If you are going to run a Cat One final in on December 28, there could be no better place to stage it than Newcastle. With the temperatures practically tropical at a few degrees above zero, the Geordies turned out in their numbers to see locally trained Moanteen Mikey win a thrilling final.
In his preview of the final, assistant trainer Jimmy Wright reckoned it was a ‘3-1 the field’ race with Moanteen Mikey his slight preference over Hardy Rebel. It proved great judgement with the 11-4 favourite building a five spot advantage over his kennelmate at the sectional.
But it would be 8-1 outsider Narcos Dode who would put have Team Harrison sweating in the final stages. As they broke the beam Mikey denied novice trainer George Cunningham an incredible Sunderland/Newcastle Cat One double.
Instead, in a year when the kennel topped the local trainers’ table for the tenth consecutive time, it was Angela Harrison landing a third All England in the last five: Droopys Expert (’17), Droopys Verve (’18). In fact, on the night, the kennel picked up a third of the twelve opens.
Track boss Ian Walton said: “It was a fabulous night with a great atmosphere. We had a very good crowd including a full restaurant. It reminded me of Sunderland’s big night. The locals turned out in their numbers and saw a very competitive final. Is it coincidence that with all the dogs having to have local form we ended up with two rails, two middles and two wides, with very little trouble?
“We managed to fill twelve opens which hasn’t happened for a while and they were treated to some quality racing. Freedom Whisky, third in the National Sprint franked that form. I thought Droopys Biggy looked like a star of the future and also Titan Jim, only 21 months old and catching Coolavanny Bani in the stayers open.
“Next up we have the (Northern) Puppy Derby (Feb 1, 8, 15) and by the look of things, there will be some decent Southern pups taking on the locals. We are expecting them to start trialing shortly.”
