Droopys Clue Has a Second Greyhound St. Leger in His Sights
Greyhound racing’s St. Leger was first staged in 1928 and has been won by some of the sport’s all-time greats. The list of previous winners includes Derby champions Mick The Miller and Dolores Rocket. However, no greyhound has claimed the six-bend contest twice. History could change in 2024.
The 2023 Greyhound Board of Great Britain Greyhound of the Year, Droopys Clue, ran through the classic contest unbeaten 12 months ago and broke the track record in the final. This year, he won the opening round of the St. Leger by a breathtaking 15 lengths and recorded the fastest time of the three semi-final winners last weekend.
Droopys Clue ran 15 lengths clear of his rivals in the first round of the St. Leger. ?Getty
A striking 35-kilo black and white greyhound trained by Seamus Cahill, Droopys Clue is unbeaten in a race with a distance of 700 metres or further. With the benefit of starting from trap-1 in Saturday’s ￡20,000 contest, there is no reason to predict he will lose his exceptional record.
What Are the Best Bets on Saturday’s St. Leger Card?
The Premier Greyhound Racing St. Ledger is due off at 9.52 pm, and the 710-metre contest will be broadcast on Sky Sports Racing. Understandably, the UK’s online bookmakers quote Droopys Clue on prices ranging between 2/5 and 2/7. Unopposable and unbackable at these short odds, selecting two greyhounds as forecast links is possibly the best way to tackle the race.
?? PREMIER GREYHOUND RACING ST LEGER ??
Semi Final 2??
? Droopys Clue ? Trickycinderella
Your ante-post favourite books his spot in next week’s ￡20,000 @PremGreyRacing St Leger final ??
?? 42.74
Race replay ??#PerryBarr ?? pic.twitter.com/OYvaq1ITaT
— Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium (@perrybarrdogs) September 14, 2024
The locally-trained Hurry Up Jordan knows his way around Perry Barr better than most and was classy enough over four bends to take third in the 2023 Laurels at this venue. Successful in both rounds of the St. Leger, this strapping 38-kilo wide-running dog can utilise his draw in trap six and looks the most likely dog to chase home Droopys Clue.
An alternative forecast link for smaller stakes is the trap-2 runner, Coonough Crow. This likeable female, who is just weeks short of veteran status, has won 20 of her 64 career starts and finished second 22 times. Remarkably consistent, she is trained by champion trainer Mark Wallis.
Wallis is seeking to become the most-winning St Leger trainer of all time, surpassing the five victories recorded by Jack Harvey during the 1950s and 1960s. This year, Wallis is operating at a 30 percent winners-to-runners ratio, underlining Coonough Crow’s genuine chance of staking a claim on one of greyhound racing’s most sought-after prizes.
Diglake Could Be Top Dog in Cup
The ￡12,500 Birmingham Cup (9.20 pm) will also be decided on Saturday. The contest has an ultra-competitive look to it. Just threequarters-of-a-length separate the three semi-final winners on recorded times. Predicting which greyhound will start as the favourite is almost as difficult as identifying the winner.
Nevertheless, the vote goes to local hope, Darley Diglake. In fine form – with four wins and two seconds from his last six outings – the local champion has raced from trap-6 three times at Perry Barr and won on all three occasions. He will don the striped jacket once again in the 480-metre category-one final.
While the stats are good for Darley Diglake, it is his first and second-round sectional times that make him the selection. At the very least, they suggest that he will lead the greyhounds to his immediate inside to the opening bend. He may head the entire field at the corner, and in an open race, that is a huge advantage that could prove decisive.
