CRAYFORD STADIUM...

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TAKEN FROM THE RACING POST
SATURDAY 8-10-22::

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DIANE HENRY and owner Kevin Boothby had a day to dream of at Crayford on Saturday morning when landing three of the four big-race finals up for grabs.

The trainer-owner combination scooped the Ladbrokes Cesarewitch, Gold Collar and Kent Rose Bowl, with the Grand National going to Barry O'Sullivan with Bobbing Gnavatar.

Savana Volcano was first up for team Henry in the 874m Cesarewitch, along with the Gold Collar one the sport’s traditional Classics, and it was effectively race over when she flew out.

The bitch might be four and a half years old but is running better than ever, and although kennelmate Savana Regera showed the better early, the winner was always cruising and pulled clear at the seventh.

Local pup Beach Babe ran a cracker for Tom Levers to take second, five lengths behind the 56.04sec winner, with Blueberry Bullet, runner-up last year, third this time.

Boothby reflected: "It's hard to win any Category One, but to land two in a day and then throw in the Rose Bowl on top is simply staggering.

"It's been a great day, in fact a great year after the nightmare of Covid. It's a fantastic relief to have turned that corner, got Oxford opened and Diane has played her part - our runners are flying the flag. Three races here today, three winners and two of them are veterans. Wow!

"We brought Volcano out of retirement to try and defend her Dorando title on Derby final night but it didn't work out; it seemed that was that. But Diane felt she might be okay for the Leger and she then ran a fantastic second there . . . and now she's come here."

The 540m Gold Collar saw Jason Gornall's Peejays Forever lead on the outside, but as Gornall rued afterwards: "The wrong dog turned behind us."

That was Henry's Savana Ruinart, the Select Stayers Stakes winner and St Leger third, who smoothly accelerated clear on the second turn to score by four and a half lengths in 33.24sec.

Boothby said: "Crayford seems lucky for us, I remember winning our first Category One with Savana Winner here. I love to see my dogs run well and believe a 'proper' top end is essential, it's what we all dream of."

The success was capped by Adeles Duke, which he owns with Rob Boswell, in the Rose Bowl final, a £1,000 Category Three over 380m.

Since retirement was being considered just a month ago, he has won his last three starts, and showed real bravery at the third turn, barging past Knockboy Kay, who took over from fast-starting Icaals Rocco at the second bend.

Henry said: "It's been a brilliant day. I was nervous beforehand, you dream of such big races. Greyhounds love to race, but they are also true athletes.

"You get to know them and what makes them happy - they will also let you know when it's time for them to take it easy. These ones are loving it, I'm loving it."

Savana Ruinart will go for the new 650m bet365 Challenge at Oxford next month, while the longer term aim for Volcano is the TV Trophy here next April. Adeles Duke may go for Newcastle's All England Cup.

The one Classic Henry could not win - she did not have a finalist - was the £10,000 Ladbrokes Grand National, rescued by Crayford after it was unceremoniously ditched by Central Park.

Bobbing Gnavatar, trained by O’Sullivan for Mark and Michelle Yeomanson, landed the RPGTV Supreme Hurdle at Towcester on Derby final night, and some shrewdies delightedly waved 50-1 ante-post vouchers after Saturday morning’s win.

He led up, took the breath away with some exhilarating back-straight jumping, then bravely battled on when favourite Lenson Doolin came to challenge at the third turn. The latter was baulked at the vital moment, going down by just over a length to the 23.71sec winner.

O'Sullivan, who now has a dual Central Park/Crayford contract, said: "I was laid-up when Bobbing Gnavatar was first schooled but my dad Terry reported 'he's a natural'.

"That gives a dog real confidence when it matters and he showed it today - and of course did it right from boxes. He jumps for fun and he's a jealous type in front."

Rick Holloway, trainer of the runner-up, had provided the National 1-2 for the past two years but this year had to be content with the forecast in the consolation, where his odds-on Ritzy Spirit held kennelmate Cloyne History.

He said: "Ritzy's 23.40sec tells its own story - it all went wrong for him in the heats. As for the final, Lenson Doolin was turned sideways as he challenged at the third bend, but congratulations to a brave winner."

He hopes 2023 will be the year of hurdling's renaissance: "It's great that Hove are taking on the Springbok near year and that Entain in general are behind this wonderful spectacle."

Danny Rayment, Crayford's racing manager, said: " I love hurdling, it's more exciting for the public and prolongs racing careers. We have had solid winners of all today's finals who measure up on the sport's roll of honour with some of the sport's greatest names."

Peter Broadbridge, Crayford stadium manager, added: "I don't know if any track has had the honour to stage three of the traditional Classics at the same meeting before, but it is a proud moment for Crayford - especially now that it's all gone so well!"

Connections went out of their way to thank Crayford for the generous hospitality, which included lots of special touches and also a souvenir racecard.

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CRAYFORD GREYHOUND STADIUM


I've seen a lot of crazy things at Greyhound tracks over the last 50 years
But this beats the lot.





TAKEN FROM THE RACING POST
THURSDAY 26-1-23.

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