UNTOLD RUBLE helped Tom Heilbron into third place in the current Trainer of the Year standings with a brilliant performance in the final of the Arena Racing Company Angel of The North at Newcastle.

On a cracking night at the Byker venue, in which the north east track also staged the Time Greyhound Nutrition Final, locally trained runners dominated with Untold Ruble securing her second Category Two title after success in last month’s Arc Puppy Cup at Sunderland in all-the-way style off the back of a slick exit.

Blasting to a fastest-of-the-night 4.52sec sectional, the July 2022 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Carrigmore Dizzy soon had her rivals under pressure and, with 11-8 favourite Leighas Dream (Barry Denby) bumped wide at the turn, the winner was on her way to an impressive and runaway victory.

Crossing the line three and a quarter lengths clear of the running-on Leighas Dream and Coppice Ella (Kevin Hutton), Untold Ruble clocked a slick 28.14sec (+20) for the 480m trip, securing the prize for owners Kevin Heilbron, the trainer’s father, John Jefferson, and the Newcastle trainer himself, who was delighted afterwards.

Having registered a 100th open-race for 2024 in an earlier supporting 640m contest with Toddys Thunder (38.97sec +20), he then followed up with Romeo Jackson (28.17sec +20) in the Arena Racing Company Standard Final before completing a treble on the night in the Angel of The North decider.

“It was another good night for us and thanks to all the team,” said Heilbron, who has outlined the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Perry Barr in October as her main target moving forward.

“She’ll have a break now and be aimed at the Oaks. Remember, she’s done plenty already this year considering she’s only just left puppy status so it’ll probably be the Oaks, then possibly the Sunderland Classic and the All England Cup.”

Ian Walton, Newcastle general manager, was delighted with the night as a whole and said: “Thank-you to our sponsors, especially Time Greyhound Nutrition, first-time backers of the Northern Flat – and I think we had two really good winners of the major competitions in Wicky Ned and Untold Ruble. Both are locally trained so well done to Jimmy (Fenwick) and Tom (Heilbron).

“We had a good Thursday night crowd in and a sold-out restaurant, with a good atmosphere and plenty of old faces around. We were treated to some top-class racing and many thanks to all those trainers who entered runners for the main events and, once again, it was good to get some southern interest in those.”