JAGUAR MACIE was recently named the RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month for February.

Winner of the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby at Monmore last month for trainer Graham Rankin and part-owner Tony Armstrong, the April 2019 daughter of Droopys Jet and Droopys Breeze is currently engaged in the Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby at Newcastle. She runs in next week’s final after winning Wednesday’s semi-final.

On the Greyhound of the Month award, her Airdrie-based trainer said: “Thank-you to RPGTV for sponsoring and supporting it – receiving the trophy was certainly a tonic for myself. But I’m also delighted for Tony (Armstrong, part-owner). He’d have loved to have been at Monmore and the same at Newcastle next week.

“Of course, the current restrictions don’t make that possible just now, but hopefully things will begin to ease soon. He’s followed her every run, both on RPGTV at Monmore and Sky Sports at Newcastle, and was fully kept up to speed with our journeys down to Monmore during the Puppy Derby which weren’t always plain sailing!

“Thankfully, all worked out well in the end and she was brilliant on the night. She had trap four in the final which might not have been ideal given she’s a railer, but I knew she’d been schooled as a pup out of traps four and fives so I was pretty hopeful she’d handle it – and she did very well.

“Winning the Greyhound of the Month trophy is certainly a bonus and we can’t really ask for more of her. She turns two shortly, so Monmore and Newcastle are her last puppy races before we go all-aged, but she’s maturing all the time. We’re just hoping for some luck come the final at Newcastle next week. She’s in great order.”

Jaguar Macie was one of four nominations for the RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month for February – the others being Towcester Blue Riband champion Kilara Lion (Patrick Janssens), Crayford Golden Jacket hero Punk Rock Mutley (Stuart Maplesden) and Monmore Winter Derby winner Signet Ace (Kevin Hutton).

Clive Lawrence, RPGTV’s executive producer, said: “Well done to Jaguar Macie, Graham Rankin and Tony Armstrong – they came through a particular strong list of contenders in February.

“Macie’s performances at Monmore were top drawer and she’s continued that form at Newcastle. We wish connections all the best in next week’s final. Thanks again to the GWA members and to Burridge Trophies.”