HEADFORD DANE eyes a famous Monmore double when he lines up in the final of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore on Saturday.

Maxine Locke’s Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby winner secured his place in this weekend £10,000 decider – and raised the prospect of a second Category One title over C&D – by winning the first semi-final of the 480m annual at the weekend with a strong-running display landing the spoils.

In a race where the battle of the early pacers always looked key, the Romford raider was able to turn in a pitch and caught Union Rebel (Kevin Hutton) rounding the last bend before coming away to beat Avarua Zlatan (Richard Rees) by two and three-quarter lengths in 28.27sec (normal).

Winning trainer Locke said: “It’s great to have him back. It’s been a tough few weeks for the kennel but this is a real tonic – and it’s great to be in another big Monmore final.

“We know he runs the track well and he’s come forward from the heats to the semis and hopefully again for the final. What impressed me, although didn’t surprise me, was the trackcraft he showed on Saturday. He saw his chance to get into the race and took it – his trackcraft was impressive.

“He’s got pace either side to contend with in the final, but you expect that in these big finals and he might get some room early given the make-up of the race. Let’s hope he can take it. We enjoy our trips to Monmore and have been lucky enough to make a few finals there in recent years – we’re looking forward to it.”

Avarua Zlatan held on by a neck for second from running-on Time Northern Flat winner Naochra (John Flaherty) who just missed out from the first semi.

However, there was better luck for another Newcastle tracker in Jacktavern Chief as Glenn Foot’s Northern Flat semi-finalist finished best to edge out Ardera Sam (Frank Bryce) by the minimum margin in 28.87sec (normal).

Armagh Daithi then matched kennelmate New Destiny’s feat in the earlier Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic semis by setting the fastest semi-final time in the Gold Cup semis on a good night for his trainer Mark Wallis.

Adding to three finalists in the six-bend event, Armagh Daithi secured his place in Saturday’s four-bend showpiece with an impressive win.

Led early by Pall Mall champion Gingers Prince, Armagh Daithi unleashed a superb turn of foot to lead out of the second bend as the September 2022 son of Ballymac Best scored a runaway six and a quarter lengths in 28.21sec (normal), the fastest time of the night.

Trap draw for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Gold Cup 2025 Final: 1 Ardera Sam, 2 Avarua Zlatan, 3 Gingers Prince, 4 Headford Dane, 5 Armagh Daithi (m), 6 Jacktavern Chief (m).