Northern takeover during thrilling night of racing at Monmore

The latest from a huge night of racing.

A northern takeover saw Fortanach Col and Woltemade claim the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic and Gold Cup titles on a thrilling night at Monmore Green.

Woltemade with Jimmy and Mel Fenwick, joined by Monmore general manager Paul Mason (r) and Racing Manager Tony Williamson (L) after Gold Cup glory | Monmore

placeholder image — Woltemade with Jimmy and Mel Fenwick, joined by Monmore general manager Paul Mason (r) and Racing Manager Tony Williamson (L) after Gold Cup glory | Monmore

Fortanach Col, trained by Hull-based Kelly Wilton and owned by Scotsman Gary Armstrong and Jen Dykes, was first to clinch Category One glory with a stunning run in the Summer Stayers Classic (630m) showpiece.

Woltemade, trained and co-owned by Newcastle’s Jimmy Fenwick along with Mel Fenwick, then took the spoils in the Gold Cup (480m) with a show of blistering pace – each final at the Wolverhampton circuit on Saturday night worth £10,000 to the winner.

Fortanach Col, running from trap five, pinged the lids in the Summer Stayers Classic final and led throughout the six-bend race, although it looked like fellow Newcastle-based handler Tom Heilbron’s Droopys Bookem was going to beat him to the punch on the run-in.

Fortanach Col ultimately held on to win in 37.55secs, much to the delight of proud owners Armstrong and Dykes who travelled all the way down from Motherwell to roar their superstar greyhound home.

Woltemade – named after the big German who plays centre forward for the Magpies – clocked a time of 28.00secs to take the Gold Cup after a back-and-forth battle with Slingshot Poppy, who is trained and owned by more Scots in Brian Fairbairn and Craig Armstrong respectively.

Headford Dane had gone into the race looking to become the first greyhound ever to claim back-to-back Gold Cup titles but had to settle for sixth after a slow start.

Joint-owner Gary Armstong and trainer Kelly Wilton's partner Sam Watson with Summer Stayers Classic champion Fortanach Col | Monmore

Monmore racing manager Tony Williamson said: “A massive congratulations goes to the connections of both Fortnach Col and Woltemade, two outstanding greyhounds.

“Both finals were fantastic races, and the champions thoroughly deserve to have their names in the history books here at Monmore.

“Well done also to Maxine Locke and the JR Racing Syndicate who had Droopys Pioneer and Headford Fiona win our two Category Three finals, the Peter Billingham Memorial Trophy and Wednesbury Garden Services Sprint Trophy. It was a brilliant evening’s racing.”