JIMMY FENWICK will look back fondly on the 2026 running of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat after Woltemade led home Wicky Ned for a one-two for the Morpeth handler in the £12,500 final.

Landing a third victory in the 480m Category One annual after victories for Brookside Richie in 2023 and Wicky Ned himself in 2024, Fenwick was delighted to see the latter, a former GBGB Greyhound of the Year, run so well in the three-round event on his return to the track, but was also especially delighted with his rising star Woltemade.

The Liam Dowling-bred May 2024 son of Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Minton completed an unbeaten run through the Northern Flat with a show of pace and power which ultimately sealed the deal – although kennelmate Wicky Ned certainly made him pull out all the stops before going on land a third major Newcastle victory.

Lining up the 6-4 favourite against market rivals Bockos Buster (Savva Roberts) and Wicky Ned, it was the latter who made the bullet break which denied Bockos Buster any chance of leading – and a Fenwick forecast was soon very much in the offing.

Pacing up brilliantly to join his fast-starting kennelmate at the turn, superb second-bend running from Woltemade ultimately secured victory as he tore down the back-straight and, while Wicky Ned kept on well, the younger Fenwick runner was not for stopping himself for a one and a quarter lengths win in 28.01sec (+10).

Adding to Woltemade’s successes already this year in the Arc Northern Puppy Derby and Harry Burton Memorial, both over the 480m trip, Fenwick was delighted.

He said: “Both ran really well and we couldn’t have asked for much more. Ned is still coming forward and I suppose him trapping as well as he did was maybe teamwork! They’ve had it between them really within a few metres and Woltemade really is a special dog with unbelievable speed and could be getting better, too.

“We’ve got some options with them both. There’s the Select Stakes at Nottingham and the Gold Cup at Monmore, but we’re just enjoying winning such a great race as the Northern Flat on a big night at Newcastle, our home patch. It doesn’t get much better.”

The Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat shared the stage with the Arena Racing Company Angel of The North which was won by another local in the Brian Fairbairn-trained Slingshot Poppy who justified short odds in scintillating style, winning in 28.02sec (+10).