ICE ON FIRE made a sensational return to the track when kicking off the Arena Racing Company Northern Flat at Newcastle on Wednesday.

The Jimmy Fenwick-trained and Dave Spraggon-owned 2019 GBGB Greyhound of the Year last raced in the RPGTV Juvenile at Sheffield almost 15 months ago but showed all his class and battling qualities in heat one of the 480m event at his home track.

Winner of the 2019 All England Cup and Laurels at the Byker venue, as well as the Eclipse and Puppy Classic at Nottingham that same year, this local hero was well away in heat one of the Northern Flat and always pushing for victory,

However, showing great pace next door, King Bruno ranged upsides at the first bend and the pair battled hard thereafter with Liz McNair’s dog taking a definite advantage at halfway before Ice On Fire rallied to lead on the run for home.

After a great head-to-head duel up the home-straight, Ice On Fire nosed ahead and crossed the line a neck ahead of King Bruno, with Glenlara Mac (Gary Ferguson) staying on well to finish a close-up third. The winning time was 28.66sec.

A delighted Jimmy Fenwick, Ice On Fire’s trainer, said: “What can you say? He’s a champion and showed the heart of a champion tonight.

“He’d been so well in himself and just wanted to be back on track. Trials were a first step, but he went so well last week that we thought why not enter him.

“He loves his racing, knows and loves this place so much, and has given us – and plenty of his fans in the sport it seems – a real lift. ”

Jaguar Macie clocked the fastest time of the night as Graham Rankin’s bitch returned to the scene of her Arc Northern Puppy Derby success with an all-the-way 28.28sec in the sixth and final heat – off the back of a 4.54sec split.

Laurels champion Havana Class continued his great form from Perry Barr with an authoritative victory in heat two as Liz McNair’s runner clocked a speedy 4.50sec split when making all the running to lead home local Ardralla Jim (Tom Heilbron) in 28.52sec.

The other heats were won by the Gary Ferguson-trained Frankies Jet (28.61sec), Jimmy Fenwick’s Look Like Power (28.62sec) and another local hope in Stuart Tighe’s Minglers Popeye (28.70sec).

Mark Cranston was commentating on the six heats of the Arena Racing Company Northern Flat for Sky Sports Racing and said the victory of Ice On Fire really was the icing on the cake on what was a great night for fans of the sport.

He said: “It was wonderful to see Ice On Fire back and knuckling down in the first heat to land the odds by a short margin, having to fend-off King Bruno. Whilst he was not the quickest, it was a sterling performance nonetheless to see him back to something like his best having been off the racing strength for so long.

“Jimmy Fenwick’s charge will no doubt get stronger and the fairytale story is still on for his many supporters.

“Fastest of the night was Jaguar Macie and Graham Rankin’s bitch was simply amazing and her 28.28sec makes her tough to beat in the competition. Her early pace was sublime.

“They were the two standout performances, but unfortunately Ice On Fire and Jaguar Macie have been drawn together in a mouthwatering second semi-final next week. With King Bruno also in there for good measure it’s a race not to be missed.

“Of the other winners, Laurels victor Havana Class did the job in fine style and has his draw in the third semi-final. Liz McNair’s charge will be fancied by many to qualify again at the very least.

“Sneaking under the radar possibly was Glenlara Mac who runs against Havana Class in that semi. Gary Ferguson’s charge ran well in behind Ice On Fire and King Bruno and being a wide seed looks a positive for this competition. He could go well at decent odds.

“Despite the late withdrawal of Tenpin, the competition is building up nicely and well worth its GBGB Category One status. There are some top-class greyhounds on show and whoever wins will be a well-deserved winner.

“Of course, should Ice On Fire win it, it would raise the roof!”

 

Trap draw for Wednesday’s semi-finals:-

First semi: 1 Look Like Power, 2 Pinpoint Villa, 3 Save Me Paddy, 4 Nadurra Dutch, 5 Frankies Jet (m), 6 Droopys Back Up (w).

Second semi: 1 Hopes Doggy, 2 Ice On Fire, 3 Jaguar Macie, 4 King Bruno, 5 Ardralla Jim (m), 6 Pacemaker Ted (w).

Third semi: 1 Havana Class, 2 Killie Phantom, 3 Minglers Popeye, 4 Nice As Ice (m), 5 Calzaghe Edward (w), 6 Glenlara Mac (w).