PATRICK JANSSENS has his sights firmly set on winning the BGBF British Breeders Stakes for a second time with no less than four of Monday’s finalists at the Colwick Park venue.

Having won the British breeding showpiece in 2023 with Romeo Command, Janssens is back with a huge chance of taking the £12,500 prize after winning both semi-finals of the 500m event with, once again, a team of Dave Firmager-owned and bred runners very much to the fore, including both semi-finals winners Romeo Empire and Romeo Ability.

Firmager bred last year’s winner Romeo Control among no less than four ‘Romeo’ winners of the one-lap competition, including Romeo Recruit – one that he trained himself back in 2012 – and is favourite to win a fifth.

Fastest in Monday’s semi-finals was the Janssens-trained and Firmager-owned and bred Romeo Ability, a former track record holder for the 480m trip at Nottingham, who made all to score in 29.19sec (+40) for the 480m trip, racing to a 4.99sec split before crossing the line three lengths clear of Eagles Respect (Angie Kibble) and Fabulous Heka, also trained by Janssens.

The victory followed that of strong-running kennelmate Romeo Empire who was always holding kennelmate Romeo Tomcat in the first semi-final once trapping in front and keeping that rival at bay, albeit the pair had a tremendous battle down the back-straight before the winner edged ahead for a three-quarters of a length success.

The winning time was 29.28sec (-40), with the pair joined in the final by third-placed Romeo Force for a ‘Romeo’ one-two-three. Also bred by Firmager, the latter is trained by Sheffield handler Kelly Hodson.

Patrick Janssens, trainer of both semi-final winners, was delighted with the night’s work and is looking forward to finals night on Monday – not just with his four British Breeders Stakes but also his fastest BGBF British Bred Midlands Sprint Trophy heat winner Romeo Steel as he began his defence of the title.

“Romeo Steel is just one of the fastest dogs around so it was good to see him back at Nottingham and fingers crossed for the final,” said the trainer of the newly crowned GBGB British Bred Greyhound of the Year after his successes in the Yarmouth Derby and Steel City Cup in 2025.

Of his team for the main event, Janssens said: “I’m happy with them all. The stayers – Romeo Empire and Fabulous Heka – are handling the step down in trip well, Empire especially. He’s just got so much class. Ability has unreal early pace and so, too, does Tomcat, but both can just miss it sometimes.

“You can see Tomcat is coming forward with every run – and that’s the way we want it ahead of the Derby at Towcester.

“It’s great to take a good team there again on Monday. Dave (Firmager) likes to support the event and he’s won it a few times – hopefully we’ve got a chance to win it ourselves again, but we never take anything for granted.”

Trap draw for Monday’s finals:-

BGBF British Breeders Stakes: 1 Romeo Force, 2 Eagles Respect, 3 Romeo Empire, 4 Romeo Ability, 5 Fabulous Heka, 6 Romeo Tomcat (m).

BGBF British Bred Midlands Sprint Trophy: 1 Whelan, 2 Anglesey Prime, 3 Romeo Steel, 4 Skyfall Ginger (m), 5 Leelad (w), 6 Favourite Rogue (w).