The build-up has begun at the stadium as the track’s top race of the year, The Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, gets closer.

In racing terms, this is a Category One race which attracts the best greyhounds from not only all over this country but also from Ireland.

Race sponsors Ladbrokes have added another £2,500 to the prize fund, with £17,500 going to the winning greyhound.

Before the Racing Office select the 36 dogs to start in the event proper heats stage, we first have a series of trial stakes which gives trainers a chance to show what their greyhounds are capable of in the hope of gaining entry.

Ultimately, the 36 starters will comprise of established stars of the sport over the stayers distance of this competition, which is 714 metres, plus others who will be chosen from the trial stakes.

The two evenings designated for the trial stakes are on Saturday, January 25 and Saturday, February 1 and I would encourage you to come down and see even at this early stages some good dogs in action.

These races are always full of unexpected surprises and the racing will be competitive.

Once entries are received, I will be covering some of the dogs involved here during the next couple of weeks. The heats will be run on Saturday, February 8 (evening), the semi-finals on Saturday, February 15 (morning) and the final on Saturday, February 22 (morning).

Back on the track here at the moment the talk is all about Zenas Skymoment, who has had a tremendous series of wins recently for owner Chris Sliney and trainer Gemma Davidson.

The dog has won seven of his last eight races here including the latest six and finished second the other time.

There seems simply no way of stopping him at the moment and he has beaten the best. As a result of his efforts, he won our Dog-of-the-Month award for December.

While all of his races have been in graded company, the dog's connections must surely be tempted at this point to let him take his chances in an open race. It will be a different proposition but he may well continue his winning ways.