Heiress rules again in Eclipse semis

PROPER HEIRESS again set the standard in the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse with another fine front-running performance to land his semi-final on Monday night at Nottingham.

The ante-post favourite and multiple big-race champion  (pictured) went quickest in the opening round and again dominated, making full use of his inside draw.

The Mark Wallis-trained Irish Derby finalist pushed through on the inside to take charge at the opening turn in the first of the three semis before quickening up nicely down the far side.

Kennelmate and Birmingham Cup runner-up Kilmore Dancer stayed on well for the second qualification spot, but the winner cruised home almost three lengths clear in 29.26sec for the 500m trip.

The reward for the winner is a tricky draw out in trap five for Monday’s final, the same box he raced from at Shelbourne Park when missing the break in his Irish Derby semi-final.

Esther Driver’s Hopes Ompaloompa made all in the second semi and was next best on the clock in 29.33sec, beating Kim Billingham-Hine’s Puppy Classic third Droopys Poker by three lengths.

Well-backed favourite Droopys Bookem tangled with Raebella Bullet on the inside throughout the run to the bend and narrowly missed out on a place in Monday’s £20,000 decider after staying on powerfully.

Despite a tricky draw in five, Jimmy Fenwick’s Gymcrack champion Elusivenomore managed to get across to the rail at the bend and held off Billingham-Hine’s favourite Pain Barrier to land the third semi by a short-head in 29.70sec

On the undercard, three heats of the Arc 480m Trophy went the way of Curraghmore Champ (28.64sec) for Peter Holland and Driver’s duo of Skyfall Mini (28.51sec) and Peregrine Messi (28.84sec).

Heats of the 255m Arc Dash Trophy closed the card and the honours went to John Spoolander’s Fleadh Thiam (15.06sec) and Billingham-Hine’s Newinn Bachelor (14.87sec).

Draw for Monday’s Eclipse final: 1 Elusivenomore, 2 Kilmore Dancer, 3 Hopes Ompaloompa, 4 Pain Barrier, 5 Proper Heiress, 6 Droopys Poker (m).

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