ICE ON FIRE has won back-to-back RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month awards after topping the poll for November.

Victory in the Carling Eclipse in November followed success in the All England Cup at Newcastle in October, helping Jimmy Fenwick’s star to attract the majority of votes in the poll among RPGTV viewers and become the first greyhound to win successive monthly awards since Shotgun Bullet’s January and February triumphs last year.

A delighted Jimmy Fenwick said: “It’s fantastic to hear we’ve won again. It’s proved a pretty decent week given we won the Laurels at Newcastle as well and that’s it for the year now. Hopefully everyone has enjoyed him racing this year – but no more than us and Dave (Spraggon).

“I know Dave had some pretty tasty offers for him, buy says he’s waited for 40 years for a dog like Ice On Fire so I’m delighted to say he refused them! We are all enjoying the ride and certainly gives us a glow heading into the winter. We’ve seen the prices for the Derby so clearly he’s made a real impression.

“Personally, I’d say his best run was the Eclipse final at Nottingham. He destroyed a quality field of top-class dogs and Cat One winners by nearly ten lengths. He was sensational that night and proved without question that night that we had a very special greyhound – although right from the start hoped that was the case.

“I actually think he’ll be better in 2020. He’s maturing and getting stronger, so we’ll let him enjoy a rest and then map out a campaign next year. He’ll be back in February/March time and the Derby is the obvious target, of course. His whole campaign will be directed towards Nottingham.”

The undoubted star of Jimmy Fenwick’s kennels at Morpeth in Northumberland, ‘Duke’ is the pride and joy of the trainer’s wife Melanie.

“Mel certainly has a special relationship with Duke,” added Jimmy Fenwick. “He’d follow her round everywhere if he could and does what she tells him! I think when he races she takes every step with him – and he knows a cheeseburger awaits when he’s done well! He certainly enjoyed one after the Laurels!

“But whenever I talk about Ice On Fire, I have immense pride that we are doing this for Dave. I’ve known Dave since I was in a pram at Newcastle! We always got on great and, given he’s a now retired trainer, knows more about the game than anyone.

“Our success with Duke is very much a family affair for us and Dave. Dave’s wife Pat and their daughters Katie and Joanne are enjoying the nights we’re racing with Duke and those competition wins have been great nights for us all.

“When Dave retired from training we had a small presentation for him at Newcastle a few years back and he said that afternoon that, if he ever found a good dog, he would ask me to train and look after the dog.

“Dave was true to his word when Duke arrived from Gerry McCusker and I’m delighted to say a dog and a bitch from the next litter of Bigmans Grainne are arriving here early next year, both owned by Dave. They are Ice Cool Cain and Ice Maiden and are September 18s by Droopys Cain.”

GWA chairman Jonathan Hobbs said: “It’s a great achievement and shows what a popular greyhound Ice On Fire is. It will be interesting to see how the December poll goes now. The Laurels was ‘only’ a Cat Two, but he’s the biggest story in greyhound racing just now so might be become the first greyhound to win three in a row?”

Ice On Fire topped the RPGTV viewers poll in November, claiming almost 77 per cent of the vote ahead of Brendan Maunsell’s Redzer Ardfert, John Mullins’ Saving Sonic and Ernie Gaskin’s Droopys Addition.