AILSA A CLOSE THIRD IN OAKS

Ian Fortune

The Robert Gleeson trained Droopys Ailsa was beaten just over a length into third in the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Perry Barr on Saturday night despite not having much luck in the run.

No Rush, the warm favourite after a superb semi-final display, emerged a good winner and her owners immediately hinted at a potential crack at the Winter Racing Festival as her swansong.

Droopys Ailsa actually broke smartly rom trap five but a wide draw certainly didn’t aid her claims. Jet Stream Angel, a half sister to Susie Sapphire, went up faster from trap four, forcing Droopy Ailsa to pick her line around the turn. 

It meant she was a bad fourth into the back straight, lengths behind the pace-setters. No Rush came around Jet Stream Angel on the run in to lead late for a half length victory in 28.18. Droopys Ailsa flew home to finish just three parts of a length further back in third before storming to the front on the run to the escape.

It is a case of what could have been for Droopys Ailsa but she did her connections proud and will no doubt be targeting some big prizes on this side of the Irish Sea in the coming months. Perhaps a rematch with herself and No Rush at the Winter Racing Festival is possible?