DROOPYS CLUE, the Greyhound of the Year, targets an unbeaten run through the event with victory in Saturday’s Coral Sussex Cup Final after his fastest-of-the-night semi-final success at the weekend.

One of a host of star names who will line up at the seaside venue on Saturday in one of four finals and a strong supporting card, Seamus Cahill’s champion broke smartly to lead into the bend in the second semi-final and produced a powerful front-running performance to score by two and a half lengths from the always-handy Wasted Monday (Belinda Green), the latter making his second successive Sussex Cup final.

The winning time for Droopys Clue, an August 2021 son of Out Of Range ASB and Droopys Natalia, was a standard-setting 29.56sec (+10).

Local handler Derek Knight sent out a one-two in the opening semi-final as Clona Uriel, an April 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Swift Wriggle, secured his place in a second Category One final with an all-the-way victory, albeit was pressed all the way by kennelmate Newinn Benni, the pair pulling clear of third-placed Newinn Syd (Mark Wallis) and the rest of the field when they crowded off the second bend.

A finalist in last year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby Final at Monmore, Clona Uriel crossed the line half a length in front of Newinn Benni in 30.12sec (+10).

The third semi-final saw defending champion Candolim Monsoon exit the competition as Romeo Command struck for Patrick Janssens as the 2023 English Derby runner-up paced up quickly into contention and took the race by the scruff of the neck down try back, the January 2021 son of Dorotas Wildcat and Drive On Betsy holding off the persistent Uncle Freddie (Richard Rees) by three-quarters of a length in 29.73sec (+10).

The latter will form part of a strong local challenge for the £10,000 prize on Saturday and is delighting his part-owner Mark Burridge of Burridge Trophies, who said: “He’s proving a terrific dog for myself and Brett (Capaldi), never runs a bad race, and is always there or thereabouts. He probably lacks the toe into the bend to make him top class but he runs Brighton really well and it’s no surprise he’s in the final – he deserves it and it’s great to see him with a chance.

“He’s definitely not a 14-1 shot but it’s obviously a high-quality final and connections of all the runners can rightly make a case for their charges.

“Freddie’s a lovely dog. He’s kind natured and chilled at home – they love him at the kennels and the Rees family are doing a terrific job with him. We bought him out of Waterford and I have to thank both Charlie (Rees) and James Corden for their help in securing him. He’s named after my late godfather, my dad’s best mate, who we called Uncle Freddie. He was some character and every time Freddie runs – and we’re calling his name – some great memories come flooding back.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Brighton-Hove/form-guides/Sat-27th-July-Form-Adv.pdf