JONATHAN KAY

Weblog: Our chief correspondent on the topical issues

Hibernation is over . . . let the top class racing begin

IT was only so-so from a financial point of view, but Saturday morning in the betting shop watching the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket and heats of supporting competitions from Crayford was enjoyable all the same.

While it was very gratifying to see Dazzle Special live up to the hype and win in such stunning fashion, it was also good for expectation levels ahead of this weekend’s final that Irish raider Group Skater performed so well too.

It’s a rematch from round one when Paul Hennessy’s dog got the run of the race, but the draw means that could easily be the case again. And who ever thought Midway Skipper would be double figures at Crayford?

Romeo On Course will take the beating in the Peter Bussey Memorial although taking short prices in this sort of contest is a quick route to the poor house, but there could be an edge in the Chief Ramsbottom Hurdle where it is not unreasonable to question how many of the finalists actually want to win.

It looks odds-on to become scrappy, and as my colleague Jim Austin immediately pointed out after the heats, could easily set up for the strong-finisher Aero Blackjack. The early 10-1 has disappeared, but 8-1 is still very acceptable for a dog who jumped well in his first hurdles race and, lest we forget, was classy enough to be a well-backed Golden Jacket finalist last year.

Tuesday’s meeting at Sheffield saw the Pick 6 jackpot beat the punters again with the consequence that around £35,000 will kick off the pool at Friday’s meeting. Greyhound racing needs buzz moments and huge jackpot pools guarantee them.

The first two legs on Tuesday weren’t too demanding with a brace of 2-1 second favourites in Glenroe Ginger andRun Of The Hawk obliging, but it got tougher afterwards when 7-1 chance Droopys Ranger took the feature final and was followed by graded winners returned 9-2, 5-1 and 7-2.

The Droopys Ranger victory in the Owlerton Bookmakers Dual Distance decider was worthy of note on a couple of fronts. Firstly, it was further proof of what a bargain he was when picked up for around £3,500 at Hall Green sales last October as this is now two trophies for his connections of owner David Roberts and trainer Christine Parker following January’s Futurity success at Nottingham.

And, secondly, it paid yet another compliment to the value of the Ryan Holmes Puppy Cup final form at the same track in December in which he finished fourth.

The winner of that, Droopys Power, had earlier made a winning seasonal reappearance with a near-record run over 480m, while third-placed Farley Blitz is now the 480m Monmore track record holder, and even fifth-placed Magna Chuckle got in on the act with a win of his own on Tuesday.

With a brilliant Racing Post Juvenile Championship at Wimbledon just days away, top class greyhound racing is certainly emerging from winter hibernation. Mindyou, it needs to as the start of the williamhill.com Derby is just nine weeks hence!