KILWEST DIVA heads into the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks Final at Dunstall Park later this week as the fastest semi-final winner after initiating a tremendous night for Monmore handler Kim Billingham-Hine at greyhound racing’s newest venue on Friday.

Just 20 minutes before kennelmate Newinn Souly annexed the Coral Romford Guys And Dolls Final at the Essex venue, the Monmore handler sent out Kilwest Diva, a September 2023 daughter of Ballymac Anton and Burgess Millie, to set the standard in the bitches’ Classic with a fluent and game success in the third semi-final.

Quickly into stride, the Shelbourne, Galway and Limerick winner made it two wins from three starts for Billingham-Hine, all in the Oaks, in trap-to-line style as she repelled the spirited challenge of trackmate Bridefort Lady (Nathan Hunt) to win by a length in 28.15sec (normal), the pair securing their places in Friday’s £20,000 decider.

“It was certainly a fantastic half an hour!” said Billingham-Hine. “I’d barely sorted out Diva in the paddock after her race before I was on the phone to watch Souly at Romford. To see them both win for us was just brilliant, and now we’ve got the Oaks final to look forward to.”

Already an Oaks-winning trainer having guided Meenala Amy to victory at Wimbledon in 2008, Billingham-Hine is looking forward to attempting a famous double.

“It’s great to have the opportunity and we couldn’t be happier with her form. She’s off the fence now which makes it even more important she comes away but even to be in the final is something for us to be really proud of – but the hardest part is to come!

“We’ve enjoyed our visits to Dunstall Park. They’ve done a great job there and Friday should be a real good occasion. We’ve got a chance, but then so have the others. It looks a really competitive final – you only have to look at the semi-final times to see that.”

Nottingham trainer Barry Denby sent out Butlers Lane to win the first semi-final as the September 2022 daughter of Jacob Tashadelek and Coolavanny Model, who will line up as the only unbeaten runner in the event, landed the hat-trick with a fastest-of-night 2.94sec sectional setting up a neck victory over the fast-finishing Raebella Bullet (Belinda Green).

The winning time here for the 480m trip was 28.21sec (normal).

Beginning what was to prove a sparkling weekend for Patrick Janssens given a brace of Category One victories to come, his Fabulous Aria was a strong-running winner of the second semi-final.

Powering through to lead at the third bend, the January 2023 daughter of Magical Bale and Fabulous Skylar went on to claim victory by a length and a half from the 2024 bet365 Empress Stakes champion Avongate Venus (Phil Milner) .

The winning time here was 28.22sec (normal), meaning less than a length separated all three semi-final winners.

 

Trap draw for Friday’s Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks Final: 1 Fabulous Aria, 2 Bridefort Lady, 3 Kilwest Diva, 4 Raebella Bullet, 5 Butlers Lane (m), 6 Avongate Venus (m).