NEWCASTLE is preparing for a return to Saturday night racing this week for what promises to be an extra special occasion as its biggest competition of the year comes down for decision with the final of the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup.

The ‘North East Derby’ is worth £20,000 to the winner and a high-class contest over 480m will decide the destination of one of the last major prizes of 2025. However, the meeting is more than that with the final of The Jimmy Wright Future Stars being staged alongside the Category One event and given Category Two status.

Remembering the late former trainer and partner of Angela Harrison, Newcastle general manager Ian Walton says Jimmy Wright will be very much in the thoughts of all at the track at the weekend, and supporting races are being named after champions trained by Jimmy including the likes of Droopys Buick, Coolavanny Aunty, Droopys Expert and Walshes Hill.

“They were legends of the track here at Newcastle and so well handled by Jimmy and Angela and it’s so right that’s acknowledged on the night as we stage another All England Cup Final here,” said Walton. “Jimmy enjoyed All England Cup Final nights. They always produced great and high-class racing and that will be the same here on Saturday.”

Heading into the final of the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup, Santas Amigo lines up as the fastest semi-final winner after impressing again on Thursday.

A fluent winner of his heat, the David Mullins-trained Romford tracker came through a third semi-final test against Slingshot Poppy (Brian Fairbairn) with flying colours when leading after halfway before pulling clear to win by four and three-quarter lengths from Unanimous Leon (Tom Heilbron), last year’s runner-up, in 28.30sec (-10).

Jimmy Fenwick’s Ballymac Lake struck in the first semi when making all for a three and a quarter lengths win over Droopys Bookem (Tom Heilbron) in 28.38sec (-10), while Tom Heilbron’s Toddys Tank struck in the second semi with a powerful display to lead home Ballymac Briar (Stephen Caile) in 28.71sec (-10), also by three and a quarter lengths.

It means Newcastle handler Heilbron has three finalists on Saturday and that achievement was applauded by GM Walton, who said: “Fair play to Tom and his team. He’s had another very good year on the open-race circuit and to get three finalists through to a final as prestigious as the All England Cup is top notch.

“You sensed he was going to have a big say in the event with three heat winners and an All England Cup win for him is within touching distance but he knows, and we all do, that David (Mullins) has a massive chance of another victory in the north east.

“His Santas Amigo won the Arc Classic at Sunderland and, if anything, he’s improved since then. He’s a worthy favourite, for sure.

“All in all we’re looking forward to a brilliant night and it feels good to have a Saturday night here. Bookings are good and we know the Newcastle greyhound community love their top-class racing so bring it on.”

Trap draw for the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup Final: 1 Droopys Bookem, 2 Unanimous Leon, 3 Ballymac Briar, 4 Ballymac Lake, 5 Toddys Tank (m), 6 Santas Amigo (m).