WE continue the countdown to greyhound racing’s night of the year – the GBGB Greyhound of the Year Awards at the Park Plaza, London, on Sunday, January 28 – by looking at those stars of the track who have made the list of nominations for the various award categories.

Next is the SIS Marathon Performer of the Year nominees – Boylesports Star, Goldies Hotspur and defending champion Roxholme Magic – three outstanding racers and big-race winners.

Boylesports Star

bk d Razldazl Billy – Razldazl Marilyn, Jan 2015

Trainer: Dolores Ruth, Ireland

Owner: John Boyle

2017 UK Race record: 5 races, 3 wins

Claims to fame: Ireland’s loss in terms of the cancellation of race fixtures at Shelbourne Park in early 2017 was very much the UK’s gain given Irish entries for the major staying races at the turn of the year. Boylesports Star came over for the Prestige at Hall Green and ran second to Rubys Razzle before producing a powerhouse performance to reverse that form in the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket at Crayford.

Trainer says: “He ran fantastically in the UK – and at Crayford in the final he was just awesome. He was up against it, flopping out the boxes, and Rubys Razzle really put him under pressure. Thankfully he came through well, and I was delighted for his owner John Boyle of BoyleSports – I think he enjoyed taking Ladbrokes’s money. Sadly, he’ll miss the Jacket defence but we might well have a crack at the Regency.”

Goldies Hotspur

bk b Aero Majestic – Slick Sapphire, Jan 2015

Trainer: Patrick Janssens

Owner: Andrew Pelley

2017 Race record: 23 races, 9 wins

Claims to fame: Started out over four bends at Towcester, but connections always knew her best would come with a test – and a trip to Romford underlined that. Racing over 750m, Goldies Hotspur won by 18 and three-quarter lengths! Later ran a cracking St Leger campaign before grabbing gold in the TV Trophy. Helped her trainer gain a first top-six finish in the Trainer of the Year race.

Trainer says: “I’ve always thought the world of her, and knew she could catch pigeons so when she hit the front so early in the TV Trophy final I knew she’d win. Her odds were far too big, even though we all had huge respect for what Roxholme Magic had achieved. To finish third in the St Leger and then win the TV Trophy helped make 2017 a very special year for us.”

Roxholme Magic

wbk b Definate Opinion- Sizzling Sarah, July 2012

Trainer: Hayley Keightley

Owners: Hayley and the Dream Boys

2017 Race record: 5 races, 4 wins

Claims to fame: Marathon queen in the UK for a few seasons, Roxholme Magic retired this year with an impressive career record littered with track records and wins up to 1048m. Winner of this award last year, her 2017 was curtailed by injury but she underlined her class with wins at Crayford, Sheffield, Towcester and Romford – the latter in a runaway match victory over Rubys Rascal.

Trainer says: “She’s been a champion in her division for many years – and one of the best there’s ever been. We had to give her a chance in the TV Trophy, although Towcester was never her track – even though she won her heat pretty much at the age of five, remember. She has just come into season and will mated with Kinloch Brae.”

Last year’s winner: Roxholme Magic, owned by Hayley and the Dream Boys. Trained by Hayley Keightley.

Nominations: www.gbgb.org.uk/news/2/2017/12/754/2017-GBGB-Awards-Nominations