DROOPYS VERVE will have the chance to go one better than his second in last year’s English Derby when he lines up in the RPGTV Scottish Derby Final over 480m at Shawfield on Saturday.
Completing a double for Angela Harrison on semi-final night, the All England Cup champion (pictured above at Newcastle) came through a crunch clash with King Turbo in heat three when pacing up to lead, riding a first-bend bump before stretching clear down the far side.
With market rival King Turbo crowded out between the eventual winner and fast-starting Bramble Reggie (Steve Anderson), it was left to local hope Greenwell Jean (Pat Flaherty) to finish best to claim the second qualifying spot behind the 29.02sec (+20) winner.
Harrison, the recent Trainers’ Championship Meeting winner at Sheffield, had earlier sent out Droopys Nadal to claim gold in the first semi as the youngest runner left in the £20,000-to-the-winner event came through strongly to strike in 29.24sec (+20).
Irish raider Boylesports Xtra (Paul Hennessy) was first to show from the boxes and cut out the running, only to be pegged back by Braveheart Bobby (Pat Buckley) into the third bend. Crowding between the pair gave the impetus to Droopys Nadal to pounce.
At the line, the January 17 whelp had a length-and-a-half to spare over Braveheart Bobby, with the latter lining up as a sole Irish finalist for a kennel which has had a number of Scottish Derby finalists in the past and won it with Cabra Cool in 2009.
Jimmy Wright, partner and assistant to winning trainer Harrison, said qualifying two finalists was an achievement for the kennel and gave them every chance of landing a first Derby success at what will be a packed Glasgow track on Saturday.
“We set out to give it a real go after the Trainers’ Championship, and we’re now in the final which is great for the kennel. Verve is our number one, but it’s a big jump from trap one in the heats and semis to trap five in the final.
“What gives us hope is that he’s done his best sectionals from trap five at Towcester and at Newcastle, so hopefully he can handle it. He needs to break well and get a position because there’s lots of pace and class in the race.
“Nadal as a pup was slow to come to hand, but is really beginning to show the potential he had. He was chasing a good dog in Boylesports Xtra on Saturday and Shawfield is playing to his strengths more than Sheffield – he didn’t handle Sheffield at all.
“It’s great to be involved with two chances. Shawfield’s running track remains very good and we’re looking forward to Saturday. I’m delighted for the Conlon family who continue to be great supporters of the kennel and the sport. There’ll be a few of us travelling up.”
Jaguar Jack joins Greenwell Jean as a Scottish-trained finalist after Graham Rankin’s dog made all in the second semi-final as the three-year-old went clear of runner-up Cooneen Jack (Jimmy Fenwick) to score two and a half lengths in 28.98sec (+20).
The runner-up, who held Irish raider Priceless Blake by three-quarters of a length to make the final, has ensured Newcastle have half the field on Saturday – Fenwick’s dog being joined by Harrison’s duo in the Classic decider.
Shawfield racing manager Daniel Rankin, whose father trains Jaguar Jack, said: “I always like seeing greyhounds unbeaten in the event, so Droopys Verve and Droopys Nadal will look to achieve something special if they win on Saturday.
“However, the way the race has broken up with no wide runners is not ideal. There could well be crowding, but we’ve a great mix with two Scottish runners, one Irish, and three from Newcastle. It’s set up to be a great night here again.”
Trap draw and form for Saturday’s finals: www.bagsracing.com/assets/4-may—shawfield-adv.pdf