Eyes from the greyhound racing world will be fixed on Nottingham in the next fortnight as one of the UK’s most prestigious competitions for the sport’s stars of the future takes place.
Nottingham Stadium will host the 29th running of the JenningsBet Puppy Classic with the final headlining a sparkling 12-race August bank holiday evening card where admission is free to all racegoers.
Worth £12,500 to the winner, the competition was inaugurated in 1995 and has been held at the Colwick Park venue since.
Among trainers hoping to land this year’s crown is Basildon-based David Mullins, who has already experienced puppy glory this year with Romeo Cypher who won the BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup in January.
The Essex handler tracks three runners in this year’s JenningsBet Puppy Classic – March on Freddie, Syd Zafiro and Brigadier Brindle - and hopes of qualifying past the competition’s opening round on Monday, August 12, are high.
“There’s always a lot of anticipation before a puppy competition,” said David. “The potential for someone to unearth a future star is there which contributes to the excitement.
“As a trainer, it’s difficult to tell how good dogs will be until later in their careers. Some pups don’t train on after competitions, others do the opposite and we’re hoping that’s the way ours will go.
“March on Freddie is lightly raced and a very fast dog. It didn’t quite work out for him at Sunderland in the Puppy Cup, and we deliberately missed the Juvenile Classic so he’d be fresh for this.
“He’s in great form. Our biggest concern would be coming up against dogs which don’t quite see out the trip who might halt his progress late in a race.
“Syd Zafiro is a newcomer to the kennel – I’d expect him to improve as the competition advances if he keeps qualifying.
“Brigadir Brindle is a greyhound I have a lot of time for. He’s improving and really impressed at Romford despite not racing for very long. He’ll get stronger in time and is one to keep an eye on.”
Tickets, trackside packages and restaurant reservations for Round One of the JenningsBet Puppy Classic on Monday, August 12 are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here.
The competition’s final will coincide with Nottingham Stadium’s National Greyhound Week celebrations where all racegoers can attend for FREE. Gates open on both nights at 5.30pm with the first of 12 races due off at 6.37pm.
JenningsBet Puppy Classic Round One:
Heat One: Salacres Crafty, No Better Feelin, Millbank Boiler, Ravenswell Aero, Vacant, Blackhouse Kim.
Heat Two: Amazing Hulk, Droopys Extragud, Aero Ella, Swift Underwater, Vacant, Starshinesweetie.
Heat Three: Velvet Black, Missile One, Platinum Honey, Wolf Jet, Vacant, Brigadir Brindle.
Heat Four: Salacres Wild, Pipkin, Skeard Josie, Bellmore Bailey, Vacant, Crafty Elmo.
Heat Five: Rioja Bungle, Syd Zafiro, Wolf Rebel, Salacres Prodigy, NotGotAClue, March On Freddie.
Heat Six: Wolf Gold, Kilgarran Jay, Fire and Ice, Senahel Tedster, Vacant, Ballymac Kinga.
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