It’s semi-finals weekend in the £12,500 Arena Racing Company Kent Plate and Hopes Kitty is bidding to qualify for her first Category One showdown.

Trained by St Leger winner Paul Donovan, who is attached to Central Park Stadium, Hopes Kitty is one of three Kent runners in action at the Sittingbourne venue on Saturday and arrived in the UK from Ireland at the beginning of the year.

Although she’s been drawn against competition favourite March On Freddie, Winter Derby finalist Droopys Pivotel plus Gun Slinger, Scooby The Boss and King Jackson, Donovan hopes his kennel star can do the business when it matters most.

“She ran really well in the heats and we’re pleased to be in the semi-finals - with a bit of luck we can qualify for the final,” he said.

“She’s in a seriously hot semi-final, though. We haven’t had her in the kennel for too long but she’s progressing nicely and won a maiden competition at Hove in February. Hopefully she can just keep on improving.

“The draw for Saturday is okay, we’d like to be closer to the rail in truth but she ran from trap five in the heats and qualified so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue for her.”

A third success in the Arena Racing Company Kent Plate for local trainers remains on the cards with a quarter of greyhounds remaining in the competition based in the county.

Ashford couple Elizabeth and Rab McNair have won both renewals of the competition since it was inaugurated at Central Park Stadium. FromPostToPillar took top honours in 2023 before Queen Joni scooped the top prize a year later.

The McNairs are represented by puppy King Jackson in semi-final one and the more-experienced Queen Shakira in semi-final two. The first three home in each race will advance to the following week’s final.

The second semi-final also comprises of Winter Derby champion Proper Heiress, Blue Riband champion Table Toppers, Kent Derby winner Droopys Display plus Bluejig Baron and Brigadir Brindle.

Doors open on Saturday at 5.30pm with the first of 12 races due off at 6.37pm. Tickets, subject to availability, are available from £8 and can be purchased via centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk