SALACRES PIPPY heads to Shebourne Park, Dublin, later this week for the Winter Festival after landing back-to-back Category One successes in the Ladbrokes Cesarewitch Final at Crayford on Saturday.

Winner of the recent Hunt Cup at Towcester for owner and trainer Peter Harnden, the Towcester-based handler’s first major victory, the September 2018 daughter of Definate Opinion and Pippy struck again for more big-race success in the £10,000 ten-bend feature at the Kent venue.

Sharing centre-stage with the Ladbrokes Gold Collar Final, along with the Ladbrokes Kent Rose Bowl and Kent National Hurdle finals, the Cesarewitch always shaped as a hugely competitive affair with a host of chances. A fast start was required by the chief protagonists – and that is exactly what Salacres Pippy got away to.

Pacing up well to lead into the first turn ahead of Blueberry Bullet and Alaskan Dawn, Salacres Pippy quickly stamped her authority on the race and set sail for home. Heather Dimmock’s Alaskan Dawn moved into second on the first lap as he looked to overcome a trap four pitch and gave serious chase to the leader.

However, Salacres Pippy was not for catching and reversed heat form with Alaskan Dawn, with Mark Wallis’s Blueberry Bullet rallying well to edge into the runner-up position on the line. For the record, Salacres Pippy won by five and a quarter lengths from Blueberry Bullet in 56.56sec, with Alaskan Dawn holding on for third from the staying-on Antigua Lava.

Winning trainer Peter Harnden said afterwards: “That was fantastic and I can’t tell you how proud I am of this little girl. I didn’t think I’d get another one quite like (Salacres) Punch who we just adored and was such a brilliant dog, but this bitch is special, really special. We took a punt stepping her up in trip, but were confident she could do it. She was back-running some good sorts at Towcester over 712m, so I knew she’d be okay.

“We’ve got to have a go at Shelbourne now. We’ll travel over on Friday and give it a crack. I don’t know why more UK-trained runners don’t do it. It’s about the sport, it’s about competition and if you’ve got faith in your greyhound’s ability then why not? It’s good prize-money and a great occasion there – and that’s been the same today.

“Well done to Ladbrokes and to Crayford. Two runs for £10K is right up there and should be a lesson to some others staging Cat Ones! But we’ll keep on pushing and doing our best by this great sport,” added the GBGB’s trainer practitioner.

The Ladbrokes Cesarewitch and Ladbrokes Gold Collar finals were supported by the Ladbrokes Kent National Hurdle and Ladbrokes Rose Bowl.

Ricky Holloway landed a one-two in the Kent National Hurdle Final as the Simon Trubshaw-owned Nomansland Flyer (33.92sec) led home kennelmate Puckane Daddy, while John Mullins struck in the Kent Rose Bowl with Icaals Rocco (23.38sec) for Alan Ballard and the ICAAL Syndicate.

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=379731&raceId=794120