SAVANA VOLCANO confirmed the Dorando form as the local star gained revenge for her heat defeat by Aayamaza Royale in Sunday’s Stadium Bookmakers Marathon Final over 942m at Towcester.

The new Category One event always looked a head-to-head between the two best eight-bend runners in training and it was Diane Henry’s bitch who got the better of Mark Wallis’s GBGB Greyhound of the Year – just as the three-year-old had done on Derby final night.

Owned by Towcester promoter Kevin Boothby, the May 2018 daughter of Confident Rankin and Volcano turned in a handier pitch than Regency champion Aayamza Royale, so had first crack at pacesetting Antigua Mememe (Mark Wallis).

Leading at the sixth bend, Henry’s brilliant bitch was now in full flow and, while Aayamaza Royale unleashed an impressive challenge in behind, the winner was always holding her great rival to cross the line a length in front in 58.27sec.

Winning trainer Henry said: “I cannot tell you how delighted I am. It was an absolute cracker and I’m just so proud – I’ve just felt on top of the world today around the kennel.

“These dogs are the only thing I have in my life which bring me pure happiness, joy and contentment – so, when they do perform, all I can say is that no lottery win or anything else could replace what this means.

“Volcano is so, so special. She makes me proud each and every time she runs – and especially on Sunday after such a tense week. I wasn’t happy with her performance in the heats at all – I knew that she wasn’t firing.

“With sickness the week before going through the kennel I knew she was up against it in the heats. Also I needed to correct a slight problem through the week which George Drake dealt with – he does a fantastic job and, anytime I have a concern with her, he always fits me in to sort it. She then had a much better week and I was able to get her bang on for the final.

“It just worked out beautifully. She dug deep and showed real determination to win. I could see Royale gaining quite rapidly – and she ran a cracking race I must add – but Volcano seems to just take the foot off the gas slightly then kicks on again and stays out the distance more comfortably.

“The two are tremendous bitches. In my opinion I think they’re equally matched in their field – it’s just a case of which one of them gets first run and, of course, a clear run. It’s what happens on the night.

“Volcano will be heading over to Perry Barr next month, then back to Towcester in October for their next group one marathon race.

“I’d also like to say many thanks to the bookmakers at Towcester for sponsoring the race. They’re doing a great job in getting some good quality competitions on at the track.”

Towcester spokesman Nathan Corden added: “It really was a great race and absolutely lived up to the hype, producing a thrilling race between constant rivals Aayamza Royale and Savana Volcano – so well done to Kevin and Diane.

“And we can look forward to them doing it all again in the next instalment here in October when we’ll hopefully see them both take on each again in the 1st Containers Marathon Trophy.

“That promises to be another great competition, as will be our next Category One event which is for bitches only with the Empress Stakes starting on September 12. It finishes on September 26 to coincide with Towcester Rocks!

“That also promises to be a top-class day of racing and music, featuring top bands such as Scouting For Girls, The Hoosiers, Reef and The Feeling.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=376572&raceId=766866