TOWCESTER racing manager Andy Lisemore has praised the trainers for their patience after Sunday afternoon’s Star Sports Puppy Derby heats were initially delayed due to fog – and then the final two heats held over until Tuesday.

Lisemore said: “Ahead of kennelling-in time, the morning fog had lifted considerably and conditions were 100 per cent raceable with the forecast later in the day for the gloom to lift even further. Sadly, the weathermen were badly wrong!

“Pre-racing trials were cancelled and the decision was taken to delay racing until conditions improved. Sporadically, the fog rose enough to afford us the opportunity to run the first four heats, but after that we had no other sensible option but to call it a day.

“Massive credit and thanks should go to the trainers, many of whom travelled a great distance, for their patience and understanding of the situation.”

The Pam Dolby-trained Lolas Wish had kicked off the Category One event with a comfortable victory in the delayed opening heat, leading off the second bend to win by four and a half lengths from Paul Young’s pair of Bubbly Beluga and Tucos Abbey in 29.94sec.

Patrick Janssens then sent out Puff The Tiger to edge Droopys Glad (Seamus Cahill) in 29.74sec in heat two, before the worst of fog descended and Carol Weatherall’s Nipsey Hustle (29.55sec) crossed the line clear of Savana Eagle (Jason Bloomfield) in heat three.

Heat four, which proved the last race Towcester was able to stage, saw Seamus Cahill’s June 2019 Surprising lead off the last bend and run away impressively to score by over four lengths from Lenson Doolin (Patrick Janssens) in 29.76sec.

The final two heats will be staged at the Northamptonshire venue on Tuesday evening, with the semi-finals on Sunday and the £7,500 final on Friday, December 18.

 

THE remaining two heats of the Star Sports Puppy Derby were staged on Tuesday.

Jimmy Fenwick’s Cold As Ice, a half brother of Greyhound of the Year Ice On Fire, was soon clear in heat five as he crossed the line two a half lengths clear of Irish raider De Machine (Brendan Matthews) and favourite Bockos Belly (Patrick Janssens) in 29.73sec.

Ballydoyle Razor, winner of the RPGTV Puppy Trophy on Derby final night, made the return trip to the Northamptonshire venue worthwhile for Sheffield trainer Phil Barlow when winning heat six by three lengths from Bockos Melody (Patrick Janssens) in 29.60sec.

Trap draw for Sunday’s semi-finals on Sunday ahead of the £7,500 final on Friday, December 18:-

Semi Final 1 – 1. Bubbly Beluga, 2. Ballydoyle Razor, 3. Lolas Wish, 4. Tucos Abbey, 5. Puff The Tiger, 6. Bockos Belly

Semi Final 2 – 1. Lenson Doolin, 2. Emoskis Girl, 3. Nipsey Hustle, 4. Droopys Glad, 5. Cold As Ice, 6. Bockos Melody

Semi Final 3 – 1. De Machine, 2. Savana Eagle, 3. Surprising, 4. Tommys Fizz, 5. Ice Of Diamonds, 6. Perrysblueyedboy