NEWINN SOULY produced a superb exhibition of all-round pace to claim glory for Monmore in the final of the Coral Romford Guys And Dolls at the Essex track on Friday – on what proved a huge night for his trainer Kim Billingham-Hine.

Watching proceedings unfold at Romford from Dunstall Park as she oversaw her Kilwest Diva making it through to the final of this week’s Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks, Kim’s sister Joanne handled matters at the London Road venue and joined delighted owner Alex McCarthy at the winner’s podium after Newinn Souly claimed the £5,000 prize.

For many years held at Crayford, Romford has taken over the running of the Coral Guys And Dolls – a unique competition in the GBGB Calendar that separates the dogs (Guys) and the bitches (Dolls) in heats and semi-finals before bringing them together for the Category Two final over 400m, for which Brindle Bully (David Mullins) went off favourite.

However, a missed break from the local hope saw him having to play catch-up. The 15-8 chance did run a storming race in defeat but pacing up into contention, Newinn Souly (9-2) hit the front off the second bend and was on his way to success.

Runner-up Bacon Roll (Paul Burr) kept up the pressure in behind, running on gamely to finish a length behind the 24.15sec (-20) winner, with Brindle Bully closing up with every stride up the home straight to finish third, a further three-quarters of a length behind.

On a night Romford also staged the finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes and Maurice Newman Memorial Marathon, it was Newinn Souly who claimed the Guys And Dolls title as the October 2022 son of Newinn Session and Newinn Mimi took one of the major prizes on a successful evening there.

“It was a great night’s racing with some brilliant winners,” said Romford racing manager Mark Arkell.

“The highlight was obviously New Destiny’s PGR Champion Stakes win – she really is one of the best we’ve seen and, of course, is the current track record, too. That was her third Cat One win here and back-to-back Champion Stakes. A true great. 

“We had four finals in total so well done to connections of Maxine Locke’s Whitewood Lenny, winning the Romford Friday Night 500 Standard Final, and to Pam Cross’s Ballymac Nova for winning the Maurice Newman Memorial Marathon.

“And not least to Kim Billingham-Hine and her team with Newinn Souly. He ran great in a competition that we’ve been delighted to keep going this year after so many years at Crayford. It was a really pleasing competition and nice to see Kim and Joanne rewarded after putting the miles in each week getting here!”

Photos: © Steve Nash