NAOCHRA continued trainer John Flaherty’s fine 2025 at Newcastle with victory in the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat Final at a busy Byker track.

On a night the north-east venue also staged the final of the Arena Racing Company Angel of The North Final, it was victory for Scotland as trainer Flaherty and owner Michael Connolly and his family celebrated victory in the £12,500 feature event to add to their success with Sirdar in the BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby over the same C&D in May.

That was a Category Two event but success this time was of the Category One variety and came after a battling performance from the June 2022 son of Pestana and Lemon Kerrie.

Deliverooo went to traps as favourite for the 480m showpiece as one of three finalists for local handler Tom Heilbron, with the same trainer’s Droopys Bookem well fancied as a Derby semi-finalist.

However, right from the get-go it looked wide open with a pretty level start and nothing between the six into the first bend and coming off the second turn. Jostling for position at the point, Hardwick Mighty (Stephen Caile) shot to the front and set sail for home with a lead heading into the third bend which he carried into the home straight.

But Naochra was always on the premises and his all-round pace steadily began to cut the deficit, as did Deliverooo on the outside, and kennelmate Droopys Bookem inside.

Approaching the line Naochra just nosed ahead for a neck success over Hardwick Mighty, himself just a short-head in front of Deliverooo, with Droopys Bookem and Slingshot Shaz (Brian Fairbairn) also close up, helping make for a cracking race. The winning time for the 480m was 28.66sec (normal).

“He never gives up this dog,” said winning trainer Flaherty, “and once he’s come away we always knew he’d battle away and he’s timed it right. I’m just delighted for this man.”

Flaherty was referring to owner Michael Connolly, who admitted to easing pre-race nerves by pushing his granddaughter around in a pram on the terraces!

“It took my mind off things, but this is just fantastic. I knew John’s late father Pat some 30 years ago – a great dog man himself – and have been close to the family for many years,” said Flaherty. “To win a race as special as the Northern Flat is just brilliant.”

Newcastle stadium manager Ian Walton said: “Well done to John and Michael – and all the team. We’ve had something of a Scottish takeover tonight – which has been great.

“Brian Fairbairn and Craig Armstrong had 70-plus people in the restaurant here, making the journey from Scotland and, while they were out of luck in the main event, had two winners on the card with Slingshot Gazza and Clona Ice. They enjoyed those!”

Willie Rigney of big-race sponsors Time Greyhound Nutrition said: “This is the second year we’ve sponsored the Northern Flat and it’s been great to support a great competition.

“There’s been a great crowd here tonight, once again showing the north-east of England to be passionate about their greyhound racing and it’s been good to catch up with a number of our clients – as well as putting something back into the sport.”