Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Preview- Wicky Ned- 15 April 2025

With a career record of 20 runs and 15 victories, Wicky Ned is one of the leading hopes for the UK, not just for the Juvenile, but for the forthcoming Derby

A September 22 whelp out of Droopys Sydney x Ballycowen Lucy, Wicky Ned actually made his racing debut in Ireland, and what a debut that was. On February 23, he led round the opening bends to record a ten-length victory at Cork in a time of 28.57 for the 525y at 4/6F.

It was at this point where he joined Jimmy Fenwick, and following his qualifying trials, he made his UK debut at Sheffield in a 500m Maiden. Sent off the 1/3F, it was no surprise to see him running out an impressive winner by 5 ¼ lengths, recording 28.55.

A week later he suffered a first defeat when finishing runner-up in the heats of the Category One BresBet Gymcrack, having lost his chance when stumbling from the traps when sent off the 1/5F. However, he made up for that defeat in style in the semi-final, and the final itself, when blasting clear at the boxes to record an all the way success, landing the £17,500 winners prize in a time of 28.51 at 4/9F from Droopys Extragud.

Connections then decided to send him to Towcester for a crack at the Derby but he suffered a surprising exit at the first-round stage behind King Combs, narrowly missing out on a third qualifying spot having found trouble rounding the opening bends. After having had a few weeks off, he returned to Towcester to take part in the Genco Puppy Invitation. Having made all the running in the heats, he produced another all the way success in the final on Derby Final Night to land the £2,500 prize in 29.02 at 8/13F when beating Slick Sentinel by 2 ¼ lengths.

Newcastle was the next destination for Wicky Ned in July and a second Category One title arrived when landing the final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat worth £12,500 in a time of 29.01 at 7/4F, beating Slingshot Sam by 2 ¾ lengths.

He then had six weeks off to re-charge the batteries and the rest proved to do him the world of good as after a couple of trials, he then went unbeaten throughout the BresBet Steel City Cup at Sheffield, though was made to work to land his third Category One Final by Links Maverick, gaining the upper hand at the finish by the narrowest of margins to land the £11,500 winners prize in 28.96 at 8/11F.

However, having won both heat and semi-final of the PGR Eclipse at Nottingham in November, his chances of landing a fourth successive Category One Final took a blow in the final when finding plenty of trouble round the opening bends and had to settle for fourth place behind Romeo Command, trained by Patrick Janssens.

But that fourth Category One title arrived a month later in December at Newcastle. Having suffered a shock defeat in the first round, he went on to record wide margin victories in both semi-final and the final, recording an outstanding 28.05 at 4/9F when defeating Unanimous Leon by 6 ½ lengths.

Having been off since late December, Wicky Ned started his campaign at Sheffield on March 1. After three sprint trials, he lined up in a one-off race on March 23. It came as no real surprise to see him sent off at 1/7F, running out a comfortable winner in 28.66, a time which was the fastest recorded over the 500m distance for the year.

He then showed off his credentials for landing the Juvenile when producing a quick 28.66 in a trial on Sunday (Pictured below)

Verdict: One of the leading fancies from the UK to land not only this race, but also the Derby. He has sensational early pace which is always a potent weapon and if able to avoid any early bother and turn the opening bends here with a lead, then he could prove tough to reel in. Looks sure to be popular priced up around the 4/1 mark, and if able to put up a good show, then the best odds of 20/1 for the Derby will surely disappear.

*LEGENDARY punter Harry Findlay and larger-than-life bookmaker Gary Wiltshire will talk greyhounds, horses and gambling in a special head-to-head on Easter Sunday.

It all takes place from 12.45pm at a free-to-enter Towcester racecourse on Sunday, April 20, ahead of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Championship and BetGoodwin & J R Racing Maiden Derby Final.