Sinead and Toppers dine at top table as 2025 Cat 1 year opens
A monthly video record of the major SIS UK and Irish races run during 2025 with accompanying reporting.
25/01 - Oxford: BGBF Puppy Cup - Queen Sinead
QUEEN SINEAD, the outsider of the three Liz McNair-trained finalists but by no means unfancied having been supported from 12-1 into 7-1, just held off kennelmate King Jackson to claim the £10,000 BGBF Puppy Cup over 450m at Oxford.
A catapult start from trap one quickly had Queen Sinead at the head of affairs, her cause aided when King Jackson tangled with Queen Cilla at the opening turn.
Queen Sinead was clear along the back and when King Jackson lost a little more momentum going for a run inside Queen Cilla at the third bend, it looked all over.
However, the favourite finally got in the clear and flew home to join Queen Sinead on the line, the evidence of the camera showing that the long-time leader had prevailed by the minimum margin in 27.09sec.
Rank outsider Savana Merapi ran an absolute blinder in third just another half length back, denying McNair and owners the KSS Syndicate a 1-2-3 with their Queen Cilla tiring into fourth.
26/01 - Towcester: Greyhound Racing UK Blue Riband - Table Toppers
TABLE TOPPERS (9/4F) completed an unbeaten run through the competition with an authoritative success in the £10,000 final of the Greyhound Racing UK Blue Riband over 500m at Towcester.
Romeo Command, aiming to go one better in the decider than when second to Signet Goofy 12 months ago, again pinged from trap three but Table Toppers went well to the first bend and hit the front at that point.
His advantage was extended when Romeo Command and Proper Heiress had something of a coming together just in behind as the heavily-supported Slick Sentinel, who was backed from a morning 12/1 into 7/2, turned behind Table Toppers.
The pursuer chased hard throughout but Table Toppers always looked to have his measure and so it proved as he scored by a length in an excellent 28.72sec (-10) to claim the Category One title.