Local trainer Jimmy Fenwick is fielding strong contenders at Newcastle.
Wicky Ned, his standout, began the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat as the ante-post favourite. Despite increasing his win tally to six out of eight, his time of 28.55 was slightly below expectations.
While Antigua Eagle posted the event’s fastest time with a 28.34, Jimmy remained optimistic about Wicky Ned’s prospects. He mentioned that although Wicky Ned’s recent runs were decent, he believes the dog can improve. Fenwick acknowledged the race’s difficulty, noting that Wicky Ned is still quite young, but he remains hopeful about his chances.
In contrast, Ballymac Camilla, another of Fenwick’s greyhounds, recorded the fastest time across both competitions last week with a 28.20. Jimmy commented that while he expects her to perform well, she faces a challenging semi-final. He pointed out that Ballymac Camilla is naturally a stayer and will need to find the right openings to win.
Looking ahead, Fenwick sees great potential in Ballymac Camilla. He is considering entering her in the Empress Stakes next, but also plans to explore other staying events. He knows she can handle the 640m at Newcastle, but is uncertain about longer distances at this point.