STEVE ANDERSON eyes a first Category One victory at Sunderland on Friday with Bramble Linton after the Newcastle runner clocked the fastest time in the semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Classic.

Lining up in the third semi-final of the Category One showpiece, Bramble Linton was soon clear and on his way to holding Romford raider Brindle Bully (David Mullins) to the line, scoring by half length, and in the process reversing heat form with that rival – the pair securing places in this week’s £20,000 decider.

The winning time was 26.74sec (normal) which set the standard on the night in the Sunderland Classic semis and had Newcastle trainer Anderson hoping he might be about to strike gold in a major competition for the first time – with the Wearside venue the focus of those efforts on what should be a great night there on Friday.

“We’re looking forward to it and just hope Linton gets it right on the night,” said Anderson of the Chloe Hardy-owned September 2021 son of Ballymac Vic and Jaytee Pearl who arrived at Anderson’s kennels at the backend of last year off the back of a good Irish card including a place in the Race of Champions at Tralee behind a certain Ballinabola Ed.

“We’ve always thought a lot of him, even more so when he won five of his first six races for us – three at Newcastle and one each at Monmore and Nottingham,” added Anderson.

“We had an issue with him which took a good few weeks. He actually had to have a toe removed after he won at Nottingham, which meant he missed the final of a sprint maiden event. However, he’s come back well and I thought was a touch unlucky at Yarmouth in the Derby there. He led in both heat and semi but just didn’t get home in the sticky going around that time.

“He’s got lots of speed. We saw that at Perry Barr in the Scurry – he finished third there, albeit behind two cracking sorts (Rioja Oisin and Magical Bluebear) – but Sunderland has always looked perfect for him. So far, so good.

“We’ve had something like 25 Cat One, Two and Three finalists – it’d certainly be nice to win one!”

Romford Puppy Cup winner Fire And Ice roared back to winning ways in the first semi-final for Matt Dartnall and now eyes a second Category One success in Friday’s decider.

Breaking smartly and improving on his heat effort, the October 2022 son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Cams was soon in command and raced away for a three-and-a-quarter length success over Oscar The Grouch (Gary Hamilton) in 26.86sec (normal).

Links Maverick (Tom Heilbron) and Stonework Hoffa (Savva Roberts) dominated the market in the second semi-final but both bowed out as the Angela Harrison-trained Coolavanny Mercy finished best for the spoils.

The ultra-consistent December 2021 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Tutsy rode an early bump before staying on to claim a length and three-quarters success over Unanimous Leon (Tom Heilbron) in 27.01sec (normal).

Trap draw for Friday’s final: 1 Bramble Linton, 2 Fire And Ice, 3 Unanimous Leon, 4 Oscar The Grouch, 5 Coolavanny Mercy (m), 6 Brindle Bully (w).