NEWCASTLE stages a big-race double-header on Thursday with the track’s general manager Ian Walton delighted how both events have produced major performances and talking points.

Slingshot Poppy’s sensational 27.95sec (normal) in her semi-final of the Arena Racing Company Angel of The North is the second fastest time ever for the 480m trip at the Byker venue and she will line up a hot favourite in the final of the bitches’ annual, while Wicky Ned is looking to become the first greyhound ever to regain the title when he goes in the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat Final.

“I’m not sure we could have asked for much more of both competitions this year,” said Walton. “Slingshot Poppy rightly took the headlines with her run in the Angel of The North. We’ve all believed Droopys Shearer’s 27.90sec track record to be untouchable but she certainly gave it a shake! It was an astonishing run and she’s certainly the fastest bitch I’ve ever seen.

“I remember Droopys Expert clocking some fast times here – he had a best of 27.98sec – but Slingshot Poppy has gone even quicker and will be expected to follow up in the final. But we all know in greyhound racing you don’t win by just turning up and there’s still a race to be run, so Brian (Fairbairn, trainer) and Craig (Armstrong, owner) will not be getting ahead of themselves.

“All I know is they’ll have good support here. They travel down from Scotland for our big nights when they’re represented in numbers and it’s always great to have them.”

The progress of Wicky Ned is also worthy of special praise, believes Walton.

“It’s already a great training performance after what Ned did in the semi-finals,” he said. “Jimmy (Fenwick, trainer) said he’d improve for his heat run after being off the track but even so to get up and win really was a superb effort. He won the Northern Flat here in 2024 in the year he also won the All England Cup and was named Greyhound of the Year, so regaining the title would be something special.

“It could be a great story but, as with Slingshot Poppy, nothing is taken for granted – especially given that Ned’s kennelmate Woltemade is flying at the moment too. He himself is looking to land a notable double after winning our (Arc) Northern Puppy Derby here earlier this year and is favourite to win on Thursday. Deerjet Rocket for Jimmy Gaskin’s team also impressed me again.”

Thursday’s Arc Northern Flat semi-finals went to Jimmy Fenwick’s pair of Woltemade (28.49sec) and Wicky Ned (28.41sec), and Jimmy Gaskin’s Deerjet Rocket (28.35sec), while the Angel of The North semis went to Darren Golightly’s Newline Kielty (28.73sec), Brian Fairbairn’s Slingshot Poppy (27.95sec) and Jimmy Fenwick’s Coppice Sapphire (28.71sec).