Central Park trial on Sunday ahead of Kent Plate repeat bid for Proper Heiress

Proper Heiress set for Kent Plate repeat bid

Defending champion Proper Heiress and Winter Derby winner Bruce Bay will spearhead champion trainer Mark Wallis's challenge for the upcoming Arc Kent Plate at Central Park - and both trial at the Sittingbourne venue on Saturday.

The 491m event starts a week on Saturday and will see leading Greyhound of the Year contender Proper Heiress have his first start of 2026 with connections already on record as stating the Star Sports & Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby at Towcester will be the multiple Category One winner's main target.

The progressive Bruce Bay, after landing the Monmore re-run at the weekend, will also target the Central Park showpiece - and Wallis is delighted with both ahead of their prep trials on Saturday.

"Both are great," he said. "It just makes sense to start Proper Heiress's year at a track he excelled at last year and it begins his Derby preparations which is our main focus for him really - we're building up to Towcester.

"As for Bruce Bay, we've always thought a lot of him. Of course it was tough for Mike (Burton) and his team seeing Droopys Aladdin being caught I'm sure - he'd have won the original race. They've been unlucky but we all understand why and were all happy to see Richard's dog (Texas Jack) being none the worse. That's the main thing.

"From our point of view, this dog is coming on every race - so maybe a week later helped him, although remember he was the fastest semi-final winner so was certainly a big player come the final."

*The Arc Kent Plate is over 491m and starts on Saturday, March 14. Semis will be a week later, with the £12,500 final on Saturday, March 28.