JONATHAN KAY

Weblog: Our chief correspondent on the topical issues

What an ace RP Juv and  perfect time for the sport

I  AM leaving myself open to accusations of bias, but there’s surely a strong case for thinking that the real greyhound season gets under way with the running of the Racing Post Juvenile Championship at Wimbledon, which now seems to have found a perfect slot on the first Tuesday in March.

This is the second year we’ve had the Juvenile in March having initially shifted it from early January to February before that. And the fact that we have been able to put together such a high class field speaks volumes for what connections think about the timing.

The cream of last year’s top British juveniles are opposed by top Irish dog Newlawn Class, and the draw has really thrown the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons. I reckon only Ten Large Down is perfectly berthed as trap three is ideal for his middle-running style – if he breaks that is.

It’s a brilliant race in prospect for Sky Sports viewers, but better still for those who can make it to Wimbledon in person. And whoever wins will go down in history for more than just being a Juvenile champion, he or she will also be the last 460m open-race winner at the track with the switch to the far side, and a standard trip of 480m, imminent.

There is a great supporting card as usual, with entries so strong that Wimbledon even dipped into their own pocket to duplicate the 460m open. It’s great to see a sprint as Wimbledon has far too few, the British-bred event is a wonderful race, and the pre-Juvenile top division of the 460mopen is ridiculously hot.

Before that there is the small matter of Saturday’s Ladbrokes Golden Jacket final at Crayford, plus the supporting Peter Bussey Memorial and Chief Ramsbottom Hurdle deciders. As I’ve said before, it’s hard to see a real punting edge at the current prices in either the Jacket or Peter Bussey, but it is worth reiterating that Aero Blackjack is overpriced for the jumps contest given the way it could be run.

With the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby at Monmore starting next week, and both the Betfair Trainers’ Championship and IbetX.com Scottish Derby on the horizon, this is a wonderful time to be a greyhound fan.

It’s also a wonderful time for news of Barry Faulkner’s appointment as new GBGB chief executive to have come through. There will be a bit of a hiatus until he actually takes the reins in early summer, but at least we have some clarity now – it is a tough job but I remain convinced that someone will emerge at some point to be viewed as the person who turned greyhound racing fortune’s around and Faulkner has the requisite tools to be that person.

What a shame I’ll have to stop liking him though!