MICKYS BARRETT set the standard in the semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup at Newcastle on Tuesday as the Star Sports English Greyhound Derby third regained the winning thread – albeit only just after a fantastic duel with Swift Iconic.

 

Trained by Nottingham’s Jason Gray, Mickys Barrett had proved one of the major stars of the summer Classic at Towcester and now has his sights on GBGB Category One glory in Tuesday’s £20,000 decider having edged out John Mullins’ Gain Greyhound Nutrition Gold Cup (Oxford) winner in a superb buckle in the first semi.

 

Swift Iconic was first to show from the boxes but was soon pressed into the bend by Mickys Barrett and the pair had the race between themselves thereafter. Swift Iconic held a narrow edge for much of the contest but the eventual winner drew alongside his rival on the run for home before nosing ahead for a short-head victory.

 

The winning time for the March 2020 son of Out Of Range ASB and The Other Tessa was a fastest-of-the-round 28.69sec (-10).

 

Starcash Henry made it back-to-back heat and semi-final wins for Doncaster trainer Jimmy Gaskin in the second semi.

 

Bumped from the boxes, the August 2019 son of Laughil Blake and Kearneys Lane showed good pace up and, negotiating the bend ahead of favourite Brookside Richie and heat winner Mr Chelm, was in command and went on to land the spoils, albeit the fast-finishing Killieford Defoe (Neil Black) got to within a neck of the 28.93sec (-10) winner. Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks finalist Global Prima (Patrick Janssens) was an unlucky-in-running close-up third here.

 

The third semi-final was marred by injury to Ladbrokes Gold Cup (Monmore) and Arc Classic (Sunderland) winner Move Over Cha (Angela Harrison) as 25-1 chance Paisley Pearl struck for Scottish handler Neil Brown.

 

Soon in charge of the 480m contest, the July 2020 son of Ballymac Best and Milestone Pearl was clear of crowding in behind before crossing the line a length clear of Skywalker Stan (Ted Soppitt) in 29.18sec (-10), the pair securing places in Tuesday’s final.

 

Track commentator Andrew Dalby is looking forward to what should be a high-class night’s racing at the north-east venue, but reflecting on semi-final night, said: “Everywhere you looked, there was the whole range of emotions. We had the spectacular tussle between Mickys Barrett and Swift Iconic in the first semi, but also the unfortunate hock injury suffered by Move Over Cha in the third semi.

 

“Then there was the ‘if only’ situation of Blackhouse Harry, who posted Newcastle’s fastest 480m time for four years when winning the opening A1 contest in 28.13sec having been eliminated from the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup heats.

 

“For Scottish trainers Neil Black (Killieford Defoe) and Neil Brown (Paisley Pearl) there was the tremendous pride of reaching a Category One final in vastly different ways because if you could combine Pearl’s sharp-trapping style with Defoe’s almighty finishing speed you’d have an absolute superstar!

 

“Looking ahead, you’d say the draw for the All England Cup Final greatly helps Swift Iconic reverse that narrow defeat by Mickys Barrett. The latter had a clear path to the first bend in his semi, but must now cope not only with trap six but the early pace of Paisley Pearl inside him.

 

“Starcash Henry is the only heat and semi-final winner in the decider but perhaps he’s enjoyed a gentler route through to the final, albeit is running really well and on paper had the toughest semi, while Skywalker Stan’s already produced one big-race surprise when beating what proved to be an outstanding line-up in last year’s Sunderland Puppy Cup final.

 

“The supporting Arena Racing Company Puppy final also looks a cracker given a fascinating contrast of styles featuring the very quick but still rather raw Links Maverick for Tom Heilbron against another of Neil Black’s typically streetwise performers in Killieford Goram. That looks potentially a great match-up.”

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=392221&raceId=898653

 

Trap draw for Tuesday’s finals: https://www.newcastle-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/results/