Monday evening at Nottingham’s Colwick Park stadium saw the semi-finals of the £6500 to the winner Category One BGBF British Breeders Stakes taking place. Earlier in the evening we also saw the heats of the £1500 to the winner Category Three BGBF British Bred Midland Sprint taking place over the National Sprint distance of 305m.

Heat one of the sprint competition went to Liz and Rab McNair’s King Bruno (Leamaneigh Turbo x Skate On, May 2018).  Bruno was having his second run in 24 hours having finished third in a sprint open at Central Park on Sunday evening. He trapped well enough if not spectacularly however his superior early pace saw him take command by the turn and this race was then as good as over.  Michelle Brown’s 2020 National Sprint finalist Signature Callum (Tullymurry Act x Franks Dream, July 2017) did keep Bruno up to his work but three lengths was the winning distance as he crossed the winning line in a fastest of the first round 1782 (normal). Kevin Ferguson’s Acomb Fatima (Hiya Butt x Acomb Ruby, August 2018) finished a further three lengths back with all three greyhounds progressing to next Monday’s final.

Heat two was dominated by team McNair as their King Sam (Leamaneigh Turbo x Skate On, May 2018) ran out a comfortable 1 1/2 length winner over litter-mate King Drake in 1804 (normal). Despite being slowly into stride Sam had far too much early pace for his rivals and soon showed them a clean pair of heels. Macnish (Droopys Jet x Dream On Rose, June 2018) trapped well for Crayford handler James Turner but couldn’t live with the King pair for early. Interestingly running in this competition with a rails seed attached having spent his career to date as a confirmed middle runner he did keep to the inside until the second bend at which point he moved off drastically. He straightened up and kept hold of third position and with it a place in next week’s final.

The first of three BGBF British Breeders Stakes semi-finals went the way of Tom Heilbron’s Denmark (Taylors Sky x Terminator , September 2018).  Denmark had got the upper hand on Queen Dolly in last week’s heat after a fantastic tussle and this week came from behind Kevin Ferguson’s Acomb Jenny (Hiya Butt x Acomb Ruby , August 2018) to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a fastest of the night 2995 (+10).

Queen Dolly (Leamaneigh Turbo x Queen Asia , January 2018) flashed from traps and soon had full control of the second semi-final as she held off the fast finishing Zaha by 1 1/4 in 3011 (+10).  Zaha collared competition favourite Acomb Winston in the shadows of the line to claim the second qualifying place in next Monday’s main event.

Pat Cowdrill’s Elderberry Sky (Superior Product x Butts Mott , January 2018) had looked in need of a little bit of race fitness over the past couple of weeks but looked to be approaching something like his best form when landing the third semi-final in 2999 by 1 1/2 lengths from Liz and Rab McNair’s King Louis (Leamaneigh Turbo x Queen Asia , January 2018) in 2999 (+10).  Louis held control early but didn’t run the second bend particularly well and Sky needed no second invitation to take control.  A devastating turn of back straight pace soon saw Sky have the race under his control.  He can only step forward for this outing and will be a big danger to all in next week’s final.