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 Sprinter of the Year nominees – Mashmad Eyebrows, Queen Anna (pictured) and Roxholme Hat – three outstanding racers and big-race winners looking to succeed last year’s champion Walshes Hill.

Mashmad Eyebrows

wbk b Brett Lee – Ballymac Eugenie, May 2014

Trainers: Kevin Hutton, Mark Wallis

Owners: John Scofield and Alex Antoniou

2017 Race record: 16 races, 8 wins

Claims to fame: Won the BresMed Northern Sprint at Sheffield in April, the only Category One sprint in the GBGB Calendar when leading home subsequent Derby finalist and Peterborough Derby winner Hiya Butt. Wins followed at Romford before this litter sister of fellow top-class sprinter Ela Ela Genie and Ela Alecko was sent off to the breeding paddocks in the summer.

Breeder Martin Tucker says: “We’re so proud of all the litter, bred here at Mountcashel Kennels, Roscommon – and Eyebrows played her part. She’s the only Category One sprint winner in 2017 and that was some field with not just Hiya Butt but an Irish Oaks winner in Forest Natalee and a National Sprint winner in Trapstyle Jet. She had a litter of seven to Kinloch Brae in September.”

Queen Anna

bk b Tullymurry Act – Skate On, Oct 2015

Trainer: Liz McNair

Owner: KSS Syndicate

2017 Race record: 15 races, 7 wins

Claims to fame: A litter sister of multiple big-race winner King Elvis and fellow top open-racer Queen Adele, Queen Anna landed the end-of-season two-bend showpiece, the Stadium Bookmakers National Sprint. She ran unbeaten through the Notts event, having earlier set a new track record for Henlow’s 277m sprint trip on the night King Elvis won the Henlow Derby.

Trainer says: “We’re delighted that Anna got a nomination. She ran Nottingham brilliantly, gliding round the bends, and that was a high-class final. We always knew she had loads of speed – the Henlow record proved that – and it’s just great for Skate On. We still can’t believe the writers missed her out a few years back – great she’s now represented as a leading dam.”

Roxholme Hat

wbe d Ballymac Vic – Emma Honey, May 2015

Trainer: Hayley Keightley

Owners: Hayley Keightley, Martin Green and Duncan Lambie

2017 Race record: 20 races, 12 wins

Claims to fame: Winner of the BAPP Group of Companies Scurry Cup at Belle Vue, during which he set a track record. Had earlier run-up to Precisely in the Festival Flyer at Sunderland, and between clocked up a victory in the Betfred Sprint Trophy at Nottingham. Failed narrowly to overcome a poor draw in the semi-finals of the National Sprint.”

Trainer says: “With better luck Hat might have won the lot! He’s such a fast dog but didn’t get the clearest of runs at Sunderland and then trap five in the National Sprint was just too much for him, but he gave it a good go! The times he’s clocked in races and trials show what a class act he is – and he can go even better. He’s cramped but still does 17.50s at Notts. Amazing.”

Last year’s winner: Walshes Hill, owned by Andrew Wood. Trained by Jimmy Wright.

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