Command reaches eighth Cat 1 final but Table tops on the clock

ROMEO COMMAND reached his eighth Category One final courtesy of an emphatic display in the opening semi-final of the Greyhound Racing UK Blue Riband over 500m at Towcester on Tuesday afternoon.

In doing so, Patrick Janssens' star reversed first round form with kennelmate Barntick Bear, who had proved too strong on that occasion but who was left trailing this time and could only rally for third in a 1-2-3 for the trainer with Slick Sentinel claiming second.

A superb 3.99sec sectional soon had 2/1 favourite Romeo Command at the head of affairs and he was never threatened this time, Untold Ruble chasing him hardest until running out of steam on the run-in.

At the line, Romeo Command had more than two lengths to spare over a staying-on Slick Sentinel in a fine 28.71sec with Barntick Bear missing out on a place in Sunday's final over a length back in third.

It was basically the Mark Wallis show for the rest of the Blue Riband proceedings but his Proper Heiress, 4/11 favourite for the second semi, put connections through the emotional wringer before landing the odds.

He initially pinged from one only to then stumble badly after a couple of metres and find himself trailing the field then needed the very good fortune of a huge gap opening up for him on the rails round the first couple of bends as his rivals tangled.

In front off the second, he quickly put the race to bed although Doohoma Princess did close him down late to be beaten just over a length in a predictably modest 29.39sec.

The best was yet to come, however, with Wallis landing the forecast in the third semi as his Table Toppers set the afternoon's standard.

Quickly in charge from trap four - 4.01sec sectional - he saw off the challenge of Untold Euro then comfortably held kennelmate Kilmore Dancer by almost two lengths in a superb 28.69sec.

Sunday's £10,000 Greyhound Racing UK Blue Riband final line-up