CROSSFIELD DUSTY and Shrewd Call (David Mullins) served up one of the best finishes in the history of the end-of-year showpiece when flashing past the line together in the Arena Racing Company National Sprint Final at Nottingham on Monday – with Patrick Janssens’s dog prevailing by a short-head.

From lids-rise the winners of two of the main sprint events this year looked set to dominate matters, with Scurry Gold Cup champion Crossfield Dusty soon rushing up alongside the fast-trapping Sovereign Stakes hero Shrewd Call, the pair hitting the turn side by side – and there was barely anything between them thereafter.

Shrewd Call edged things off the second bend, taking the shorter route round from his midfield pitch, but trap five runner Crossfield Dusty launched a challenge as the pair straightened up and crossed the line the narrowest of margins in front of his rival, the reigning GBGB Sprinter of the Year.

The winning time was 17.65sec (+20), with Tom Heilbron’s Freedom Whisky crossing the line in third place ahead of quick-starting Master Roo (Colin Handford). The pair had been crowded at the first bend along with fellow finalists Tintreach Jet (Paul Donovan) and Skipalong Sarge (Patricia Cowdrill) behind them.

Winning trainer Patrick Janssens was delighted to have scored the verdict, albeit narrowly.

“What a great race and what a buckle between two outstanding sprinters,” said the champion trainer. “Dusty is some dog and incredible when you think he’s not even two years old yet. He’s so consistent. He had a tricky draw but put his head down and stuck to it – and then put his head down again where it mattered on the line!

“But you’ve got to give credit to Shrewd Call who ran a great race in defeat for David (Mullins) and his team. He’s a great dog, too.

“Dusty has a great future in front off him but has achieved plenty already for such a young dog – so thanks to all the staff – Cheryl, Ria and Helen. I’m also delighted for his owners Marc White and his breeder Brendan O’Shea, who still owns half of him.”

Nottingham general manager David Evans was another man delighted with how the meeting panned out. “I really couldn’t have hoped for a better finish to the open-race calendar at Nottingham this year,” he said.

“As the race finished no one in the paddock, restaurant or trackside, could confidently call the winner which is what makes greyhound racing just amazing. You can’t really ask for more than a clean-run race with the two best dogs crossing the line as close as Crossfield Dusty and Shrewd Call did.

“I have to be happy with that and it makes me look forward to next year’s open-race calendar even more – and with the increased prize-money Arc/Entain are putting in I really hope to see more high-quality racing and finishes like Monday’s in 2022.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=380581&raceId=801346