“I don’t like the draw, but good dogs can handle bad draws and he is the quickest I have ever had.”

With three of the top four in the ante post betting for the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse drawn in the same heat, the trainer of the favourite could be forgiven for thinking that the God of Trap Draws was being particularly vindictive.

Not so, Patrick Janssens, who handles Coolavanny Shado. Drawn between the Select Stakes and Steel City Cup winners, the Perry Barr track record holder will be going to the Nottinghgam traps for just the tenth race of his entire career at a little after 7.30 this evening.

Patrick said: “I know that if he isn’t leading at the third bend, we will probably go out. But I don’t think there is a dog in training who can give him a lesson to the third bend unless he makes a mistake. Even if he only breaks with them, he will love those long Nottingham straights.

“I don’t think the draw in four is a bad one and he has overcome difficulties before. The one at Perry Barr (Mystical Mario) is was trying to move off and is now seeded as a middle but Shado coped well with it. He isn’t that experienced but he is maturing and should now be coming to his best. If he repeats his trial sectional I expect him to lead and if he leads I expect him to win. That is just being honest about it.”

Shado will be travelling to Colwick with the second favourite, Slick Sakina, fresh from her unbeaten run through the PGR English Oaks.

Patrick said: “I think she is very very good and one of the best Oaks winners in years. She is only a length behind Shado of Perry Barr form. I thought she left plenty on the track in her trial and would expect her to find a bundle.

“I would also like to add my thanks to Premier Racing for coming up with a £20,000 first prize. This extra money makes a huge difference to owners. Sakina was an expensive bitch, but after winning the Oaks, she isn’t.

“But I was disappointed that GBGB didn’t take the opportunity when they put together the 2023 Open Race Calendar that they didn’t insist that all Category One races should be a minimum of £20,000.”