PERRY BARR racing manager Martin Seal is looking forward to Saturday’s semi-finals of the Arena Racing Company Laurels after another high-class night’s action at the Birmingham track for the heats of the famous competition.

Following on from a recent successful Trainers Judgement Night at the venue, Seal and his racing office team oversaw four heats of the GBGB Category One event – and witnessed a top-class performance from 480m track record holder Coolavanny Shado in heat two of the £12,500-to-the-winner annual.

The Patrick Janssens-trained star, beaten in a supporting race to the main events on Trainers Judgement Night, bounced back in the best possible style when pacing up to lead in the dash to the first bend on his way to an impressive success.

Stretching on down the far side, the June 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Perlena crossed the line three lengths clear of Signet Goofy (John Mullins) and Lynnwood Assin (David Welding) in a fast 27.97sec (normal). His track record stands at 27.77sec.

Noels Choice landed a local victory for Gerry Ballentine in heat one as the May 2021 son of Crash and Express Micro finished best to strike gold in a crowded affair, winning by a length and a half from RPGTV Juvenile champion Arkady (David Mullins) in 28.64sec (normal). Incidentally, there was a dead-heat for third here with Ivanexile (Matt Dartnall)  and Roxys Bullet (Paul Burr) crossing the line together – with the former coming through a drawing of lots for a place in the semi-finals.

John Lambe’s Hurry Up Jordan made it a locally-trained double in heat three as the April 2021 son of Droopys Cain and Droopys Esther unleashed a show of all-round pace, proving too strong for favourite Hawkfield Ozark (Patrick Janssens). He won by a length and a half from that rival and Barley Panther (Matt Dartnall) in 28.33sec (normal).

Swift Iconic struck for John Mullins in heat four as the Arc All England Cup runner-up, an October 2020 son of Droopys Roddick and Swift Biology, produced a superb front-running exhibition to score by three lengths from Goldies Perryman (Paul Foster) and Supa Nova (Paul Burr) in 28.44sec (normal).

Perry Barr racing manager Martin Seal said: “It was an eventful first round, but one packed-full of quality and doubtless there will be plenty of twists and turns before we crown the 2023 Arc Laurels Champion.

“Most of the main protagonists made it safely through to the semi-finals, although reigning Birmingham Cup champ Ivanexile cut it pretty fine, relying on a touch of good fortune to claim his place in the last 12 after dead-heating for third!

“The Laurels always serves up a great feast of racing and this year’s renewal will no doubt underline that again.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=396027&raceId=930081

Form for Saturday’s semi-finals: https://www.perrybarr-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/