In the heats of the Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby at Monmore on Saturday, former Irish star Omuircheartaigh emerged as the quickest on the clock, setting a standard with a swift 28.16 seconds in heat five. Trained by Tom Heilbron and previously a National Puppy Stake third-place finisher, Omuircheartaigh showcased impressive form by securing victory over Clona Curly in a highly competitive heat.
However, the highlight of the day came in heat four, where the Nathan Hunt-trained Icemans Girl, owned by darts ace Gerwyn Price, delivered a thrilling performance. Outpacing Droopys Eunice, Icemans Girl demonstrated remarkable speed to clinch victory in a closely contested race, crossing the line in 28.78 seconds.
The competition, offering a £20,000 prize to the winner over a 480m distance, commenced with Droopys Supply, trained by Patrick Janssens, narrowly edging out Getup Me Champ in a tight finish, securing victory by a short head in 28.69 seconds. Kevin Hutton's Union Rebel also impressed in heat two, leading from start to finish with a time of 28.37 seconds.
Hutton enjoyed further success with Ballymac Zari in heat six, as the greyhound displayed exceptional speed to claim victory over Barntick Bear in 28.47 seconds. Brian Thompson's Vixons Filofax secured a win in heat three, leading throughout the race to clock a time of 28.37 seconds.
Looking ahead to the semi-finals, the trap draw for Saturday's fixtures at Monmore has been determined, setting the stage for another round of thrilling competition in the Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby.