Blue Riband has new sponsor and produces stellar early clash

TRACK record holder Barntick Bear takes on a trio of recent Category One winners plus his conqueror last weekend in the race of the opening round of the Greyhound Racing UK Blue Riband over 500m at Towcester on Sunday afternoon (live on sisracing.tv).

Patrick Janssens' star is opposed by Eclipse-champion kennelmate Romeo Command, himself a former track record holder for the course and distance, British Bred Derby winner Keefill Rocky and Puppy Derby hero Bombay Birch, not to mention Kilmore Dancer who has twice beaten him at the track recently.

Olympic champion Proper Heiress, like Kilmore Dancer trained by Mark Wallis, provides star quality to the opening heat where Tom Heilbron's ex-Irish Deadly Choice is set for his UK debut.

The competition takes place over the next three Sundays.

The £10,000 Category One competition has a new sponsor in the shape of the Mike Davis-backed Greyhound Racing UK, a new initiative to promote UK greyhound racing and homing which is due to launch at the end of January.

Designed to boost greyhound home-finding, Greyhound Homing UK and Greyhound Racing UK will combine with the aim of creating a “secure, sustainable and successful future for greyhound racing and greyhound homing”.

“The ethos of both brands is to work together with all stakeholders to deliver promotion across greyhound racing and homing,” said a Greyhound Racing UK spokesman.

“The brands will be launched at the end of January with communication campaigns planned and details of 12-month strategy for promotion and broadcasting also revealed.”