PARKERS DYNAMITE denied Razldazl RaIdio an historic back-to-back victory, but put himself very much at the top table in his category with a brilliant success in Friday’s John Smith’s Grand National Final at Central Park – landing champion trainer Mark Wallis a third win in the hurdlers’ Classic.

Following wins for Lethal Rumble in 2005 and Cornamaddy Jumbo (2014), the subsequent Greyhound of the Year, Parkers Dynamite (pictured above with winning connections) helped continue a fine run for his handler after success in the recent BresMed Northern Sprint at Sheffield and at the Trainers’ Championship at Towcester last week – a track where the winner will now chase Champion Hurdle glory.

“His hurdling has improved at Towcester, and he’s come on again during the National,” said Wallis. “He wasn’t the most straightforward of dogs on the flat, and you’d say my other finalist Swift Dartmoor was a faster dog on the level, but the jumps really have been the making of Parkers Dynamite and I’m delighted for Sarah (Parker, owner).”

Pacing up well alongside kennelmate Swift Dartmoor and the challenging Razldazl RaIdio into the bend, the eventual winner used the inside line to gain a valuable edge at the turn, his chance helped when a bump with Swift Dartmoor saw Razldazl RaIdio shunted sideways, Ricky Holloway’s defending champion effectively losing all chance.

Stretching clear down the back, Parkers Dynamite came home five and a half lengths clear of the rallying Razldazl RaIdio in 29.46sec (-30), with the latter’s trainer Holloway philosophical in defeat about his prolific-scoring greyhound who was contesting a third Grand National final – with his next race set to be in the heats of the Star Sports English Greyhound Derby.

He will be joined at Towcester by kennelmate Lenson Wilson, the Springbok champion, and Holloway reports both runners all set for the Classic after Lenson Wilson trialled back at Crayford in 23.33sec for the 380m hurdles trip at Crayford, just ten spots off the clock.

“Both are good,” he said. “Raidio just couldn’t recover after being turned sideways at the first bend as the field moved off,” said Holloway. “He was pretty much disputing the lead then, but thankfully stayed on his feet and ran on well. Congratulations to Mark and Parkers Dynamite – he’s run a great race.”

Kieran Lifely, general manager at Central Park, praised connections of the winner. He said: “Parkers Dynamite was a real impressive Grand National winner and his performance topped off a great night here. We also had a good supporting open-race card, and King Turbo’s win was another real impressive performance.

“We also had good wins from Hit the Roaduk, who won again in style, and Fwesh Fweshfwesh who broke his open-race duck with a cracking win. But Parkers Dynamite’s win was special – once hitting the front it would have taken something special to get to him, but Razldazl Raidio ran his heart out for his trainer.

“However, the night belonged to Mark Wallis and his team. He hardly put a foot wrong throughout the competition and is a worthy Grand National winner and a credit to his connections. They’ve had a great run of success and it was a pleasure to have them here at Central Park, and we hope to welcome connections of all the open-race runners here again soon.”

Results: www.gbgb.org.uk/resultsMeeting.aspx?id=159008