WICKY NED justified his standing as ante-post favourite with a brilliant display to land the £17,500 BresBet Gymcrack Final at Sheffield on Sunday – and will now likely target the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby at Towcester.

That is the news from trainer Jimmy Fenwick who feels his young star can handle the demands of the all-aged Classic after a series of impressive displays in his handful of starts in puppy company – culminating with success at the Owlerton Stadium.

Described as a hot prospect after impressing in trials following his switch from Ireland where he posted 28.57sec at Cork, the August 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Ballycowen Lucy lined up an odds-on chance to lift the Gymcrack title after reversing heat form with Droopys Supply (Patrick Janssens) with a fluent semi-final win.

Sent off the 4-9 favourite in the 500m Category One annual, now staged at Sheffield following its switch from Kinsley, Wicky Ned made a fast start and soon had his rivals stretched out behind with a superb burst of early pace.

Keeping up the gallop, the Neil McGregor-owned runner never looked in danger before crossing the line four and three-quarter lengths clear of her rivals in 28.51sec (normal). Towcester handler Heather Dimmock’s Droopys Extragud kept on well to finish second ahead of Monmore raider No Better Feelin (Chris Fereday) in third.

The victory delighted Newcastle trainer Fenwick who said a return to Sheffield later in the year was a strong possibility given the Gymcrack sponsors have offered a £10,000 bonus to any greyhound who lands the Gymcrack/Steel City Cup double.

In the meantime a trial at Towcester is on the cards for Wicky Ned with a view to the English Greyhound Derby.

“We are definitely considering a tilt at the Derby so we’ll trial him to get experience at Towcester and see where we’re at. Sheffield later in the year surely has to be the call given we know he runs the track well and the sponsors have offered a generous prize for the double.

“I’m just delighted for the whole kennel, but in particular Neil (McGregor). We recently retired his and our Bellmore Sally who has a ‘meeting’ with Tommy Shelby when she breaks in season and will then head to the breeding paddocks.

“She gave Neil, myself and Melanie, my wife and glamorous assistant, some fantastic times on the track and hopefully will be just as successful with her offspring to come.

“But we’re all excited about Ned. I was happy with him being in trap two, even though he’d handled trap one well enough in the semis. Everyone saw his trial clocks, especially that sprint one at Sheffield, so he’s certainly a dog who’s caught people’s attention – and we’re delighted to have him in the kennel!”