HOPES PADDINGTON, trained by Mark Wallis for Nic and Amanda Jeal, was recently named the RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month winner for January after an impressive success in the Stadium Bookmakers Blue Riband at Towcester.

In landing the award voted for by members of the Greyhound Writers’ Association, Hopes Paddington saw off the challenge from other major winners in the month including Aayamza Magic (Mark Wallis), Cochise (Richard Rees), Mohican Tara (Sean McDonald) and Watchall Sid (Carl Jackson).

Winner last year of the BresBet East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth, the April 2020 son of Good News and Charity Anna eyes a third GBGB Category One success in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Winter Derby Final and is delighting owner Nic Jeal.

He said: “We’re really pleased Hopes Paddington was awarded Greyhound of the Month. Paddy has improved steadily under Mark Wallis and is becoming a firm favourite with us. We always knew the dog had pace when we bought him but he wasn’t showing the early pace he had in Ireland.

“He is now and Mark has once again shown what a fantastic trainer he is, because not only does Paddy start, but he’s showing early pace and staying the four bends strongly. Hopefully he can go well in the Derby, but obviously we’re all looking forward to what should be a great race in the (Ladbrokes) Winter Derby at Monmore.”

Clive Lawrence, executive producer at award sponsors RPGTV, said: “You’d have to say Hopes Paddington is one of the most improved greyhounds in training just now. He was always pretty good – you could see that when he won at Yarmouth – but he’s improved again and again.

“As Nic (Jeal) says, he’s showing a lot more early pace but also has the ability to stay four bends strongly. He won with a late charge at Yarmouth but is now winning races off the front – and staying strongly as well.

“The Blue Riband final proved a great success for the Wallis team given Hopes Paddington was chased home by Antigua Bigun for a kennel one-two and, given Towcester is the home of the Derby, I’d say connections can rightly be excited for what’s to come later in the year, albeit good luck to them at Monmore first!

“Once again I’d say it was a pretty strong field for the January award and well done to all of those who were nominated. Aayamza Magic was fantastic in winning the (Coral) Essex Vase, likewise Cochise in winning the (Arena Racing Company) Cesarewitch. But fair play also to Sean McDonald and Mohican Tara and Watchall Sid and Carl Jackson.

“This was a first nomination for both Sean and Carl. Mohican Tara did something not many greyhounds can do – crossing the line in front of Space Jet in the (WKH Development Services) Diamond Stakes at Oxford – while Watchall Sid and Carl proved British-bred stars in the BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup, also at Oxford. Well done to both.”