LINKS MAVERICK consolidated his position as a leading contender for next year’s GBGB Awards by being recently named RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month for August.

The Tom Heilbron-trained and part-owned runner – he owns the May 2021 son of Grangeview Ten and Havana Lottie along with his dad Kevin Heilbron, Trevor Rush and David Wilson – landed a third GBGB Category One success in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup Final at Monmore during the month, completing an unbeaten run through the event.

In being voted the RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month for August, Links Maverick saw off opposition in a strong month from Ballymac Taylor (Mark Wallis), Clona Duke (Graham Holland), Fabulous Azurra (Patrick Janssens), Fromposttopillar (Liz McNair), Glenvale Bill (Graham Rankin), Hollow Man (Derek Knight) and Space Jet (Matt Dartnall).

Already winner of the Arc Northern Puppy Derby (Newcastle) and Stadium Bookmakers Pall Mall (Oxford), Links Maverick had earlier finished third in the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby at Monmore so has already enjoyed a fruitful year with the Arc Classic at Sunderland and Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup at Newcastle as possible future targets.

Clive Lawrence, executive producer at award sponsors RPGTV, said: “Well done to Tom and his team. Maverick is some dog and was just incredible during the Gold Cup at Monmore. The dog’s got a massive fan club already and is already being spoken about as a possible Greyhound of the Year. That shows you the impression he’s making.

“He’s also proved a real favourite on RPGTV and I think the FaceTime interview with a holidaying Tom on his kennelhand’s Kaitlin’s phone was one of the best bits of TV we’ve had on the show this year! Rab (McNair) set a pretty high bar with his interview after the Summer Stayers Classic the same night, but Tom’s was great fun, too.

“I know Tom is thinking about a race at Shelbourne for Maverick for their Winter Festival later this year which would be great. Either way, RPGTV will be showing that meeting.”

Tony Williamson, Monmore’s racing manager, also paid tribute to Links Maverick and was delighted to see Heilbron’s charge return to the Wolverhampton track two weeks after his Gold Cup triumph for the Lawrence Jones Memorial Festival.

Williamson said: “We love him here and it was great Tom brought Maverick back for the Lol Jones meeting. He’d run a great Puppy Derby campaign and then was just blistering and unbeatable during the Gold Cup. It was almost his encore when he came back for the memorial meeting and saved the best for last with another impressive win in the finale.”