Five for Fenwick as Newcastle opens return with a bang
Open class racing was back at Newcastle on Thursday night ahead of the start of the All England Cup next week and it was Jimmy Fenwick who struck gold with five winners.
Fabulous five for Fenwick at Newcastle
Zenith Tanju has won both of his Newcastle starts, following on from a 28.35 win in October with a 28.37 (-10) win last night. The Derby finalist is a leading contender for the upcoming Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup, showing plenty of early zip to take control of his race from an early stage. Last night was only career race number 20 for him, so there is still plenty to come from him.
Fenwick has won the All England Cup a couple of times in recent years with Ice On Fire in 2019 and Wicky Ned last year. Zenith Tanju making that three in seven years would not be a surprise to anyone.
Gymcrack winner Elusivenomore is another who is going to be a big player in the All England Cup, more so if he can get his favoured red jacket. He was granted plenty of room on the inside with trap two becoming vacant last night but had to work hard to see off the relentless challenge of Debbie Calvert's Bombay Fantasy who lost nothing in defeat, going under by a short head.
Coppice Saphire and Ballymac Lake produced identical 28.67 winning runs in another pair of All England Cup Trial Stakes. Both came a little further off the pace than the front runners above, with the duo also scoring by an identical three lengths. The first named was an Angel of the North finalist back in July, so she knows all about competitions in Byker, while the latter kept very warm company in Ireland, making just his second UK start last night.
The Jimmy Wright Future Stars is shaping up to be an excellent supporting competition and Fenwick will have a strong contender here as well with Woltemade making a striking debut last night, stopping the clock in 28.58. Kennelmate Ballymac Service was sent off favourite for the heat, an excellent yardstick for comparison, already a multiple open race winner over the 480m.
Named after the German striker for Fenwick's beloved Newcastle United, this early showing suggests that he is going to find plenty of success come his way, and he is surely a youngster to follow into 2026.
Strike It Skye was the quickest winner over four bends on the card for Mark Wallis, producing a 28.36 run, careering away by 14 lengths. The puppy has made quite the impression already, a bet365 Empress Stakes finalist and a Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks semi-finalist.
There was a fascinating poll on Twitter last week from Ryan Conneely's Barking Mad Betting on who would win a match race between Skye and Slingshot Poppy. That would make for a tasty one-off next year!
David Fradgely's Bouncing Monarch won the other Future Stars trial stake on the night. He made the final of the BresBet Steel City Cup back in October, so like Strike It Skye he already has experience of taking on all age company at the top level. His 28.79 will need to be improved upon but he lacked a look, so he should be capable of exactly that.
The final 480m open on the night went to Angela Harrison's recent Premier Greyhound Racing Classic finalist Coolavanny Mercy. Her pitch out wide helped in a messy contest. A sprint went to Slingshot Gazza for Brian Fairbairn. His 16.65 is the quickest time of the year so far over 290m and the fastest at the track since Freedom Whiskey in July 2021.
