Former World Darts Champion Gerwyn Price has his eyes locked on a different target this weekend as Icemans Girl runs in the final of the £20,000 Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks.
The 2021 PDC World Darts Champion is a lifetime greyhound racing enthusiast and has every chance of winning the sport’s premier competition for bitches at Perry Barr Stadium in Birmingham on Saturday night.
Gerwyn’s star greyhound won her semi final and is second favourite to scoop Saturday’s top prize with Patrick Janssens’ East Anglian Derby hero Druids Say Go currently favourite.
She’s trained in Cambridgeshire by Nathan Hunt, one of UK greyhound racing’s youngest trainers who has already experienced competition success this year with Allowdale Cazoo in the Peter Bussey Memorial Trophy.
Nathan is hoping a good break from trap three will give Icemans Girl and Gerwyn every chance of becoming the 93rd winner of the Oaks, which also features Chamberlain Kate, Droopys Eunice, Front Alice and Coppice Ella.
“We are relying on Druids Say Go to make a mistake,” said Nathan. “But Icemans Girl is a strong runner and if there’s a chance of her finishing in front then she’s good enough to do so.
“This is her fourth run at Perry Barr including trials, so she’s fit and well out of season which is perfect preparation.
“She’s a very laid back greyhound who saves her energy for her performances on the track. It makes our job easy, and hopefully she can deliver the goods on Saturday.
“Gerwyn is a real greyhound enthusiast. Another greyhound we train (Untold Paanga) which he part owns has qualified for a Category Three final at Monmore on the same night so it could be a special double, you never know.”
Saturday’s card also includes the 92nd Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup final, worth £7,500 to the winner.
Local hopes are pinned on Telford-based trainer William Russell and his finalist Magical Bluebear who is unbeaten in the competition so far. Rioja Oisin, who broke Perry Barr’s 275m track record en route to the final, also features with Puppy Collar champion Long Fellow and multiple Category One finalist King Capaldi.
Steven Anderson’s Bramble Linton and Bramble Oreo from Newcastle complete the line-up.
There will also be a match race to round off the night as marathon stars HopieHopieHopie and Beach Babe contest the Premier Greyhound Racing Marathon Match worth £2,000 to the winner.
Tickets, trackside packages and restaurant bookings for Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks finals night at Perry Barr Stadium can be purchased by clicking here. Doors open at 6pm with the first of 12 races off at 7.01pm.
2024 Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks: Chamberlain Kate, Druids Say Go, Icemans Girl, Droopys Eunice, Front Alice, Coppice Ella.
2024 Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup: Bramble Linton, Long Fellow, King Capaldi, Magical Bluebear, Bramble Oreo, Rioja Oisin.
