WIDE OPEN heads into the Matchbook Betting Exchange Maiden Derby Final at Towcester as the only unbeaten runner after the Irish-trained bitch continued her brilliant form in the 500m event on Sunday.

Brendan Matthews’ precocious August 2020 daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Dolce Vita overcame first-bend crowding to score in the second semi-final, producing a strong-running performance to catch leader Farneys Maestro before drawing impressively clear to by three and three-quarter lengths from Kevin Boon’s dog and third-placed Storys Peewee (Nathan Hunt) in 29.59sec (normal).

Damien Matthews, son and assistant of the winning trainer, said: “We always knew it was a tough draw on paper – and we knew a clear run would be hard to come by. It’s how she coped with it – and she did that really well. Towcester suits her style. She starts and stays well and we’re all thrilled to be in the final.

“It’s been a busy week for us and certainly a busy one for greyhound racing. I was at Clonmel track on Thursday and there’s some great work going on there supporting a real popular track. Then it was the Kirby Memorial for us at Limerick on Friday – and the crowd there and atmosphere was unbelievable – then a visit to HQ at Shelbourne on Saturday. Then, of course, Towcester on Sunday!

“All good and we’re now looking for Sunday’s final back at Towcester.”

Jamie Kingsley’s Hellofakerfuffle was earlier an impressive winner of the first semi-final of the Maiden Derby as a slick exit set up a fast 4.23sec sectional before a length and a half victory over Liz McNair’s Havana Robusto and Jason Bloomfield’s Savana Camino in 29.50sec. Favourite Havana Lover failed to strike a blow here after a slow start.

Towcester spokesman Nathan Corden said: “They were two very good semi-finals and we’re set for a cracking final this weekend. Wide Open has been brilliant for the Matthews family and I’m sure they’re happier with trap one in the final after what was a tricky draw in the semis, but she oozes class and is fantastic for one so young, too.

“But I also thought Jamie’s (Kingsley) dog ran superbly to win his semi-final – he showed superb early pace and is a threat to all with that sort of show.

“We had some impressive supporting races here on Sunday, too, while across the weekend trainers gave their Derby hopefuls trials – and it was great to see several Irish-trained contenders put through their paces.

“Incidentally, Derby entry forms are now available from the racing office (towcester@bagsracing.com) or from both ours (towcester-racecourse.co.uk) and the GBGB (www.gbgb.org.uk) websites.

“Our thanks go to Limerick for staging a Star Sports/TRC English Derby Trial Stakes as part of its brilliant Kirby Memorial meeting on Friday. That was a fantastic occasion and we’re very hopefully the likes of the winner Singalong Sally and runner-up Part Blake will be making the trip across. Both are top-class performers.”

Trap draw for Sunday’s Matchbook Betting Exchange Maiden Derby Final: 1 Wide Open, 2  Havana Robusto, 3 Farneys Maestro, 4 Hellofakerfuffle, 5 Savana Camino (m), 6 Storys Peewee (m).

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=384413&raceId=834760