NEWCASTLE welcomes the Gone To the Dogs – Live! cameras for the first time on Thursday for a big-race double-header with the finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat and Arena Racing Company Angel of The North.

Last week’s semi-finals set the scene for this week’s brace of deciders – plus supporting finals – with Newcastle trainers very much in charge heading into the Northern Flat and Angel of The North – with Stephen Caile’s Hardwick Mighty and Jimmy Fenwick’s Coppice Saphire respectively quickest.

Hardwick Mighty made all in the first semi-final of the Northern Flat, keeping the always-handy Deliverooo (Tom Heilbron) at bay to score by three-quarters of a length in 28.36sec (+10). The pair finished ahead of favourite Jacktavern Chief (Glenn Foot), who missed his break but ran well in behind, albeit missed out.

Deliverooo’s kennelmate Droopys Bookem came through a high-quality second semi-final as the Derby semi-finalist forced his way to the front rounding the second bend before coming away for a three and three-quarter lengths success over Naochra (John Flaherty) in 28.61sec (+10) for the 480m trip.

Local handler Heilbron made it three Northern Flat finalists after his Unanimous Leon ran on strongly in the third semi-final behind trap-to-line winner Slingshot Shaz (Brian Fairbairn). The winner crossed the line three and a quarter lengths clear and clocked 28.69sec (+10) for the one lap at the Byker venue.

The runner-up’s trainer said: “Leon’s a good competition dog and Thursday will be his fourth Category One final. He finished second to Wicky Ned in the All England Cup, second in the Sunderland Classic (to Bramble Linton) and was fourth in the Birmingham Cup (to Rioja Bungle), so maybe he deserves a big one.

“But I’m obviously delighted with Droopys Bookem. He’s such a classy dog and came through a real good race last week in the semis – that could easily have been the final, so to win as he did was great to see for us. Deliverooo just never gives up and has developed into a really nice dog – he’s the best drawn in the final, too, you’d have to say.”

Heilbron also enjoyed success in the Angel of The North semis with Dominoh Hoo Hoo leading on the run to the bend on her way to winning the third semi-final in 28.69sec (+10). The other semis went to Jimmy Fenwick’s fastest Coppice Saphire (28.45sec +10) and Roy Smith’s Killieford Hanna (28.54sec +10).

 

 

*NEWCASTLE on Thursday will be the focus of the latest Gone To The Dogs – Live! broadcast with a programme featuring the finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat and Arena Racing Company Angel of the North.

Catch the action via youtube.com/@gonetothedogs-live

*TRAP draw for Thursday’s major finals:-

Arena Racing Company Angel of The North: 1 Killieford Hanna, 2 Bluebell Teddy, 3 Coppice Saphire, 4 Skeard Josie (m), 5 Bogger Darling (m), 6 Dominoh Hoo Hoo (w).

Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat: 1 Droopys Bookem, 2 Naochra, 3 Slingshot Shaz, 4 Hardwick Mighty, 5 Unanimous Leon, 6 Deliverooo (w).