Triumph at Newcastle: Untold Ruble's Dominance
Untold Ruble propelled Tom Heilbron into third place in the Trainer of the Year rankings with a stellar performance in the Arena Racing Company Angel of The North final at Newcastle.
On a spectacular evening at the Byker venue, where the north-east track also hosted the Time Greyhound Nutrition Final, local runners shone brightly. Untold Ruble clinched her second Category Two title, having previously won the Arc Puppy Cup at Sunderland with a commanding performance.
Exiting the traps with a swift 4.52-second sectional, the July 2022 offspring of Droopys Sydney and Carrigmore Dizzy quickly put her competitors under strain. As the favourite, Leighas Dream, was nudged wide at the turn, Untold Ruble surged ahead, securing a dominant victory.
She crossed the finish line three and a quarter lengths ahead of the fast-finishing Leighas Dream and Coppice Ella, timing a sharp 28.14 seconds (+20) over the 480-meter course. This triumph was celebrated by owners Kevin Heilbron, John Jefferson, and the trainer himself, who expressed his joy afterwards.
Earlier in the evening, Heilbron had notched his 100th open-race win for 2024 with Toddys Thunder (38.97sec +20) in a 640m contest, followed by Romeo Jackson's victory (28.17sec +20) in the Arena Racing Company Standard Final. He then completed a hat-trick with Untold Ruble's win in the Angel of The North decider.
Heilbron expressed his gratitude to his team and outlined future plans for Untold Ruble, mentioning that she would take a break before targeting the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Perry Barr in October. He noted that despite her youth, she had already accomplished much this year, and after the Oaks, she might compete in the Sunderland Classic and the All-England Cup.
Ian Walton, Newcastle's general manager, was thrilled with the night's events and thanked the sponsors, especially Time Greyhound Nutrition, who supported the Northern Flat for the first time. He praised the performances of locally trained winners Wicky Ned and Untold Ruble, commending trainers Jimmy Fenwick and Tom Heilbron. Walton noted the vibrant atmosphere, a full restaurant, and a good turnout, acknowledging the high-quality racing and the participation of southern trainers in the main events.