BROOKSIDE RICHIE heads into Thursday’s final of the Arena Racing Company Northern Flat as comfortably fastest in the event so far, albeit faces a tough-looking draw in the £12,500-to-the-winner GBGB Category One decider.

 

Jimmy Fenwick’s star was again foot-perfect in the third semi-final of the 480m competition as the October 2019 son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Greatest was quickly away and soon in command, racing to a 4.52sec sectional on his way to a four-length success over Droopys Biggy (Angela Harrison) in 28.33sec (-10).

 

The trap-to-line victory delighted Newcastle handler Fenwick, albeit confidence was then tempered by a trap five draw in the final as one of five railers for the event, won last year by the Graham Rankin-trained Jaguar Macie.

 

Fenwick said: “The way he’s running we’ve got to be delighted. He’d been off the track since December so you expect him to improve. There’s always talk of a ‘bounce’ second time back, but he’s right as rain this morning and we’re looking forward to Thursday, tough draw or not!

 

“He’s only ever had five once – in the Steel City Cup final – but has won from four at Towcester. Look, we know if he’s to win he’s needs to trap well, pace up and lead them, and we know he’s very capable of doing that. Hopefully it goes right for him on the night, but he’s well and in great form.”

 

Marinas Joker opened his UK account at the third time of asking for trainer Garry Hamilton in the first semi-final.

 

The November 2020 son of Good News and Realtins Star, a semi-finalist in the Juvenile Derby at Shelbourne, was soon handy behind fast-starting Anynamewilldo (Tom Heilbron) and took up the running down the back to score by a length and three-quarters from the local runner in 28.76sec (-10).

 

The Raymond Hale-trained youngster Swift Silly landed a hat-trick in winning the second semi-final in all-the-way style.

 

The locally trained April 2021 daughter of Pestana and Swift Magnetic, who came into the competition off the back of an A1 success in just her second start at Newcastle, joins Brookside Richie as an unbeaten runner in the final after leading on the run to the bend before winning by a length and a half from Freedom Epic (Tom Heilbron) in 28.80sec (-10).

 

Ian Walton, Newcastle’s stadium manager, said: “The Arc Northern Flat Final promises to be a cracker – and certainly a wider draw for Brookside Richie has probably opened things up, albeit he’s very capable of overcoming it.

 

“Well done to connections of all the finalists. Special mention to Tom Heilbron for qualifying two through to the final – his kennel is really in-form just now with finalists in a few competitions in recent weeks.”

 

Trap draw for Thursday’s Arena Racing Company Northern Flat Final: https://www.newcastle-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/results/

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=395330&raceId=924526