DANNY RAYMENT, Crayford’s racing manager, will oversee his 12th Ladbrokes Golden Jacket – his 21st in all since joining the Kent track – and rates this year’s renewal up there with the best. The draw for the £17,500 Category One event was made at the GBGB on Friday morning.

“Overall, I’m really pleased with the quality of this year’s entry and once again look forward to an exciting and fascinating competition,” he said. “I’ve seen a good few Golden Jackets now – and been lucky enough to see many top-class greyhounds win it.

“Of the winners, a couple that stand out would be Centaur Corker, who was an absolute machine and impressive winner for Brian Clemenson, as was Patchys Kerry two years ago. Her trainer Mark Wallis again has a strong team headed by Rubys Rascal and Roswell Romanov.

“It’d be no surprise for either of those to triumph, but I often remember those who were unlucky not to win and probably the unluckiest loser I’ve seen is the great Roxholme Girl. She’s probably the best I’ve ever seen at Crayford, but got no sort of run in her Jacket final behind Greenacre Lin.

“It’s therefore always good to see her connections – Hayley and Mark Keightley – back, and Hayley also has a strong hand with Huarache Madison and Jackeen Flyer near the top of the betting, although single-figure odds about this pair and Shotgun Bullet look short in a quality contest!

“Better value might be Goldies Hotspur, the TV Trophy winner, who absolutely flew round in a trial clocking 45.30sec (normal). She catches the eye, as do a couple of locals around the 25-1 mark.

“Rylane Dash is reaching peak form after season and was desperately unlucky in the Mitch Millward Memorial at Romford – so might Mark Fenwick be celebrating victory 11 years after his mentor Patsy Cusack won the Golden Jacket with Walk The Line?

“Zenas Treacle is also certainly no back number and is probably as fast as anything in the competition. Gemma Davidson’s runner has been unlucky in the big competitions, but has the ability to go a long way if that changes.”

This year’s Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, won for Ireland last year by Dolores Ruth’s Boylesports Star, kicks off on Tuesday evening with six heats over 714m with the first three in each qualifier making it to the semi-finals on Tuesday week.

The final, and gala supporting card including the Peter Bussey Memorial, takes place on Tuesday, February 27. Incidentally, the Mark Wallis camp has won the Peter Bussey Memorial for the past six years – and Imperial Kennels is well represented in a strong heat one of the Golden Jacket.

They send out the high-class Roswell Romanov against last year’s Golden Jacket fourth Jaytee Patriot, last month’s Coronation Cup winner Shotgun Bullet, plus Select Stayers hero Russelena Reggie. Romeo Desperado and Bubbly Tempest complete a fine field.

Goldies Hotspur, the TV Trophy winner, runs in heat two, while St Leger winner Rubys Rascal lines up in heat four. Highly-rated ex-Irish racer Jackeen Flyer goes in the sixth and concluding heat.