LINKS MAVERICK catapulted himself into GBGB Greyhound of the Year consideration with a brilliant success in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup Final at Monmore on Saturday.

The Tom Heilbron-trained and part-owned runner – he handles the super-fast May 2021 son of Grangeview Ten and Havana Lottie for himself, father Kevin Heilbron, Trevor Rush and David Wilson – lined up in the £10,000-to-the-winner event unbeaten and duly completed the set with a show of blistering early pace.

Well away from the inside-box, the Northern Puppy Derby (Newcastle) and Pall Mall (Oxford) champion zipped to the bend in his customary style and soon had his rivals under pressure and, although Churchfield Syd (Richard Rees) had closed the gap at the crown of the bend with a cracking turn of foot, straightening up Links Maverick was away.

He eventually crossed the line three lengths clear of Churchfield Syd in a fast 27.70sec (+10) for the 480m trip with Henlow raider Flickofacoin (Cornelius Condon) finishing third in the GBGB Category One annual, just ahead of Whyaye Man (Mark Wallis).

Winning trainer Heilbron missed the final for a family holiday but was kept in touch with events via kennelhand Caitlyn Petch and was on FaceTime for a post-race interview on RPGTV with Darrell Williams – and was naturally delighted.

“That worked out well I’m hearing, so well done to Caitlyn for making it happen – it’s caused a stir, which is no bad thing!” said the Newcastle handler who helped make it three Gold Cup wins in a row for the north-east venue after Move Over Cha’s (Angela Harrison) success last year and Minglers Popeye (Stuart Tight) in 2021.

Of yet another impressive victory for the two-year-old, Heilbron added: “That’s three Cat Ones now and a Cat Three so he’s got to be bang there for Greyhound of the Year – and we’d love another one. There’s the (Arena Racing Company) Classic at Sunderland and the (Premier Greyhound Racing) All England Cup at Newcastle.

“We might also look for a race at Shelbourne Park during their Winter Festival, but that’s all later in the year. We might look at the Lawrence Jones Memorial event back at Monmore in a couple of weeks’ time as a next race for him. We’ll see.

“I’ve said this dog is bombproof. We just aim him – and he fires. He’s exciting to watch, is the fastest dog I’ve probably even seen in the flesh, let alone handled, and I’m delighted for all the kennel, plus Trevor and David – and me dad!”

Tony Williamson, Monmore’s racing manager, oversaw Saturday’s gala meeting which also included the finals of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic (Fromposttopillar) for a GBGB Category One header plus the Peter Billingham Memorial Final (Skywalker Pele) and Vixons Contracts Ltd Trophy Final (Newinn Touch).

He said: “Links Maverick was just brilliant on Saturday and has progressed so much since finishing third here in the Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby. I thought that final was a good one, but Saturday’s line-up was impressive, too, and Links Maverick really put them to the sword. It was flawless and he’s clearly a champion performer now.

“Well done to Tom (Heilbron) and his team, but I must also credit runner-up Churchfield Syd and Richard Rees’s handling of the dog. Remember how he was clear in the semis of the (Premier Greyhound Racing) Puppy Derby before pulling up but he’s come back in great form and just found Links Maverick too good three times. His time will come.”