Hopes of a North-East winner in this year’s Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat final are high with local runners responsible for five of the six finalists in Thursday’s feature race.
And Ashington trainer Jimmy Fenwick is among those looking to lift the trophy with kennel stars Wicky Ned and Woltemade both qualifying for the £12,500 to the winner showdown.
It won’t be the first time racegoers at the Byker track will have seen either of Jimmy’s greyhounds in a Category One final close to home.
Wicky Ned won the competition in 2024 and is bidding to become the first greyhound to regain the Northern Flat crown since Just Fame won its 1960 renewal at Belle Vue, Manchester.
Hat-trick of big race wins
Woltemade, meanwhile, is going for a hat-trick of big race wins after he successfully scooped the ARC Northern Puppy Derby and Harry Burton Trophy earlier this year.
The pair will face Tom Heilbron’s Ballymac Sargie and Droopys Link, plus Savva Roberts’ Bockos Buster in the final.
Deerjet Rocket – trained by Doncaster’s Jimmy Gaskin – is the final’s only runner based outside the north-east.
“It would be unbelievable for Ned to regain the Northern Flat,” said Jimmy.
“He’s running really well, and you can see from his performances that he’s starting to blow the cobwebs away.
Game on
“There is a lot of early pace in the final so he will have to do everything right at the start. I think he does need to lead Deerjet Rocket and get to the rail at the first bend, if he does that it’s game on.
“Woltemade is another who simply must come away. He made a mistake at the traps last week which he can’t afford to do in the final.
“The fact he came from behind to win his semi-final did impress me. It’s something we haven’t seen before but looking at the race you really could make a case for every greyhound in the race – it’s a fantastic final.”
Domination
The night also features the £7,500 Arena Racing Company Angel of the North final, where Jimmy is represented by last year’s finalist Coppice Saphire.
The competition to date has been dominated by Slingshot Poppy, who has won both her heat and semi-final by more than 10 lengths.
Jimmy accepts Brain Fairbairn’s greyhound is without question the greyhound to beat.
He added: “She (Slingshot Poppy) could make a mistake and still win the race, that’s how much time she has in her favour and full credit to Brian Fairbairn and the team for getting her in this form.
“I’m proud of our team to get Coppice Saphire back in the final again for a second year running.
“She’s drawn well, but ultimately needs Poppy to make a mistake and potentially follow Newline Kielty around so she can make a challenge late on.
“It’s great to be represented in both finals and no doubt it will be a great evening of racing.”
Tickets for the 2026 Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat final on Thursday, July 23, are available from £9 via www.newcastle-greyhounds.co.uk.
Doors open at 5.30pm, with the first of 12 races on the night off at 6.37pm.
Arena Racing Company Angel of the North: Coppice Saphire, Newline Kielty, Witton Gucci, Slingshot Poppy, Droopys Calla, Fabulous Harmony.
Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat: Ballymac Sargie, Deerjet Rocket, Wicky Ned, Bockos Buster, Woltemade, Droopys Link.
