2 weeks Ago
Paul Donovan is less than one minute away from joining an exclusive list of trainers to win the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger more than once. Worth £20,000 to the winner, the St Leger is one of UK greyhound racing’s original classic competitions, first held in 1928 at the original Wembley Stadium and now hosted at Perry Barr in Birmingham. Donovan - who is attached to Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne - last won the St Leger in 2010 with Droopys Bradley and 14 years on plans to regain the crown with kennel star Tuono Bella tomorrow (Saturday).
Doing so would make him only the 14th trainer in the St Leger’s 96-year history to win the prize multiple times, with others to achieve the feat including Charlie Lister OBE, Nick Savva and Jack Harvey. Tuono Bella has been drawn in trap three and will face 2023 Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue, Kent St Leger champion Coonough Crow, Northern Puppy Derby winner Clona Curly plus Trickycinderella and local hope Hurry Up Jordan. Donovan’s star bitch celebrated her third birthday on Tuesday, and the Kent trainer is hoping that won’t be the only cause for celebration this week.
“This is her third Category 1 final this year – she’s an exceptional bitch,” said Donovan. “She’s improved her times each week which is a positive and has a fair chance in a quality field. “I think it’s clear to everyone that Droopys Clue is the greyhound to beat.
But looking at the draw we’re pleased with our position. “Her owners (Paul Dyer and Dave Perkins) are local, and I know winning such a major competition would mean the world to them so fingers crossed that can happen on Saturday night.” Closer to home, Ashford’s Elizabeth and Rab McNair landed a quickfire open race double at Central Park on Saturday evening.
Queen Dusty, runner-up in this year’s Brighton Belle, won the Arena Racing Company Sprint Trophy while kennel mate King Combs won the first Kent Derby Trial Stakes in 28.96sec – only 13 hundredths of a second outside the track record. The Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby at Central Park begins on Saturday, October 5, with the £20,000 final on October 19.
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