Aladdin fires Eclipse warning

DROOPYS ALADDIN made a statement of intent on Monday night with a brilliant trial stakes victory ahead of the upcoming Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse.

Mike Burton’s speedster clocked the fastest time of the night over 500m, seeing off a top-class field with a superb front-running display and scoring by almost three lengths in a slick 29.33sec.

Facing Derby finalist Sole Mio, Birmingham Cup winner Chelms Bear, and Oaks heroine Butlers Lane, Droopys Aladdin showed blistering early pace to seize control from the traps, posting a sharp 4.96sec sectional to lead around the opening bend ahead of Nathan Hunt’s in-form Newinn Oscar. From there, the Burton-trained runner never looked back, cementing his status as a leading contender for the £20,000 event.

Burton’s luck did not hold in the second of the trial stakes, however, where his odds-on favourite Droopys Suprstar was crowded early and unable to clear his inside rivals. The race went the way of Baby Warrior, who broke smartly for Carol Weatherall and made every yard, holding Belinda Green’s Teddie to score in 29.63sec.

Elsewhere on the card, Mossrich Karen again impressed for Esther Driver. A prolific open-race winner this year, she notched her fourth win in five over 305m when defeating Born Racer, the Cork Supersprint winner, in 17.81sec.

Droopys Flotilla defied a wide draw to deliver another powerful staying performance for Hunt in the super stayers over 730m. The 680m track record holder cruised home by over six lengths in 44.27sec.

Green’s Scurry Gold Cup heat winner Gur Gur Granville arrived at Colwick Park without a previous look but justified odds-on favouritism and scored over 305m in 18.16sec, as did Arc Maiden Trophy final winner Honour Bach (4-7F) over 500m for local handler Adrian McPherson.

Some notable names were put through their paces in a star-studded trial session before racing, which included multiple big-race champion and 2024 Greyhound of the Year Wicky Ned, who clocked 29.53sec for 500m.

Dunstall Park track record-breaker Pain Barrier posted 29.82sec, with Derby semi-finalist Droopys Bookem (29.82sec) and Green’s PGR Champion stakes third Gary The Arb (29.80sec) also having sighters.

Oaks finalists Kilwest Diva (30.47sec) and Raebella Bullet (30.36sec) were others to go round, while Puppy Classic third Droopys Poker (29.75sec) moved well.

Sean Parker’s St Leger runner-up Droopys Flare was the only trialler over 680m and clocked a remarkable 40.61sec, some three and a half lengths inside the official track record.

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