Seven greyhounds remain in contention to snare coursing’s holy grail after day one of the 2020 Waterloo Cup was concluded at Lang Lang today, with consistent coursing star Making Gravy (pictured) among the main contenders.

Tomorrow’s final day will see the running of the remaining Waterloo Cup rounds, as well as the Waterloo Place and Waterloo Purse, which are for greyhounds eliminated in today’s earlier rounds.

As spring approaches the National Coursing Association couldn’t have asked for a better day in terms of the weather, and RSN race caller James Van de Maat was impressed by what he saw on course, despite one of his greyhounds being eliminated in the early rounds.

“It was a huge day of coursing at Lang Lang today for Waterloo Cup weekend,” Van de Maat said.

“Blue Irish and a couple of others looked really impressive. At this stage I think Pure Magic and Blue Irish look the picks, while Making Gravy also ran very quick.”

REMAINING WATERLOO CUP CONTENDERS

LOZ’S BLING (Carol Westerlo, Clyde)
v
PURE MAGIC (Justin Nolan, Devon Meadows)

BLUE IRISH (Marion Clay, Lang Lang)
v
IMPERIAL JACK (Melanie Lithgow, Devon Meadows)

TIGERFISH FOZZ (Brian Fothergill, Numerkah)
v
MAKING GRAVY (Adele Powell, Stanhope)

GREYSYND SPECTRE (Julie Belsham, Longwarry)
v
*BYE*

National Coursing Association secretary Sean Lithgow said while first-time courser Pure Magic exploded in his first course, more seasoned duo Blue Irish and Making Gravy are the greyhounds to beat.

“Making Gravy is consistently fast. He is a proven performer on the coursing circuit and he looks primed to me,” Lithgow said.

“This is his first year of coursing and he has won two events throughout the season. You know what you’re going to get with him… he runs virtually the same time every time he courses.”

Lithgow said that Blue Irish had been targeted for the event from a long way out, which made him equally as dangerous.

“(co-trainer) Johnny Clay appears to have targeted the Waterloo Cup with Blue Irish for the past six months. He has barely raced him on the circle at all in that time, so he looks cherry ripe which is a credit to John and Marion.”

Sean downplayed the chances of his greyhound Imperial Jack, as he’ll take on Blue Irish in the next round.

Incidentally, Blue Irish recorded the fastest time across the day (16.41sec) followed by Pure Magic (16.44sec).

For a full wrap of the times and draws for tomorrow’s consolation events – the Waterloo Plate and Waterloo Purse – visit the National Coursing Association’s Facebook Page.

First-time courser Pure Magic flew in his first run today, running just half a length off the best time of the day.

Blue Irish, prepared by John and Marion Clay, has been set for the Waterloo Cup for many months.

WATCH: James Van de Maat wrap up Day 1 of the Waterloo Cup.

The prized Waterloo Cup trophy. Photos: Clint Anderson.