IAN WALTON, Newcastle’s general manager, admitted the line-ups for Thursday’s upcoming semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup are not what he expected after a night of surprises at the Byker venue for last week’s heats.

“Seeing the (Premier Greyhound Racing) Oaks winner Druids Say Go crash out, plus Angel of the North winner Untold Ruble and the super-consistent Coolavanny Mercy also going out were real surprises,” he said.

“Even Wicky Ned getting beat was a surprise, but at least Jimmy (Fenwick) and the team can look forward to going again in the semis. On such a night, they’d have settled for third place I’m sure and at least qualifying for Thursday,” added Walton.

“We’ve still got a cracking All England Cup to look forward and both sides of Christmas we’ve got some top-class racing, but I’d say it’s still wide open heading into the semis.”

Won last year by Swift Silly for Newcastle trainer Ray Hale, the locals will once again have a huge say in the destination of the 2024 Category One trophy.

Newcastle-trained runners won four of the six heats last week, kicking off with the hugely popular Links Maverick – the Tom Heilbron-trained winner of last year’s Northern Puppy Derby over C&D – winning heat one.

Also last year’s Monmore Gold Cup and Oxford Pall Mall champion, Links Maverick utilised his trademark early pace to lead up in the opener and, while Antigua Kestrel (Kevin Hutton) joined issue close, a short-head separated the pair in 28.78sec (-10).

Jimmy Fenwick struck in heat two with Ballymac Camilla, the daughter of Jaytee Jet leading round the last two bends for a two-length win over Lion Heart (Carl Jackson) in 28.79sec (-10), a heat in which hot favourite Coolavanny Mercy bowed out in fourth.

Doncaster’s Colliers Brynner was quickest on the night as Paul Prior’s runner made all in heat three in 28.61sec, winning by two and a half lengths from local Delvin Cat (Stephen Caile). Angel of the North winner Untold Ruble (8-15F) finished fourth here.

Druids Say Go (Patrick Janssens) went off a 4-5 chance in heat four but the fast-starting favourite was soon taken on by Unanimous Leon (Tom Heilbron) and, while always handy despite crowding along the way, tired off the last bend and crossed the line in fifth.

Victory here went to the Brian Fairbairn-trained Slingshot Skylah, the 33-1 chance finishing best of all to strike in a blanket finish from Unanimous Leon and Silverhill Ben (Tom Heilbron) in 29.23sec (-10). Just over a length separated the first five home here.

There was another double-figure priced winner in heat five as Stuart Ray’s Blackhouse Kim (12-1) stayed on best for the spoils from Hardwick Mighty (Stephen Caile) in 29.08sec (-10) – a heat in which crowded out 2-9 favourite Wicky Ned (Jimmy Fenwick) was beaten into third but still qualified for Thursday’s semi-finals.

The sixth and final heat went to the Patrick Janssens-trained Romeo Kingpin who led down the back in a trouble-marred heat before crossing the line seven lengths clear of Romeo Javelin (Dave Winder) in 28.96sec (-10) for the 480m trip.

Trap draw for Thursday’s Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup semis:

First semi: 1 Romeo Kingpin, 2 Wicky Ned, 3 Unanimous Leon, 4 Caraxes (m), 5 Colliers Brynner (m), 6 Romeo Javelin (w).

Second semi: 1 Antigua Hawk, 2 Crooks Coco, 3 Links Maverick, 4 Silverhill Ben (m), 5 Droopys Trouper (m), 6 Blackhouse Kim (w).

Third semi: 1 Lion Heart, 2 Carrick Fergie, 3 Slingshot Skylah (m), 4 Hardwick Mighty (m), 5 Ballymac Camilla (m), 6 Delvin Cat (w).