MOANTEEN MIKEY again set the standard in the semi-finals of the Arc Classic at Sunderland and will line up in Thursday’s £10,000-to-the-winner decider over 450m aiming to go one better than 12 months ago.

The Angela Harrison-trained All England Cup champion finished second to Narcos The Great in the 2021 running of the GBGB Category One event at the Wearside track and, after wins now in both heats and semis, gives himself a chance to land another major title.

Lining up in the second semi-final of the Classic on Thursday, the October 2019 son of Droopys Buick and Moanteen Golden was again quickly away and never challenged thereafter as he led home kennelmate Move Over Cha for a Harrison-trained one-two in a fastest-of-the-night 26.67sec (+10).

Training honours on the night went to Garry Hamilton as his runners won both their semi-finals to land a double for the Scottish-based handler who continues to make his mark with a small team of open-race greyhounds.

First up was Breaghmore Patch as the BresBet Steel City Cup finalist, an August 2019 son of Ballymac Matt and Eileens Blue, secured his place in another major competition decider with a late surge to reel in Hurleys Spring (Peter Richardson) close home by a neck in 27.33sec (+10).

The Hamilton double was landed in the third semi-final by Tell Boy who also produced a strong-running effort to deny long-time leader Gartcloss Pat (Patrick Kennedy) by three-quarters of a length in 27.17sec (+10).

A February 2020 son of Pat C Sabbath and Headford Lacken, Tell Boy finished third in the BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby at Newcastle in May.

A delighted winning trainer Hamilton, who will be doubly represented in Thursday’s showpiece, said: “Being in the final is a privilege. Competing with the big trainers is what it’s all about and I’m gaining experience along the way – the early mornings and late nights are paying off!

“Tell Boy is pretty lightly raced. He’s a very good early-paced dog who I was going to keep for sprinting, but because I was heading to Sunderland anyway I thought I’d give him a chance in the Classic anyway and see how he’d handle 450m with his early pace.

“He didn’t stay 480m at Newcastle when he ran in the British Bred Maiden Derby, but he’s staying 450m better than I expected and improving for every run. He’s getting stronger and  his splits are improving for each look at the track.

“As for Breaghmore Patch, he’s been on form recently and has lovely early pace. He ran well in the Steel City Cup and his trapping was good but he just never got the trap draw we wanted. But overall I was delighted with his performances there so entered him for Sunderland with him having the early pace, albeit he was lucky to qualify for the semis.

“His trapping’s not been what it can be at Sunderland but he’s been put right so we should see the best of him on Thursday. As you’d expect it’s a very good final and I’d say whoever leads wins, but it’s great to be involved and we’re looking forward to it.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=391022&raceId=888915

Trap draw for Thursday’s finals: 1 Tell Boy, 2 Gartcloss Pat, 3 Move Over Cha, 4 Hurleys Spring, 5 Breaghmore Patch, 6 Moanteen Mikey (w).