Central Park kicks off the premier greyhound racing season with four heats of the Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch on Saturday, featuring a high-class entry vying for the £12,500 first prize.
This Category One competition covers a distance of over 731 meters, with the top three from Saturday’s heats advancing to the semi-finals a week later, leading up to the final on Saturday, January 20. Saturday night racing makes a return to the Kent venue as part of the new Premier Greyhound Racing schedule.
Twenty-four of the UK’s best stayers are set to compete, aiming to join the prestigious roll of honor in a competition with a long history dating back to its inception at the old West Ham track in 1928. This is only the second time Central Park has hosted the event, with Cochise, trained by Richard Rees of Hove, claiming victory in 2023.
Here's a look at each of the first-round contests:
Heat One: Paul Young’s Bubbly Scorcher, the winner of the Boxing Day Marathon at Crayford, enters the competition in good form. He faces stiff competition, including last year’s Arena Racing Company Grand Prix (Sunderland) winner Coonough Crow and Nathan Hunt’s Haka Carlo, a member of a high-class staying litter.
Heat Two: Jimmy Fenwick’s Bellmore Sally, a two-time winner of the Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jackets at Crayford, aims for a third victory. She competes against Challenge Cup runner-up Mad For Sterling and Chris Hamblin’s Ela Maestro, an Oxford raider with a promising start to his UK career.
Heat Three: Bradys Bullet, a star of the early-season last year, takes on the challenge over six bends. The Belinda Green-trained greyhound faces former Irish staying star Garfiney Blaze, now with Mark Wallis.
Heat Four: Ballymac Taylor, trained by Mark Wallis, is highlighted as a potential TV Trophy star. She faces a competitive field, including wide-running kennelmate Jacktavern Magic, Lee Gifkins’ Capel Rose and recent arrival Farneys Cooper, as well as Robert Emery’s Maleficent, who has shown promise at Crayford.