Kevin Hutton accepts it will take something special to break a 78-year trend by winning the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks and ARC Scurry Gold Cup at Dunstall Park later this month.
Greyhound racing enthusiasts have to turn the clocks back to 1948 when a trainer last managed to complete a historic double in the same year.
It was legendary trainer Stan Biss – attached to Clapton at the time – who watched as Night Breeze scooped the Oaks at White City Stadium before Local Interprize completed the double at the trainer’s home track.
The possibility of Burford-based Hutton repeating Stan’s achievement certainly isn’t out of the question.
The English Greyhound Derby winning trainer runs Magical Jason in the Scurry Gold Cup and is double handed with Signet Nayla and Resonate in the Oaks semi-finals this Saturday at Dunstall Park Stadium in Wolverhampton.
A top two finish is required in each of their respective races to progress to next weekend’s final. And Kevin is hopeful of returning to the Cotswolds with silverware to his name.
Kevin said: “I’m not sure we’ll be able to bring both competitions home, but you never know!
“Magical Jason hasn’t put a paw wrong at Dunstall Park over the sprint trip. We’re really pleased with him and hopefully he can keep up his impressive run of wins.
“The Oaks has been a very good competition to us over the years too.
“It’s fair to say this year is a vintage competition. If one of our girls can make the final, we’d be happy with that.
“Signet Nayla has been incredibly consistent and for Resonate the 480m trip is under her ideal distance but she keeps qualifying so we’ll hope for more of the same.”
Meanwhile local hopes in the £20,000 PGR Oaks are pinned on Dapper Daffy after Ruth Lambe’s star bitch chased home dual Category One finalist Strike It Skye to qualify for the last 18.
The two-year-old brindle bitch was purchased by friends Colin Pocock and Colin Barry in memory of former trainer Bob Smith, who died following a heart attack.
Daffy has been drawn in arguably the toughest semi-final, which features six out of the top seven greyhounds in the ante-post market.
“When I first saw the draw, it was a bit daunting,” said Colin Pocock.
“But we are going to have to race against these greyhounds at some point during the competition.
“Saturday is now like a final, that race is that strong.
“She did so well to finish half-a-length behind Strike It Skye last weekend. Only a handful of greyhounds have clocked under 28 seconds at Dunstall Park – we’re one of them, and she’s improving every week so we’re approaching the semi-final confidently and positively.
“We’re happy with the draw too. In a perfect world, she’ll trap well and hold Headford Fiona (in trap four) to the first bend.”
Tickets for the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks and Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup semi-finals are available online via www.dunstallpark-greyhounds.co.uk. Doors open at 5.30pm, with the first of 12 races on the night off at 6.20pm.
Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks semi-final draw
Semi Final One: Countess Penny, Strike It Skye, Ballymac Allory, Signet Nayla, Copney Queen, Resonate.
Semi Final Two: Holding Hollie, Fahrenheit Jess, Kilwest Diva, The Other Winx, Aayamza Shazza, Alright Tallent.
Semi Final Three: Ballydoyle Tina, Slingshot Poppy, Dapper Daffy, Headford Fiona, Newinn Uganda, Bombay Special.
Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup semi-final draw
Semi Final One: Crafty Alejandro, Avarua Lake, Duffin Dermy, Good Acclaim, Blackburnybullet, Ballinakill Liam.
Semi Final Two: Beatties Shine, Roanna Mamba, Slingshot Gazza, Magical Jason, Not Now Alan, Headford Eimear.
Semi Final Three: Shadow Storm, Newinn Souly, Newinn Bachelor, Blow Out, Turnthemagicon, Millbank Got It.
