The heats of the National Derby and National Futurity are shaping up to be some of the best in the history of both events, with some of the most promising male and female greyhounds set to take part.
Both races return to Wentworth Park this weekend after being staged at Unibet Gardens in recent years.
Dyna Villa's connections have indicated the Paws Of Thunder winner will take his place in the National Derby series, while a number of other runners at Wentworth Park on Saturday night will join him.
This includes Bad Boy Sniper, who recorded a best time of the night 29.54 in taking out Saturday’s Free For All for Jason Magri.
Another leading trainer, Jason Mackay, will have at least four runners in the Derby heats, including Zipping Carter who also won at Wentworth Park on Saturday night in 29.94.
He will be joined by kennelmate Zipping Sonny who scored a dominant seven length win at Wentworth Park on Friday night in 29.81.
Another Derby contender will be Crackerjack Max, who bypassed the Paws Of Thunder to be saved for the Derby, and the dog lived up to connections’ high regard for him by leading throughout on Saturday to win in 29.79.
The Andrea Dailly-trained speedster set early sectional times of 5.36 and 13.75, which were faster than those recorded by Dyna Villa in the Paws of Thunder.
Dailly will also bring Dyna Nico back to Wentworth Park for the Futurity heats following the bitch’s all-the-way win in Saturday night’s The Collerson.
Dyna Nico (pictured) displayed dazzling early speed, posting early splits of 5.37 and 13.70 before winning in 29.86.
"She is a bit weak at the finish and her kennelmate Ollie Bale, who was second in the middle stages, was running cover for her and blocking her rivals tonight," handler George Dailly said later.
"But Dyna Nico’s box manners and early zip are a big asset."
Meanwhile, it is understood the connections of Jingjing are still planning to run her in the Futurity heats despite the daughter of Barcia Bale suffering the first defeat of her career at Richmond on Saturday night.
The heats of the National Futurity will be held on Friday night with the National Derby heats taking place on Saturday. The semi finals will then be held on January 31 with both the Derby and Futurity final staged on February 7.
