The question of what to do when a race is declared void or abandoned in the elimination stage of an open competition has come to the fore again in the ARC National Sprint, writes Peter Walker.
Progression in racing should be based on ability and commitment, not left to pure luck. Instead of drawing lots, recent performances at the relevant track should serve as the tiebreaker.
Trainers who have made the effort to race or trial their greyhounds in preparation for the event deserve recognition over entries without recent experience.
Within this framework, a race time will take precedence over a trial, and where multiple candidates qualify, the faster recorded times will determine progression.
Safer racing
This approach is fair, rational, and promotes safer racing. Non-qualifiers will be assigned reserve status, subject to appropriate seeding positions becoming available in case of any subsequent withdrawals.
This decision should be reached in consultation with the trainers to ensure transparency and consensus.
Once agreed, the outcome would be formally endorsed through a rule amendment by the GBGB, thereby establishing a clear precedent for future competitions.
It is about time the drawing of lots was banished to the annals of British greyhound racing history – it’s a lottery and it might not be you!
Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup
This competition was won by Wicky Ned last year so the entries in the 2025 renewal have a great deal to live up to.
There is not much to choose between the form of Droopys Bookem and Naochra. They met when contesting the Northern Flat final earlier in July at Newcastle when Naochra won the category one event.
He was an eye-catching runner-up behind Slingshot Poppy in the heats and at 33/1 as opposed to Bookem priced at 11/2 is an easy decision at those each-way outright odds.
Unanimous Leon also ran in that final and was struck into around the second bend when coming out of trap 5 and about to mount his challenge.
The third semi-final includes Santas Amigo and the aforementioned Poppy who both head the betting at 4/1 and 7/4 respectively.
With a fairly level break from the blue jacket, you would rather be on the inside of the main contenders in traps 3 and 4.
He has been unlucky in the past, but if he can hold his pitch, he has a good chance to qualify. At 16/1 is another worthy each-way option.
The Jimmy Wright Future Stars
Remembering the trainer Jimmy Wright and acknowledging his contribution to greyhound racing at Newcastle is a deserving addition to the meeting.
The strongly fancied Strike It Skye stands out and races in the second semi-final but is priced accordingly.
The first included wide runners Woltemade and Ballymac Shontae who may compete for the same racing line but the withdrawal of Shontae makes his task easier.
It also gives Backtoyourbest a better chance to progress to the final.
He has been up against OR1 company at Oxford recently.
With three to qualify he represents value as an each-way selection at 25/1 in the puppy cup.
Woltemade to win outright at around 4/1 is a win only option against the odds-on favourite.
