It’s not every day sporting figures such as Roy Keane and Joe Frazier can be likened to greyhound. But Capel Yankee has shown throughout his Henlow Grand Prix campaign that he has all the attributes to put him in the same category as the legendary sportsmen. What Yankee lacks in ability, he makes up for in determination.
Take yourselves back to the Grand Prix heats on March 14th.
Yesterday’s triumphant Grand Prix winner Capel Yankee is three lengths off a qualifying spot for a semi-final spot turning for home, with only the first three advancing to the semi’s. But Yankee is an out-and-out stayer; he has the heart of a lion. The Tony Gifkins-trained dog does his best work in the final 50 metres. He lengthens his stride and pips Bodell Clare to third spot by a head. It’s hard to believe at the time that Capel Yankee would be the eventual Grand Prix champion and was trading around the 25-1 mark to take home the title.
In last night’s final ran over 692m, Capel Yankee went off as the 8-1 outsider following another battling performance in the semi-finals, where he once again qualified by a head. But the final was as good as over by the first bend as Yankee bolted out of the traps and grabbed an early lead. Determined as ever, he wasn’t going to let another dog pass – and fought off a late surge by Ladbrokes Golden Jacket champion Group Skater to win the title by one length. Bridge Diamond came in third, a further one and three-quarter lengths away.
Earlier in the night, the £10,000 Mega Delight Memorial was won by 1-2 favourite Westmead Carl, with Nick Savva’s veteran coming through an early crowding match to lead at the first bend and drew clear, as he beat Westmead Bonny by six and a half lengths in 27.77sec.
But the night belonged to Capel Yankee, who landed his connections a sweet £8,000 bounty.
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