The Final of the Category 1 Northern Flat headlines a bumper card at Newcastle on Wednesday night.
One of the oldest competitions on the calendar, it was first run in 1927 at Belle Vue but has been absent since Fernhill Rex won the 2018 edition at that same track. ARC have revived the name at Newcastle with £6,000 up for grabs to the winner.
Super Ted to Land the Feature
One of the most consistent dogs on the Open scene, Pacemaker Ted looks set to land the big one for Tom Heilbron at 20.46. Flanked by the two slowest starters in the field, that draw bodes well for making it to the bend unscathed.
He failed by three-quarters of a length to pick up King Bruno in the semi-final but can reverse that form when it matters with the chances of the inside pair dependent on clearing one another.
Track Record Holder to Keep His Cool
Cold As Ice set new figures for the 640m trip when clocking 38.56 on April 21st. He has really found his trapping boots of late, scoring over 480m last week in the heats of this dual distance competition.
He is drawn a little further from the hare than is perhaps ideal and this is a smart field in opposition. Despite that, Jimmy Fenwick’s hound is still very much the one they all have to beat in the 20.12.
Swift Sprinter to Land the Spoils
It looks a tasty 290m sprint contest on paper at 19.41 with Swift Guard getting the nod. Just a length and a half separated four of these in the heats last week which should lead to a tight-knit final.
Ben Reynolds is making a name for himself with his sprinters and given his son of Farloe Blitz is the only railer in the contest, he can chalk up another success from a perfect draw.
Jenny Set to Return to Her Best
Things have not quite gone the way of Kevin Ferguson’s Acomb Jenny so far in 2021. The winner of the BGBF British Bred Northern Maiden Standard Final in October, she clocked the fourth quickest time of 2020 over 480m at Newcastle in the semis of that event.
She was turned over at odds-on when last visiting but anything close to her previous best would make her the one to support at 19.09.
The Red Jacket Looks a Supa Draw
The very first race on the card at 18.09 sees one of the best drawn dogs of the night in the shape of Supa Hot. Clad in the red jacket as the sole railer in the contest, he can use his smart trapping to have this in safe keeping from an early stage for Jimmy Fenwick.
*All odds correct at time of writing