CHELMS CUB led home Clongeel Ozzie for a memorable one-two for Hove trainer Jason Heath in Sunday’s Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup Final at Towcester.

 

Lining up in his fourth Category One decider after places in the finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger (Perry Barr), Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic (Monmore) and Premier Greyhound Racing Regency (Hove), Chelms Cub secured the title those efforts deserved with a pillar-to-post victory in the £10,000 feature at the Northamptonshire venue.

 

Well away, the December 2019 son of Ballymac Bolger and Ballymac Andwhy posted a 15.90sec sectional to edge St Leger champion and new 712m track record holder Havana Lover early on, securing a position at the head of affairs he never really looked likely to relinquish.

 

Kennelmate Clongeel Ozzie moved into second place approaching the third bend and almost acted as a barrier between himself and the leader, fending off the challenges of those in behind, before rallying up the home-straight to get within half a length of Chelms Cub in 43.17sec (normal).

 

Trained by Jason Heath for owners Steve Eason and Matt Hughes, Chelms Cub’s victory delighted his handler – especially on a day his beloved Southampton took points off Premier League leaders Arsenal. Heath has a season ticket at St Mary’s and would normally have been in the south coast watching his team.

 

He said: “It was a pretty good day all round! Keeping in touch with the football gave us a boost and, with the boys giving us a kennel one-two in the big race at Towcester, it was definitely one of those memorable days and I’m delighted particularly for Cub’s owners Steve (Eason) and Matt (Hughes).

 

“Everyone knows how important they are to the kennel and to win the Hunt Cup for them was great. I remember the old competition at Reading and it’s fantastic that Kevin Boothby brought it back on the Calendar – and it’s great have to won it.

 

“I knew both our lads needed to lead, so when Chelms Cub got the break that was perfect and I knew he’d take some pegging back. But fair play to Clongeel Ozzie, because he’s really helped Cub by getting ahead of Havana Lover and then not letting anything get by him – and he wasn’t far off winning himself.

 

“Nevertheless, the best news of all was that Amaze Me Seb was okay. He took a tumble in behind off the last bend but Richard (Rees) and the team have reported him fine which is great.

 

“For us, it’s about looking ahead now and looking forward to next year with both dogs. I always said they’d progress once given room to run over six bends and that’s how it’s worked for them – both are a lot more confident now in their racing.

 

“Winning the Hunt Cup but also getting a one-two ranks up there with my best day as a trainer – it was certainly a special achievement for the kennel and thanks to all the team and my owners. Many thanks also to Towcester and to the race sponsors.”

 

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=390305&raceId=883684