Greyhounds News / Editor / 30 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

The polls are closing and the favourite remains the same. But could there be a last minute swing to an outsider? Also, check out our list of all the Sky dates for the first half of 2009...

Swift Ninja extended his unbeaten run over six bends when winning at the final open-race meeting of the year at Coventry on Sunday.

Michael Harris's dog, albeit beaten when finishing sore in Flying Winner's TV Trophy final at Doncaster in the summer, had a brilliant record over six bends in 2008 and might have forced himself into thinking for the stayers honour at the forthcoming annual GBGB Awards.

* * *

Oaks runner-up Ravello Drive reappears in an A1 at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

Richard Rees' bitch, who finished well after early crowding to close on winner Meenala Amy at the line in the bitches' Classic, will be campaign in open races in the new year.

* * *

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain, formed on the recommendation of Lord Donoughue in his report on the future running of the sport, has moved into new premises in London.

Led by chairman Maurice Watkins, a director of Manchester United, the GBGB effectively replaces the NGRC and BGRB, although a number of staff from each have been drafted in.

The GBGB will oversee their first annual awards in London on Sunday, January 25.

* * *

Voting will shortly close on the Greyhound of the Year, the votes being cast by members of the Greyhound Writers' Association. Favourite for the top honour remains Boherna Best at [1.68].

* * *

The first major competition of 2009 is the Prestige at Hall Green kicks off on Friday.

The event was won last year by Tuftys Pearletta and this year's entry includes the likes of in-form Romeo Maldini and Genesis Dream.

The final is live on Sky on Tuesday, January 13.

The Sky dates for the first half of the year are as follows:

January

13 Hall Green Prestige
22 Perry Barr Birmingham Cup

February

10 Wimbledon Springbok
17 Swindon Arc

March

3 Wimbledon Juvenile
17 Sheffield Betfair Trainers' Championship
24 Oxford Pall Mall

April

7 Wimbledon Grand National
11 Shawfield Scottish Derby
21 Hall Green Blue Riband
28 Hove Regency

May

5 Peterborough Puppy Derby
19 Wimbledon Derby quarter-finals
23 Wimbledon Derby semi-finals
30 Wimbledon Derby final

June

9 Belle Vue Cock O'The North and Scurry
16 Hall Green Gymcrack
24 Newcastle TV Trophy
30 Oxford Cesarewitch

July

16 Sunderland Festival Of Racing
28 Hove Sussex Cup

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