NOTTINGHAM will stage one of the races of the year on Monday after the line-up for the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse was decided after another top-class night’s action at the Colwick Park venue.

A fastest-of-the-night success from Newinn Syd was then followed by a double for Ireland as both Clona Duke and Bockos Crystal starred – with each semi-final winner chased home by a more-than-worth opponent heading into Monday’s £20,000-to-the-winner decider over 500m.

First up was the Mark Wallis-trained Newinn Syd as the October 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Newinn Mimi broke smartly, crucially ahead of English Derby runner-up Romeo Command, and thereafter was always in pole position.

The winner’s kennelmate Ballymac John had also trapped well and turned in second, denying Romeo Command any chance of securing a position from which to challenge for the lead – and Newinn Syd to full advantage to race away for a brilliant five and a quarter length success over the keeping-on Ballymac John in 29.25sec (+30).

A delighted winning trainer Wallis said of the kennel’s one-two: “They both ran fantastically well – and needed to in what is a great Eclipse.

“Syd was third in the Puppy Classic there but has improved lots since. He’s turning into the dog we always hoped he’d be and couldn’t be faulted again on Monday, but I’m also delighted how Ballymac John ran. It was certainly good teamwork because he was very much a goalkeeper for Syd, not letting Romeo Command get past.

“It’s a brilliant final and one of the best races of the year. You’ve got big-race winners, track record-breakers and Irish interest and should be a great night. As a kennel, though, we’re delighted to have two finalists.”

Graham Holland will also have two runners in Monday’s final after both Clona Duke and Bockos Crystal also repeated their heat victories with impressive wins again at the Colwick Park venue, scene of Clona Duke’s JenningsBet Select Stakes success this year.

Also winner of Waterford’s Time Greyhound Nutrition Select Stakes, Clona Duke might have lost his Towcester track record the previous afternoon to King Memphis in the RPGTV English Puppy Derby semis but was at his faultless best as a slick exit set up a length-and-a-quarter length win over the always-handy Burj Khalifa (Diane Henry).

The winning time for Clona Duke, a March 2021 son of Malachi and Coolavanny Pearl, was 29.51sec (+30) and, while kennelmate Bockos Crystal’s 29.59sec (+30) was slightly slower, Graham Holland’s Irish Derby runner-up had the distinction of posting the fastest split of the night (4.91sec) on her way to making all.

Quickly away, the August 2020 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Vigorous Hilary was always in control of proceedings, although Droopys Google (Nathan Hunt) stayed on strongly to keep within length-and-a-quarter length of the winner, the pair finishing a long way clear of third-placed Headford Chief (Paula Timmins).

Trap draw for Monday’s final: https://www.nottingham-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/