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Head Count Flies The Flag For Kent In Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch Final

Racing
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23 January 2025

Hopes of a first Kent trained winner of the Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch in seventeen years will be pinned on Barry O’Sullivan’s star greyhound Head Count on Saturday night.

The Fawkham-based professional trainer qualified for this weekend’s Category One final at Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne as Head Count beat Patrick Janssens’ Breton Molly by a length in 44.51 seconds.

It marked a fifth successive victory at Central Park for the two-year-old fawn bitch who has been drawn in trap one for Saturday’s £12,500 final next to defending champion Garfiney Blaze.

Nathan Hunt’s Droopys Flotilla and David Lee’s Bright Jewel also qualified for the final while Sean Parker’s Droopys Flare is the longest traveller and will make the journey from north Humberside.

Recently retired trainer Tony Collett was the last Kent handler to win the Cesarewitch with Lenson Joker in 2008. But with an inside draw, Barry is hoping to bring the trophy home. 

“It was a great run to qualify,” said Barry. “The final is a quality race, and she’ll need to come on from Saturday’s run to stand a chance but we have a good draw so you never know.

“Garfiney Blaze is the obvious threat. He’s proven himself at the track previously and no doubt connections will want to go back to back.

“Reaching the Cesarewitch final means a lot. We’ve won Category One finals before, but this competition has such a rich history so we’re proud to be in with a chance.”

Barry will be represented in two other finals on the night with Monleek Peru in the Arena Racing Company Standard Trophy Final and Good Rainbow in the Arena Racing Company Bitches final.

Both Category Three competitions mark a significant step up for both greyhounds, with Barry admitting they’ll need to improve to make the frame.

“He (Monleek Peru) can hold his own in the top grade at Central Park,” said Barry. “But this is a big step and he’ll need to improve to make the frame.

“The same applies to Good Rainbow. She’s a classy runner but has been drawn in trap six which is new to her. It’s good for the kennel to be represented in these finals and hopefully we’ll have a positive night.”

Tickets for the 2025 Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch final at Central Park Stadium are available from £8 and can be purchased by clicking here. Doors open at 5.30pm with the first of 12 races off at 6.37pm.

2025 Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch Final: Head Count, Garfiney Blaze, Droopys Flare, Breton Molly, Droopys Flotilla, Bright Jewel.

Central Park Greyhound Stadium

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