w).

Second semi: 1 Raebella Bullet, 2 Droopys Bookem, 3 Vale Bluebell, 4 Up The Game, 5 Hopes Ompaloompa, 6 Droopys Poker (m).

Third semi: 1 Loxleys Forest, 2 Pain Barrier, 3 Droopys Suprstar, 4 Newinn Oscar, 5 Elusivenomore, 6 Ballymac Sargie (m).

 

Photos: © Steve Nash