LINKS MAVERICK enjoyed better luck – and more – in this year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Classic heats with a fastest-of-the-night effort in the first round of the Category One competition over 450m at Sunderland.

Twelve months on from exiting the event at the opening stage, Tom Heilbron’s superstar was back at the Wearside venue for a standard-setting performance in heat two as last year’s Monmore Gold Cup, Oxford Pall Mall and Newcastle Northern Puppy Derby has his sights locked on another big-race victory.

Soon in charge off a decent break, Links Maverick piled on the pressure off the front and drew away for a three-length success over Oscar The Grouch (Gary Hamilton) and another Heilbron runner in Unanimous Leon in 26.65sec (normal) for the 450m trip – initiating a double for the Heilbron camp in the process.

Untold Ruble later completed the double for the trainer, who has five runners through to the semi-finals, as the Angel Of The North heroine reeled in Headford Sonny on the run for home for a two-length victory in 27.16sec (normal).

Stonepark Hoffa was eye-catching when making a winning UK debut for Savva Roberts in the opening heat as the ex-Irish star led early on his way to a runaway five-and-a-quarter length success dog in 26.74sec in heat one, scoring from Romford Puppy Cup hero Fire And Ice, while another big Romford winner was also in action in heat six.

The David Mullins-trained Brindle Bully, recent winner of the Coral Silver Standard and a litter brother of kennelmate March On Freddie, currently engaged in the Irish Derby at Shelbourne, struck gold in the final heat as he finished best to catch longtime leader Bramble Linton (Steve Anderson) in 26.75sec (normal).

Angela Harrison’s Coolavanny Mercy led at the first bend in heat three before racing away for a comfortable five-and-a-quarter length success over Pall Mall champion Aero Sacundai (Richie Taberner) in 26.84sec, while the remaining heat five went to Perry Barr raider Swift Underwater in what was the closest finish of the night.

Madabout Peck (Tom Heilbron) led early here but Swift Underwater was soon handy and John Lambe’s runner pushed on down the back. However, the Newcastle entry kept up the pressure on the leader, with Lion Heart (Carl Jackson) also joining the issue as they swung for home – Swift Underwater edging the latter by half a length in 27.19sec (normal).

Joanne Wilson, Sunderland’s stadium manager, said: “It was a superb start to this year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Classic and we’re all now looking forward to Friday’s semis.

“It was, of course, great to see Links Maverick here at Sunderland again. He actually won his first open-race here back in November 2022, almost two years ago to the day, as a very young pup and Tom said on the night he was going to be something special. He was absolutely right.

“Overall, it’s an outstanding level of entries and we thank all the trainers and owners involved for their support. We intend to make the event a huge success and have run a competition to win tickets for final night so we’re hoping for a bumper crowd here at Sunderland on Friday week, November 15.”

Trap draw for Friday’s Premier Greyhound Racing Classic semi-finals:-

First semi: 1 Oscar The Grouch, 2 Swift Underwater, 3 Fire And Ice, 4 Headford Sonny, 5 Tromora Supreme, 6 Madabout Peck (m).

Second semi: 1 Unanimous Leon, 2 Links Maverick, 3 Stonepark Hoffa, 4 Wraysbury Katie, 5 Lion Heart, 6 Coolavanny Mercy (m).

Third semi: 1 Untold Euro, 2 Untold Ruble, 3 Bramble Linton, 4 Aero Sacundai, 5 Droopys Prefect (m), 6 Brindle Bully (w).