WICKY NED will line up a warm order for Friday’s Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup Final at Newcastle after producing his best run yet at the Byker venue last week.

Already winner in 2024 of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat over the track’s 480m, as well as the Sheffield double of the BresBet Gymcrack and Steel City Cup – and with it a sponsor’s bonus for winning both – the Jimmy Fenwick-trained and Neil McGregor-owned runner stormed into Thursday’s £20,000 decider with a supreme turn of all-round pace.

On an eventful night at Newcastle, Wicky Ned’s performance was pure class and straightforward in terms of a fast start and 4.45sec sectional setting up a six and a half length victory over Unanimous Leon (Tom Heilbron) in the first semi-final in a brilliant 28.15sec (normal).

The victory delighted winning trainer Fenwick, who said: “He had a chance to run this time, unlike in the heats. I thought he actually showed great pace and trackcraft to get himself out of a tricky spot just to qualify.

“It was one of those nights when things maybe didn’t get go the way everyone thought but Ned ran well, so once he trapped like he did in the semis we knew he had every chance.

“It’s greyhound racing so you never can be certain of things, but he’s given himself an excellent chance in a competition we’d dearly love to win again.

“They call the All England Cup the ‘North East Derby’ and so it’s a special race for us. We bred and owned the champion back in 2006 in Geordie Parker and won it with Ice On Fire in 2019 and know it takes a good dog to win it – we’re hoping it’s Ned on Friday.”

Newcastle aims to serve up a mid-Xmas and New Year treat with the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup Final on Friday – and how ever the Category One pans out a local success in the famous competition is certain with an all-Newcastle line-up.

There had been a 33-1 upset in the second semi-final after Stephen Caile’s Crooks Coco came through on the run for home to collar Silverhill Ben (Tom Heilbron) by half a length in 28.83sec (normal) after the latter’s kennelmates came together at the third bend, the subsequently disqualified Antigua Hawk taking out longtime leader Links Maverick at this point.

The final two places in Friday’s final went to another Caile-trained runner as Hardwick Mighty led early and made all, crossing the line two lengths clear of outsider Slingshot Skylah (Brian Fairbairn) in 28.63sec (normal).

This semi-final had also produced a surprise result after market leaders Lion Heart (Carl Jackson) and Carrick Fergie (Garry Hamilton) had come together at the turn.

Draw for Friday’s Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup Final: 1 Crooks Coco, 2 Unanimous Leon, 3 Wicky Ned, 4 Silverhill Ben (m), 5 Hardwick Mighty (m), 6 Slingshot Skylah (m).