Hunt hoping his Flotilla can sail into another Hove final

NATHAN HUNT is hoping for a dream end to 2025 as his Droopys Flotilla bids to go one better than last year in Hove’s George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial, writes Phil Donaldson.

The veteran stayer is still flying the flag for an incredibly successful litter which included Hunt’s first Category one winner Droopys Fidget and Seamus Cahill’s multiple big-race star and 2023 Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue and goes in Saturday’s first semi-final of the Category One event.

The contest, reduced to five runners following Monday’s withdrawal of Droopys Mikado (lame), sees her renew rivalry with defending champion Garfiney Blaze, who caught Droopys Flotilla in the final stride of the 740m showdown last year and Hunt, whose kennel has emerged from a brief spell of quarantine in fine form, said yesterday: “She was desperate last year after managing to lead from trap five despite being the tightest railer in our kennel.

“She led everywhere bar the line and she is definitely best when in front. While we’ve avoided Mongys Wild [competition favourite], the semi she’s in is very competitive. I was impressed with Buddys Bullet in the heats, Deadly Disco has loads of pace and of course Garfiney Blaze is in there too.

“She will need a good start from trap three to put herself in with a chance of getting in the first three. She’s never had a lot of luck with trap draws, I think she’s had trap five in three finals, but she always gives her best.

“She saves so much ground by railing tightly that she can be hard to catch and pass. I reckon this may well be her last big competition and after this she’ll run in a few one-offs as we wait for her season.

“We’ll look at breeding with her in the future, while Lacey [Moran, partner] has a real soft spot for her and wants to bring her home when she retires.”

Reflecting on what has been another successful year for his kennel, Monmore-based Hunt added: “We’ve had 129 open-race winners, better than last year, and managed to win a Cat One at Romford. You never count your chickens, but we’re fifth in the overall trainer standings and I’m hopeful we’ll finish in the top six and have a crack at the Judgement Night meeting which is at Monmore next year.”

Hove betting

George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial - 1st semi-final (Coral/Ladbrokes): 1 Buddys Bullet 5-2, 2 Coffee Time Guys 25, 3 Droopys Flotilla 2, 4 Garfiney Blaze 4, 5 Vacant, 6 Deadly Disco 15-8.

2nd semi-final: 1 Mongys Wild 1-8, 2 Bubbly Babs 10, 3 Rules For Some 33, 4 Underground Fizz 20, 5 Ballymac Nova 12, 6 Cartoonist 12.

Olympic - 1st semi-final: 1 Cmon The Brom 12, 2 Proper Heiress 2-5, 3 Rackethall Brute 10, 4 Chelms Bear 7-2, 5 Table Toppers 12, 6 Clona Kody 25.

2nd semi-final: 1 Droopys Bookem 4, 2 Silverhill Adam 9-4, 3 Kilmore Dancer 7-4, 4 Missile One 4, 5 Ower Cracker 16, 6 Newinn Deejay 10.

3rd semi-final: 1 Underground Arlo 9-2, 2 Gary The Arb 3, 3 Raebella Bullet 9-2, 4 Antigua Kestrel 2, 5 Soul Choice 25, 6 Moving Force 10-3.

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