WARZONE TOM landed a thrilling last-gasp victory in the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes Final at Romford on Friday.

 

Securing his third GBGB Category One title and justifying favouritism after his track-record breaking performance in the semi-finals seven days previously, the August 2019 son of Good News and Bogger Bonnie continued the superb form of Liz McNair-trained greyhounds in recent weeks.

 

Owned by the KSS Syndicate, Warzone Tom added to his Ladbrokes Gold Collar (Crayford) and Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic (Monmore) titles – albeit was made to work hard for the £20,000 spoils.

 

After rewriting the record books by clocking 34.55sec in the semis when leading off the front, Warzone Tom had to come from off the pace in Friday’s 575m final to reel in rank outsider Waste House Izzy.

 

After a fast start, the local runner led at the bend and set a furious pace – albeit the favourite managed to get himself in a decent enough position in behind.

 

Turning second, Warzone Tom had David Mullins’s runner in his sights but the June 18 senior was running the race of her life and was not stopping – and it took a powerful and gutsy effort from the eventual winner to claw his way into contention.

 

Getting closer down the far side, Warzone Tom looked to challenge at the fifth bend but had to check his stride before unleashing one final effort up the home-straight to hit the front in the shadow of the post to score by a neck from the gallant Waste House Izzy in a fast 34.89sec (+20).

 

The victory delighted connections, with Brendan Keogh and Simon Senyk of the owning KSS Syndicate on hand to collect the trophy along with their trainer Liz McNair, whose husband Rab was at Oxford overseeing their runners in the RPGV Cowley Puppy Collar semi-finals.

 

Interviewed by RPGTV afterwards, Brendan Keogh said: “I didn’t think he’d got there but he’s some dog. He’s done everything wrong tonight but somehow still managed to win. The dogs are running great at the moment and we’re all delighted.”

 

Winning trainer Liz McNair also wasn’t sure Warzone Tom had got up to win.

 

“I thought that was it when he was chopped at the last bend and it wasn’t until I got to the pick-up and they all started congratulating me that I realised he’d won,” she said.

 

“He’s got a dog who’s got better and better. We also knew he had plenty of speed and class but probably just lacked the bottle to win some of the tougher races – but he certainly has now! That’s his third Cat One and we’re very proud of what he’s done.”

 

A defence of his Ladbrokes Gold Collar title at Crayford next month is now the plan for Warzone Tom.

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=390319&raceId=883399