NEWCASTLE stadium manager Ian Walton is eagerly anticipating this week’s semi-finals of the Arena Racing Company Northern Flat after six high-quality heats of the 480m GBGB Category One annual at the Byker venue last week.

Walton said: “It’s a fantastic competition which has already produced some brilliant racing – and looks wide-open ahead of the semi-finals judged on some of the times clocked.

“There were some eye-catching performances on the night with Mickys Barrett taking the step up to all-aged company in his stride,” he said, adding: “Jaguar Macie didn’t lose anything in defeat and also looks to have every chance of taking the title, while Scottish trainer George Cunningham must have been delighted with how his whole team ran on the night. He also has a strong hand in the semis.

“And that’s not forgetting last year’s winning trainer Tom Heilbron with two through and Angela Harrison getting five to the next stage. Harry Burton’s Optic Jimmy is also still in contention. It’s bubbling up nicely and, without doubt, you will need to be a serious greyhound to take the Northern Flat title.”

The 2022 renewal kicked off as it ended in 2021 with victory for a Tom Heilbron-trained runner as Freedom Sky paced up well to lead at the turn on his way to a two-and-a-quarter length success over Paisley Buddie (Neil Brown) and George Cunningham’s Lav Yin Yak in a fastest-of-the-night 28.54sec (normal).

Cunningham was then on the mark in heat two as Narcos Tata swooped late to collar longtime leader Bellmore Pepper (Jimmy Fenwick) who had set a best-of-night 4.49sec split. Skywalker Stan (Ted Soppitt) qualified in third here and the winning time was 28.67sec.

Angela Harrison’s Potent Touch was quickly away in heat three and made all, although last year’s Northern Puppy Derby winner Jaguar Macie (Graham Rankin) kept on well to get within three-quarters of a length of the winner, whose kennelmate Droopys Harry qualified in third here. The winning time was 28.59sec.

Mickys Barrett impressed in winning heat four as this year’s Northern Puppy Derby finalist returned to winning ways as Jason Gray’s dog trapped smartly and made every yard, crossing the line a length-and-a-quarter lengths clear of Narcos Dode (George Cunningham) and Optic Jimmy (Harry Burton) in 28.58sec.

Narcos The Great completed a good night for his trainer as he landed George Cunningham a Northern Flat heat double in heat five as last year’s Sunderland Classic winner led on the run to the bend before leading home Brynoffa Lloyd (Angela Harrison) and Anynamewilldo (Tom Heilbron) in 28.67sec.

The sixth and final heat saw Brian Fairbairn’s Pelaw Grange entry Dunquin Dreamer turn a handy position into a winning one as he came again on the run for home to score by a length and a half from the Angela Harrison-trained pair of All England Cup winner Moanteen Mikey and Droopys Biggy in 28.60sec.

 

Trap draw for Tuesday’s semi-finals: https://www.newcastle-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/results/

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=383142&raceId=823784