Greyhound Racing

Bet365 Challenge Cup

This week we headed in to the official heats of the Bet365 Challenge cup, and what a cup it’s looking to be!!

by
samanthabonner
December 8, 2023

This week we headed in to the official heats of the Bet365 Challenge cup, and what a cup competition it’s looking to be!!

Heat 1

In this heat we had the impressive line up of,

The hot favourite for the race is the red jacket of Havana Top Note (11/10f)

As the lids open, trap 2 Maglass Brave breaks well but moves off slightly giving the favourite a dream run up the rails. As they turn the first two bends Havana Top Note is a length up over Free style sue back in 2nd with the rest a couple of lengths behind.

Showing some great pace from off the second bend and taking 7 lengths out of the field by the 5th, Havana Top Note has a clear lead. But In behind, Mad for Sterling shows great speed down the back – moving up past the 5 and now going into 2nd. Emily Wallis’ favourite greyhound chases down Havana Top Note to close the gap to just 3 1/4l, but the race has already been put to bed. Staying on back in 3rd is trap 2, Maglass Brave.

The extremely impressive Havana Top Note, son of “Eden the Kid and Mean Beauty” records an exceptional time of 39.29 ?!!!

!!!A NEW 650M OXFORD TRACK RECORD!!!

What a fantastic first heat to kick us off with!

The qualifying 3 for next weeks semi-final are

Havana Top Note – 15.03 split , 39.29

Mad for Sterling – 15.40 split. 39.55

Maglass Brave – 15.31 split, 39.85

Havana Top Note breaks the track record at Oxford

Heat 2

In the line up of this very hot heat, we have

For heat 2 now and what another heat we have, with the 2 fastest winners of last weeks trial stakes “New Destiny” and “Havana Lover” taking part.

In the market, the favourite is trap 2 New Destiny (8/11f) followed closely by Havana Lover (15/8)

As the traps open. 6, Havana Lover has a smash break with 3, Ela Maestro missing the break and 2, New Destiny not trapping the smartest.

Leading up to the first bend, Havana Lover has control of the race and coming round into the home straight for the first time dominating a 4 length lead of 2 New Destiny who’s now moved into second place.

Round the third and fourth bends and Havana Lover still has charge of the race with now just a 3l lead over New Destiny chasing hard, then a 7l break back in 3rd runner of 1, Forest Roanna.

Closing into the 5th and 6th bend and New Destiny has closed the gap to within a length to Havana Lover , but Havana Lover shut the door on New Destiny and forced her to check giving her back her length lead, swinging wide off the last and managing to hold the lead and win the race by just 1/2l of New Destiny with a very strong finish by 5 Alright Patricia.

What a great battle between the front running pair and it was a case of who stayed on the best for the last qualifying spot.

The qualifying 3 for next weeks semi final are

Havana Lover – 14.98 split , 39.45

New Destiny – 15.18 split, 39.49

Alright Patrica – 15.37 split, 39.81

Havana Lover takes the second heat

Heat 3

In this third heat, we have a lively line up of,

Heat 3 doesn’t disappoint, again we had two close in the market with 1, Lively Lauren (6/5f) and 2, Aayamza Sydney (15/8)

As the lids open, we have a nice break from the 4, Coppice Warrior , closely followed by the favourite Lively Lauren.

As they head into the first bend, Lively Lauren shows great pace to get to the bend ahead of Coppice Warrior. In behind 2,5,3,6 all meet a bit of crowding.

Turning into the home straight for the first time, Lively Lauren has the lead, but only by half a length.

Turning into the third and fourth, trap 2 Aayamza Sydney is making up ground and just forces his way past Coppice Warrior to take second position.

Into the back straight now and Lively Lauren is still galloping away with a comfortable 3 length lead over Aayamza Sydney. Coppice Warrior is still back in 3rd with King Ezra closing in on him.

Now into the final two bends and up the home straight to the winning line. Lively Lauren takes the win comfortably with Aayamza Sydney back in 3rd and Coppice Warrior holding off any challengers for 3rd spot.

Again, another great heat of this first round cup challenge.

The qualifying 3 for next weeks Semi Finals are

Lively Lauren – 15.00 split, 39.44

Aayamza Sydney – 15.11 split, 39.64

Coppice Warrior – 15.03 split, 39.80

Lively Lauren takes the third heat

Heat 4

In this final Gutsy heat of the night, we have,

As we go into the final heat of the first round, we had a clear favourite, more so since the withdrawal of Queen Pink.

Minnie Bullet goes off the hot favourite at (4/9f), with Gutsy Jet the closest rival on the betting market at (3/1)

As the traps open for this final heat, it is level pegging. But, showing the best pace to the first bend is the favourite in 2, Minnie Bullet.

2 lengths clear into the first bend she manages to miss trouble in behind where 3,4,5,6 crowded, with Farneys Willie & Alright Gordy taking the brunt of it and being forced to check.

Into the home straight for the first time and Minnie Bullet is holding a nice lead over the 3, Gutsy Jet back in second and 6 Ted’s Dexter back in 3rd.

Round the third and fourth bend down on to the back straight, Minnie Bullet is still holding a good 2-3 length lead over Gutsy Jet in second, but closing the gap with every stride. Ted’s Dexter is back in 3rd.

Coming off the last bend and up the home straight, Minnie Bullet is having pressure applied by Gutsy Jet who’s coming round the outside of her and still closing the gap. As they near the line, Minnie Bullet’s stride starts to shorten as Gutsy Jet takes the lead and takes the win by just 1/2l to Minnie Bullet back in second. Another 1/2l back in third is Ted’s Dexter.

The qualifying 3 for next weeks Semi finals are

Gutsy Jet – 15.34 split, 39.70

Minnie Bullet – 15.06 split, 39.74

Teds Dexter – 15.40 split, 39.78

Gutsy Jet reels in Minnie Bullet to win the fourth heat