STRIKE IT SKYE and Scooby The Lady raised the roof at Towcester on Saturday as the pair produced a titanic head-to-head before the former ran out winner of the Premier Greyhound Racing Consolation Derby Invitation.

The race before the main course, the head-to-head between two outstanding bitches, both semi-finalists in the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby, proved the perfect hors d’oeuvres as Scooby The Lady led early but was joined down the back-straight by Strike It Skye, after which the pair had a terrific duel.

The cheers rang out across the racecourse as they battled for the £5,000 prize and it was only off the last bend where the Mark Wallis-trained runner got on top, crossing the line three-quarters of a length in front of Richard Rees’s Arc Kent Plate winner by three-quarters of a length in 28.48sec (-10) – much to the delight of the winning trainer.

“It’s great to have a winner on Derby final night, especially with this bitch,” said Wallis of the MWD Partnership-owned runner. “She was really unlucky in the Derby semis last week and probably should have lined up in the big race tonight. But that was fantastic – two outstanding bitches and they have produced the race of the night.”

Meanwhile, Romeo Ability is to be aimed at the Yarmouth Derby after winning back-back-back competitions on Derby final night as he raced away for a popular victory for two-time Derby-winning trainer Patrick Janssens in the PricedUp.Bet Derby Plate Final over 500m.

Having paced up into the lead into the first bend, the October 2023 son of Romeo Magico, himself an English Derby winner for Romeo Ability’s owner and breeder Dave Firmager, was not for catching as he crossed the line for an impressive two and three-quarter lengths win over Rackethall Brute (Mark Wallis) in 29.00sec (-20).

“He won the puppy final last year and this year the Derby Plate, so that’s not bad going,” said winning owner Firmager. “He ran well in the semis last week and probably would’ve won had it been a six-runner race, but never looked likely to be caught today. Him and his brother (Romeo Alliance) have always been top notch and Yarmouth looks likely I’d say.”

Droopys Flare might once again have Shelbourne Park and the Winter Festival on her agenda later this year after winning the Greatbet Challenge Trophy Final over 712m.

Trained and part-owned by Sean Parker along with John Stubbings, Droopys Flare hit the front down the back second time to race away for an impressive seven-length success over Chasing Larry (Heather Dimmock) in 42.72sec (-20), with the Sheffield trainer thrilled with his St Leger runner-up and admitting to some relief.

“You just want her to be able to run her race and there were a couple of moments when I was a bit worried, but she’s shown her class – and she’s got plenty of it,” he said. “We’ll have a crack at the Regency at Hove I’d say and think about Shelbourne after that, although I think she’d run over the longer trip there this time – if we decide to go.”

Earlier, Ricky Holloway sent out the winner of the greyhoundtrader.com Stakes Final as Rapido Benny led early and always held sway to strike gold for the Hove trainer and the May 2024 son of Dorotas Wildcat’s owner and kennelhand Havard Jakobsen.

Rapido Benny crossed the line three-quarters of a length clear of the keeping-on Uncle Freddie (Richard Rees) in 28.97sec (-20) for the 500m trip.