IAN WALTON, Newcastle’s general manager, is looking forward to Thursday’s semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup and is full of praise, in particular, for David Mullins and his team for their efforts.

Santas Amigo was fastest of the six heat winners and represents the Romford trainer in the third semi-final later this week as he looks to add to success already in the north east this year in the PGR Classic at Sunderland – and the miles covered by the kennel, in particular kennelhand Kelly Gutteridge, deserves respect says Walton.

He said: “It’s always great to see southern-based trainers competing for any of our major events, but especially the All England Cup. This is the north east’s Derby, after all, and taking on the home trainers is not easy, but David beat them to the punch in the Classic at Sunderland and they’re putting the miles in once again at Newcastle.

“Santas Amigo was superb on Thursday, but so, too, was Tom Heilbron’s team. A treble in the All England Cup heats is some achievement and all three of his winners have a real profile on the circuit and I know Tom’s keen to get his name on the All England Cup roll of honour, as are all our trainers here.”

The event, which shared the stage with The Jimmy Wright Future Stars heats, a puppy event staged in memory of the late trainer and partner of Angela Harrison, kicked off with success for Carl Jackson’s Droopys Sort.

Winning at the fourth time of asking, Droopys Sort finished best to edge Toddys Tank (Tom Heilbron) by three-quarters of a length in 28.98sec (-10).

Slingshot Poppy then struck for another Newcastle trainer in Brian Fairbairn as the Arc Sunderland Puppy Trophy winner justified her lofty ante-post position with a one and a quarter length win in heat two, crossing the line clear of the returning Time Northern Flat winner Naochra (John Flaherty) in 28.56sec (-10).

English Derby finalist Zenith Tanju (ex Sole Mio) was crowded out of the event here.

Tom Heilbron-trained runners rattled off the next three heats courtesy of last year’s All England Cup runner-up Unanimous Leon (28.63sec -10), Untold Racing Stewards Cup Ballymac Sargie (29.00sec -10) and English Derby semi-final finalist Droopys Bookem (28.56sec -10).

Santas Amigo then wrapped up the first round of the £20,000-to-the-winner Category One competition with effectively an all-the-way success for David Mullins, running away from his field for a four and a half lengths success from Fabulous Harmony in 28.30sec (-10).

Trap draw for Thursday’s semis: https://www.newcastle-greyhounds.co.uk/