MONMORE racing manager Tony Williamson believes the stage is set for a fantastic Ladbrokes Golden Jacket ahead of Saturday’s semi-finals after six heats of the famous event produced some exceptional performances – not least from defending champion Mongys Wild.

Mark Wallis’s five-time Category One winner, fresh from annexing the Arc Cesarewitch at Central Park, picked up where he left the Wolverhampton venue last May with a power-packed effort in heat four to justify odds of 1-7 in a best-of-round 40.98sec (normal) for the 684m trip, coming through to catch Bluejig Outlaw and cross the line four lengths clear.

Mongys Wild’s success completed a Golden Jacket heat double for champion trainer Wallis after Vhagar, already winner of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic at the venue last year, had struck in the preceding heat three in fast-starting, all-the-way style for a seven and a half lengths win over Hove’s Lilys Bullet (Belinda Green) in 41.07sec (normal).

 

Droopys Flare made an eye-catching return to the track when winning heat six as Sean Parker’s bitch, withdrawn from the Cesarewitch after winning her heat, was back to her imperious best as a snappy exit inside set up a brilliant and runaway 12 and half lengths win from Produce Stakes champion Eagles Respect (Angie Kibble) in a slick 41.09sec for the extended six-bend trip at Monmore.

Richard Rees’s Deadly Disco has a good record at Monmore and returned to the track with an impressive effort in heat one as the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial winner was soon in a pitch before drawing away for a ten and half lengths success over Burrows Charm (Jason Heath) in 41.38sec (normal), before The Other Winx struck for Maxine Locke in heat two in a driving finish.

Bombay Nutty (Mark Wallis) led for much of the way here but Romford raider The Other Winx picked her way through and nabbed the leader on the line for a short-head win in 41.93sec (normal), while the remaining heat went Eagles Respect’s litter brother Malcolm Bosh who finished well before holding the challenge of Aero Academy for a short-head win in 42.08sec (normal).

Monmore RM Williamson said: “All in all it was a terrific start to the Golden Jacket. The low point was, of course, the injury to Buddys Bullet in heat one and, as was the case with Jimmy Fenwick with Zenith Tanju in the Winter Derby, we have been in contact with Belinda Green and are wishing both a speedy recovery.

“Of course, Mongys Wild winning again here at Monmore as the reigning champion was the headline-grabber. He’s some greyhound, we all know that.

“However, it was also encouraging to see Droopys Flare back on track in such classy style – she really powered away from her field – and seeing her and Mongys Wild kept apart in the semis raises the prospect of a superb final clash if both progress.

“Mongys Wild has proved himself one of the best stayers we’ll likely ever see and was awesome on the night, but there is still a long way to go.”

Trap draws for Saturday’s semis: https://monmoregreyhounds.com/racing/advance/races

 

Photo: © Steve Nash