The stage is set for next Thursday’s McKenna Memorial final at Sandown Park.

Based on the times set in tonight’s heats, very little separates the finalists. There wasn’t a greyhound who dominated their heat in fast time screaming to open favourite.

And especially given what this box draw looks like, assessing it will be a headache. It’s a field of mostly ‘600’ metre specialists and it will be a ripping contest.

Click here for all of the results via the Watchdog App including Isolynx Data breaking down the performance of each runner.

2026 McKENNA MEMORIAL (595m)
1. Overland Boy (Robin Moore)
2. Eventuate (Jason Sharp)
3. Paw Vortex (Correy Grenfell)
4. Nigel Devere (Daniel Pell)
5. Ascend Ecstatic (Korie Heinrich)
6. Urana Xavier (Korie Heinrich)
7. Tripped Out (Nat Presutto)
8. Hurricane (Brooke Ennis)

What happened in the heats?

HEAT 1
Tripped Out (8) was faultless, he sprung out from the pink and won without great danger – his time not too bad. Paw Vortex (2) runner-up and also progressed with one of the fastest thirds in Ascend Ecstatic (7).

HEAT 2
An odd race that was run in slow time. Urana Xavier (1) was from his favourite draw and arrived when it mattered most. The rank outsider Overland Boy (7) almost won but ended runner-up and progressed.

HEAT 3
Another race that didn’t exactly play out to script. Eventuate (8) found the front early but didn’t make the race her own, while Nigel Devere (1) zoomed up to go by her. Race favourite Hurricane (2) was in trouble early, the job was too big from there. Nigel Devere (1) held on gallantly to hold off Hurricane (2) and Eventuate (8) – all three go through to the final.