As we near the year's end, the Grade 1 Open Race Schedule, originally announced by the GBGB in late 2023, has undergone some updates. Notably, the Grand National, initially set for Brighton & Hove on November 10, will now take place at its original location, Crawford, on Saturday, November 24.
Bramble Linton's Triumph
On November 15, the Premier Greyhound Racing Classic Grade 1 final unfolded at Sunderland, where Steve Anderson's standout greyhound, Bramble Linton, secured a remarkable victory. Completing the 450m race in 26.89 seconds, Bramble Linton triumphed over the favoured Brindle Bully (37.9kg), who finished third (27.32 seconds). Unanimous Leon, trained by TC Heilbron, claimed second place with a time of 26.98 seconds. This win marked a significant milestone for Anderson, who had never before had a dog win a Grade 1 final among his 25 finalists. The emotional victory brought joy to both him and his family, with a total prize pool of £25,000, of which £20,000 was awarded to the winner.
Upcoming Grade 1 Finals: November 24-25, 2024
On November 24, fans can look forward to three Grade 1 open race finals: the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Gold Collar and Ladbroke Grand National at Crayford, along with the English Puppy Derby at Towcester. The English Puppy Derby will kick off in the afternoon, with both the Gold Collar and Grand National scheduled for the evening, allowing plenty of opportunity for spectators and bettors to enjoy the action. Following this, on November 25, the Premier Greyhound Racing (PGR) Eclipse will take place in Nottingham.
Jay & Kay Coach Tours Gold Collar
The Gold Collar, a 540m race, has been a staple in the greyhound racing calendar since 1933. After its initial runs at Catford Stadium, it has relocated multiple times, settling now at Crayford Stadium. Sponsored by Jay & Kay Coach Tours since 2017, the race marks the company’s 20th anniversary this year, run by Carl and Jackie Brazier who have been dedicated supporters of greyhound racing for years. The qualifying rounds for the Gold Collar began on November 10, with current favourites including Queen Georgia (7/2), Aayamza Sydney (9/2), and Wrighty (8/1).
Ladbroke Grand National
Since its inception in 1928, the Ladbroke Grand National has seen various relocations and distance changes, ultimately settling on a 540m format in recent years, with sponsorship by Ladbrokes. The most recent champion from 2023, Coppice Fox, trained by Ricky Holloway from Central Park, has produced several winners in recent times. Holloway's Mickys Tribute is currently among the race favourites (7/2), while Signet Harper leads the pack at 2/1 after a standout qualifying performance (23.22 seconds), followed closely by Harlequin Ernie (3/1).
English Puppy Derby
First held in 1929 and previously at Wimbledon Stadium until its closure in 2017, the English Puppy Derby has since moved to Towcester Stadium, running over a distance of 509m and offering a prize fund of £10,000. This event showcases puppies aged 15 to 24 months and has seen a rotation of strong trainers like Liz McNair, Seamus Cahill, Patrick Janssens, and Kevin Hutton achieve victory in recent editions. Leading contenders for this year include Ballymac Kobe (11/2), Innfield Storm and Skeard Josie (6/1), and Bombay Birch (10/1).
Premier Greyhound Racing (PGR) Eclipse
Inaugurated in 1938 at Leathalls Lane Stadium, the PGR Eclipse has seen numerous relocations and venue closures before finding a stable home in Nottingham, where it has been held since 1986. The race, sponsored by Premier Greyhound Racing, boasts a prize fund of £20,000. Mark Wallis's dogs have won this race thrice, with Newinn Syd as the latest champion in 2023 running 500m in 29.51 seconds. Recent trial runs featured some of the top dogs in the country, with Kevins Rocket shining in the first trial, while reigning champion Newinn Syd was closely watched in the second run, along with rivals Noirs News and Antigua Kestrel. The third trial saw Proper Heiress clock the fastest single run time at 29.77 seconds, with Missile One also emerging as a strong competitor. As always, the outcome could hinge on luck for any racer.
Category 2 and 3 November Finals
The BetGoodwin Maiden Cup series for novices consists of three Category 2 races. The series will be held at Oxford on 23 November, with races over 253m, 450m and 650m. They are sponsored by BetGoodwin, with each race offering a cash prize of £3,000. BetGoodwin is best known for sponsoring the Pall Mall Grade 1 Race over 459m at the same venue in July. In September 2023, the company sponsored the Maiden Derby at Henlow, which was won by Storys Hybrid.
The Ladbrokes Kent Rose Bowl, a Grade 3 race over 380m, was held at Crayford on 24 November, with a prize fund of £1,000. Trainer John Mullins' greyhound Oh Cosmopolitan (Towcester) was the winner of the race in 2023.
It's impossible not to mention the Irish Derby final, which takes place on November 23 in Shelbourne Park, Dublin. There were 156 dogs entered for the Derby, with trainer Graeme Holland's Bockos Diamond considered the favourite. The trial runs, quarter-finals and semifinals have been held, the final six have been determined, the traps have been allocated, Bockos Diamond has reached the final and is running from trap 6. It remains to wait and welcome the winner of 2024. The prize fund for the race is £125,000.