Locally-trained contenders provide Newcastle with a strong presence in its effort to bring the prestigious trophy back to the Byker venue in tomorrow’s £20,000 final of the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup.
Last year's champion, Mickys Barrett from Nottingham, secured victory, but the home challengers are heavily favoured to claim a fifth victory in the last seven years of a competition that was first contested in 1938. Harry Burton's Jonny Whiskers enters the 480m decider as the quickest semi-final winner.
Already a winner of the Arc Classic at Sunderland, which marked Burton's first Category One success, a second major triumph is within reach for the May 2021 offspring of Skywalker Logan and Cudkevinbewrong. Jonny Whiskers demonstrated an impressive exhibition of front-running off a fast start to secure victory, crossing the line six lengths ahead of Antigua Express (Nathan Hunt) in 28.60sec (-20). The latter stands as the sole southern-based runner against a team of Newcastle and Sunderland-based runners in Thursday’s decider in the north-east.
Bogger Rambo initiated the semi-finals with a commanding victory for Tom Heilbron. The September 2021 whelp, another son of Skywalker Logan out of Bogger Sunny, surged clear on the dash to the bend and maintained the lead over Sunderland Classic runner-up Pape Di Oro (Savva Roberts), winning by almost four lengths in 28.76sec (-20).
Newcastle handler Heilbron expressed his delight, stating, “It was a good night all round, given we’ve also managed to get Innfield Rex and Kopa through to the puppy final and Marlfield Diaz in the Standard, but Rambo must be our best hope in the All England. It’s a great competition, and dad (Kevin) was lucky enough to win it as an owner with Newinn Yolo in 2014 with Pat Rosney. I’d love to win it as a trainer in my own right, albeit knowing what a high-quality final it is. It’s a great way to end the year.”
Bogger Rambo's victory in the semi-final marked three consecutive wins in the UK since his transfer from Ireland, where he ran up in the Tipperary Cup at Thurles, reached the third round of the Cork Laurels, and won a stakes at Clonmel.
Ray Hale’s Swift Silly, who had the fastest time in the first round, continued to impress in the third semi-final. The improving April 21 daughter of Pestana and Swift Magnetic took command early on her way to a nearly six-length victory over Sunderland tracker Witton Venus in 28.67sec (-20). The runner-up will represent a British-bred finalist for north-east handler Jill Sutherst.