33/1 shocker as curtain comes down on a fantastic campaign
14/12 - Oxford: BetGoodwin Series Maiden - Rebel Alaska
REBEL ALASKA confirmed himself a serious prospect for 2026 with a stunning victory in the £3,000 BetGoodwin Series Maiden final over 450m at Oxford.
Trained by Kevin Hutton for Billy McMahon, Gary Shelley and Gary Thompson, the March 2024 youngster won his heat by seven lengths and was then a massive eyecatcher in defeat following a poor starts in the semis.
It all went right when it mattered most, however, as he took early command of the final and sauntered home five lengths clear of Henrys Rex in clocking a superb hand-timed 26.64sec (-20).
14/12 - Oxford: bet365 Challenge Cup - Vhagar
VHAGAR ensured that trainer Mark Wallis and the MWD Partnership landed the bet365 Challenge Cup at Oxford for a second year running with a thrilling last-gasp success in the 650m final to claim the £10,000 prize.
As in the semis a week earlier, the race proved a thriller between the eventual winner and early leader Romeo Empire, who kept finding in front before succumbing to Vhagar's final lunge, going down by a neck in a hand-timed 39.11sec (-30).
Vhagar, now unbeaten in six races over the course and distance, was emulating kennelmate New Destiny in landing the Category One competition, the 2024 champion having been a first round casualty this time around.
19/12 - Clonmel: Munster Christmas Cup - Danish Biscuit
DANISH BISCUIT, at 5/1 the lesser fancied of Graham Holland's two finalists with kennelmate Slippery Brian sent off 7/4 favourite, made all to claim the €5,000 Village Kennels-sponsored Munster Christmas Cup final over 525 yards at Clonmel.
Owned by the Slattery Family Syndicate, Danish Biscuit pinged from trap one, clocking a rapid 2.79 sectional, and she went clear as others scrambled for racing room in behind.
The leader went through the third bend sectional point in 15.95sec but it did prove a long way home as she had to dig deep to repel the strong finish of Gealltanas Grace by three-parts of a length in a superb 28.33sec.
19/12 - Tralee: Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby - Solo And Go
SOLO AND GO, trained by Liam Dowling for the Kingdom's Palace Syndicate, went one place better than his Irish Laurels second to land the €5,000 Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby over 525 yards at Tralee.
The winner showed excellent early speed along with Magical Keith and decisively bravely cut across that rival at the opening turn, riding crowding to move into a lead he was never to relinquish.
Crossfield Matt was soon within a length and a half but it as only in the dying yards he made any impression with Solo And Go, whose syndicate owners include Kerry GAA stars David and Paudie Clifford, prevailing by half a length in 28.24sec and Dowling's Ballymac Tibet three-parts back in third.
28/12 - Oxford: bet365 English Puppy Oaks - Rapido Spy
RAPIDO SPY, a £4,500 purchase at Greyhound Trader's October sale at the track, pounced late to spring a 33/1 surprise in the £10,000 final of the bet365 English Puppy Oaks over 450m at Oxford.
Picking the perfect time to lose her open-race maiden tag, Rapido Spy broke well on the outside and, although both Scooby Diamond and Headford Lily showed better early pace, was able to turn third in behind them whereas odds-on favourite Soapy Suds was effectively out of the contest after first bend trouble.
Scooby Diamond led into the back straight without ever quite giving the impression she was in command and, sure enough Headford Lily came to challenge off the final bend, where she ran wide, only for Rapido Spy to blindside the duo on the inner as the finish approached.
The trio flashed across the line together with the evidence of the camera showing that the Shaun Gresham-trained Rapido Spy, owned by his wife Chris, had prevailed in the last Category One decider of the year by a short-head in 26.98sec (-10) with Headford Lily the same distance back in third.
