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Fawkham-based trainer Barry O’Sullivan’s Head Count could end 17-year wait for Kent winner in £12,500 Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch final at Central Park Stadium

Hopes of a first Kent-trained winner of the Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch in 17 years will be pinned on Barry O’Sullivan’s star greyhound Head Count at Central Park Stadium on Saturday night.

The Fawkham-based trainer qualified for this weekend’s Category 1 final when Head Count beat Patrick Janssens’ Breton Molly by a length in 44.51sec.

Barry O'Sullivan’s Head Count could bring Cesarewitch glory back to Kent. Picture: Central Park Greyhounds
Barry O'Sullivan’s Head Count could bring Cesarewitch glory back to Kent. Picture: Central Park Greyhounds

It marked a fifth successive victory at Central Park for the two-year-old fawn bitch, who has been drawn in trap one for the weekend’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 Tony Collett was the last Kent handler to win the Cesarewitch with Lenson Joker in 2008, but with an inside draw, O’Sullivan is hoping to bring the trophy home.

“It was a great run to qualify,” he said. “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 1 finals before, but this competition has such a rich history so we’re proud to be in with a chance.”

O’Sullivan 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 3 competitions mark a significant step up for both greyhounds, with O’Sullivan admitting they’ll need to dig deep.

“He (Monleek Peru) can hold his own in the top grade at Central Park,” said O’Sullivan. “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, subject to availability, are available from £8 and can be purchased at centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk. Doors open at 5.30pm with the first of 12 races off at 6.37pm.

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