Red-clad Ned ready for a Select defence

REIGNING champion Wicky Ned was reported in great shape by trainer Jimmy Fenwick on Tuesday as he gets set for a defence of his Select Stakes crown over Nottingham’s 500m trip on Monday night.

The 2024 Greyhound of the Year, who has drawn trap one for the prestigious Arc-backed £12,500 one-off, is looking to join an elite list of six greyhounds who have previously completed the double – Duet Leader (1955-56), Mile Bush Pride (1958-59), Desert Pilot (1979-80), Jaspers Boy (1998-99), Cleenas Lady (2006-07) and Jordansoilutions (2010-11).

Fenwick, who also fields ex-Irish newcomer Clonbrien Piper in the supporting Select Stayers, said: “I’m just on my way back from George Drake [physio] and all the dogs have checked out well.

“Ned is four years old now, but still has that burst of early speed which has won him so many races, and we know if he can trap out and make the bend ahead then he’s strong in the second half.

“That was how he won the Select last year, and I’m happy with trap one. Nottingham is a different track to the likes of Monmore and Sheffield where it can be harder to lead from the inside box. So we know what he has to do and he’s in the right shape to do his very best.”

Entain firms Coral and Ladbrokes were quick to react to Tuesday’s draw, and make Wicky Ned their 9-2 third best behind Garry Dempsey’s Irish raider Ballymac Ralf (2-1) and Mark Wallis’s Strike It Skye (5-2).

The Select Stayers has been priced as a penalty kick for Paul Young’s dominant marathon star Droopys Rated, who heads the betting at 1-5, but Fenwick is looking forward to taking him on with his recent recruit.

He said: “I know some might want to swerve a dog as good as Droopys Rated, but we like to give it a go and sometimes it can work in your favour.

“We took a chance putting Barnagrane Amber in the race a few years ago and she went off as one of the outsiders but made all. Clonbrien Piper is pretty unexposed over a longer trip, but I’ve no qualms about him staying.

“We got him from the Limerick sales when he did the fastest time of the day over the 480m, but it was his splits coming home that caught the eye.

“His brother Croydon Rory was runner-up in the Regency, and I was delighted with his recent 500m trial at Nottingham and the way he came home and then tanked to the pick-up afterwards.

“Whatever happens on Monday he’s a dog I think will do well over six bends and is a nice addition to the team.”

Trap draws
Arc Select Stakes (Coral/Ladbrokes prices): 1 Wicky Ned 9-2, 2 Strike It Skye 5-2, 3 Ballymac Ralf 2-1, 4 Underground Gold 13-2, 5 Romeo Tomcat (m) 5-1, 6 Fortancach Col (m) 10-1.
Arc Select Stayers: 1 Frankton Ivy 20-1, 2 Ballintubberstar 16-1, 3 Droopys Rated (m) 1-5, 4 Malcolm Bosh (m) 10-1, 5 Clonbrien Piper (m) 8-1, 6 Radical Story (m) 12-1.

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