CHURCHFIELD SYD oozed class once again when dominating the second semi-final of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore on Saturday – securing his place in another major final this weekend as the Wolverhampton track builds up to its biggest meeting of the year.

Richard Rees’s English Derby finalist (pictured) took off in the dash to the bend to seize the initiative from fast-starting Seaview Sydney (Nathan Hunt), racing away for a two and a half lengths success from the game runner-up in 28.09sec (-20) for the 480m trip, the pair sealing places in Saturday’s £10,000-to-the-winner final.

Fourth to Irish star De Lahdedah at Towcester in the Derby, Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby winner Churchfield Syd ran-up to Links Maverick in last year’s Gold Cup so heads into this year’s Monmore final looking to go one better.

Antigua Eagle, fourth to Untold Dollar in this year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby Final when known as Omuircheartaigh, also brings a good Monmore record to the table and ran well off the front to win the first semi-final.

Trained now by Kevin Hutton, the June 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Millbank Jade was quickly into stride and was never headed as he crossed the line a length clear of the always handy Untold Euro (Tom Heilbron) in 28.29sec (-20).

The third semi-final went to Cunnigar Yousir as Nathan Hunt’s runner secured a second finalist for the kennel as a show of early pace saw him edge eventual runner-up Ballymac John (Mark Wallis) at the bend before going on for a two and a quarter length success over that rival in 28.32sec (-20).

Tony Williamson, Monmore racing manager, is looking forward to the weekend’s gala which sees not just the Ladbrokes Gold Cup and Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic finals – two significant Category One deciders – but also the Peter Billingham Memorial Final (480m) and the @Monmoredogs Dash (264m).

Williamson said: “Once again we have ended up with four cracking finals which, for open-race fans, is the perfect way to begin the countdown to National Greyhound Week, starting on Monday. I’m delighted to say Monmore is very much involved and playing its part with our own Bank Holiday Monday meeting with free admission.

“You can pre-book in either our restaurant or Party Pack areas – so hopefully both Saturday and Monday will see decent crowds for some great racing.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s final: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Monmore/form-guides/Saturday-24th-Aug-Finals-Proof.pdf