CRYSTAL ALICE led home kennelmate Crystal Cardi for a memorable one-two for young Perry Barr trainer Ben Reynolds in the Arena Racing Company Angel Of The North Final at Newcastle on Tuesday.

The £5,000-to-the-winner GBGB Category Two was the centrepiece of a quality card at the Byker circuit – and it was a top-quality performance from the October 2019 daughter of Laughil Blake and Bright Ella, who quickly seized control in the bitches-only main event over 480m.

The former Hove-based runner was having just her third start for the Reynolds team and, breaking well, was never headed as she made all before crossing the line two and a quarter lengths in front of kennelmate Crystal Cardi, who was always second, in a winning time of 28.31sec (+10).

Adding to the earlier victory of Crystal Chick in a supporting 640m, it was a fine night for the visiting handler – and Newcastle general manager Ian Walton was among the first to congratulate the Reynolds team.

He said: “The Angel of the North is always a very competitive event but when Alice trapped she was always going to be difficult to beat and is a worthy winner who can be a force in bitches contests and staying races for the rest of 2022.

“Ben (Reynolds) actually has a phenomenal record at Newcastle over the last few years and it just goes to show you can come to the north and take on the north-east and Scottish trainers and gain success.

“Ben also enjoyed success on the supporting card, as did Jimmy Fenwick with his Brookside Richie winning the sprint final and showing once again what a high-class greyhound he is for Jimmy and the team. He will be a force over both the sprint and standard trip for the rest of the year.”

Martin Seal, the Perry Barr racing manager, was delighted to see the Birmingham track not just well-represented in the Newcastle decider but then land a one-two courtesy of the Reynolds team and his Crystal-prefixed pair of runners.

He said: “It was a terrific result for Perry Barr and a fine advert for the training skills of young Ben Reynolds. Ben made his name with the talented sprinter Cronody Zero, whose 13 career wins from 23 starts included a Perry Barr and Nottingham seven-timer, where he was within touching distance of the track record at both venues.

“Crystal Alice has yet to set foot on the Perry Barr track, but arrived in Ben’s kennel from Derek Knight at Hove, who had steered her to top grade at the Sussex track over both four and six bends.

“Alice hadn’t really trapped in her Angel heat and semi, but once allocated trap four for the final everything started to fall into place and a sizzling break meant she would be hard to catch if still in front at the third bend.

“Kennelmate and runner-up Crystal Cardi doesn’t turn two until September and has been highly progressive since arriving at Perry Barr, swiftly climbing the grades before landing opens at Doncaster and back at the Barr.

“Hopefully, we’ll be seeing both bitches back at Perry Barr for the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks in October.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=387466&raceId=860091