Final places are up for grabs at Monmore Green

The two major events began last weekend, with last year’s runner-up Gary The Arb (Belinda Green, Hove) quickest in the 480m Winter Derby and reigning champion Mongys Wild (Mark Wallis) setting the pace in the 684m Golden Jacket.

Tonight will see two greyhounds advance from each heat into next week’s finals - the Winter Derby worth £10,000 to the winner and the Golden Jacket a mighty £20,000.

Gary The Arb clocked a fantastic 28.15secs last weekend and goes from trap one in the second Winter Derby semi-final this evening, facing a tough field including fellow heat winner Santas Amigo (David Mullins, Romford).

Headford Dane (Maxine Locke, Romford) has trap one in the first semi-final as he looks to make it a Category One treble at Monmore having clinched both the Puppy Derby and Gold Cup in 2025.

Mongys Wild was at 1-7 to win his Golden Jacket heat last weekend and did not disappoint with a time of 40.98secs - kennelmate Vhagar (41.07) and Sean Parker’s Droopys Flare (41.09) were others who caught the eye.

Mongys Wild runs in the third stayers’ semi-final this evening while Vhagar and Droopys Flare do battle in the second semi.

Reviewing the first round and looking ahead to tonight’s action, Monmore racing manager Tony Williamson said: “It was quite testing in many ways after continuous rain throughout the day, only really easing up as the night wore on.

“Nevertheless, the track held up well and some good times were clocked, not least by Gary The Arb in the Winter Derby.

“I also thought Santas Amigo ran well in his heat. He completely missed the break in a warm-up race the previous week but then showed all sorts of pace to finish second and was clear at the pick-up, so you knew he’d come on for the run.

“It was great to see Headford Dane back to his best, too. He’s won two major competitions already here and must have real claims of a third, although I don’t recall a Winter Derby as competitive. It was 8-1 to the field going into the heats. 

“It was a terrific start to the Golden Jacket as well. Of course, Mongys Wild winning again here at Monmore as the reigning champion was the headline-grabber. He’s some greyhound, we all know that.

“However, it was also encouraging to see Droopys Flare back on track in such classy style - she really powered away from her field - and seeing her and Mongys Wild kept apart in the semis raises the prospect of a superb final clash if both progress.

“Mongys Wild has proved himself one of the best stayers we’ll likely ever see and was awesome on the night, but there is still a long way to go."

Droopys Aladdin (Michael Burton) is also worth a look in the third Winter Derby semi-final after an impressive victory last weekend. 

The first semi-final of the Golden Jacket seems difficult to predict, with Malcolm Bosh (Angie Kibble, Oxford) the only heat winner.