Dog Of The Day: Start 2026 With A Bang! Swift Dive To Splash Down At Nottingham
Happy New Year! We are shaking off the cobwebs immediately with a trip to Nottingham Greyhound Stadium for the first meeting of 2026.
We believe we have found the perfect way to start your year on a winning note in the opening race of the card.
The Selection: Swift Dive
Date: Thursday, 01 Jan 2026 (New Year’s Day)
Track: Nottingham
Race: 11:09 (Race 1)
Grade: A4 (500m)
Trap: 3 (White)
Swift Dive, trained by the in-form E. Saville (25% strike rate), lines up in the opener and looks to have a massive class edge over her rivals.
Form Analysis Sometimes, one line of form jumps off the page, and that is exactly the case here.
On Boxing Day, Swift Dive absolutely demolished an A5 field, stopping the clock in a blistering 29.71s. To put that into context, her rivals today—despite being in a slightly higher A4 grade—are generally struggling to break the 30.20s barrier. On the clock, she has nearly 7 or 8 lengths in hand.
With a Master Rating of 124 (compared to the field average of roughly 90), she looks to be a greyhound rapidly on the improve. The analyst notes she is “back to best,” and from a favorable middle draw in Trap 3, she should have too much firepower for Macash Rose and the rest.
We are backing her to leave the field in her wake and start 2026 with a victory.
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Good luck to Swift Dive!
Based on the data we have available for the 11:09 at Nottingham (New Year’s Day, Thursday 01 January 2026), the greyhound most likely to win is Swift Dive.
Here is the analysis of why she is the clear standout selection to start the year.
The Top Choice: Swift Dive (Trap 3)
The “Time” Factor: The most glaring statistic in this race is Swift Dive’s last run on Boxing Day (26/12). She won an A5 in 29.71s. To put that in perspective, the majority of her rivals in this A4 grade are clocking times in the 30.20s to 30.60s range. A half-second difference is roughly 7-8 lengths. If she repeats that run, she is in a completely different league.
Ratings: Her Master Rating of 124 and recent Form Rating of 110 are significantly higher than the rest of the field (mostly rated between 80-95).
Trainer Form: E. Saville has a fantastic 25.71% strike rate, suggesting the kennel is firing on all cylinders.
Verdict: The Analyst’s comment “Back to best latest” is an understatement. She looks like a greyhound who has suddenly found her stride and is ahead of the grader.
The Main Threat: Macash Rose (Trap 6)
Consistency: She rarely runs a bad race and has a recent win in 30.16s (08/12).
Finishing Speed: The comments note she “could well be involved come the finish,” suggesting she will be picking up the pieces if Swift Dive encounters trouble.
Forecast: She is the logical choice for 2nd place (Forecast bet).
The Place Option: Nidderdalesummer (Trap 4)
Reliability: As the comment says, she “doesn’t know how to run a bad race.” She is a solid A4 grader who usually clocks around 30.40s. She is unlikely to beat a peak Swift Dive, but is a safe bet for the podium.
Summary Prediction
Winner: Swift Dive (Trap 3)
Runner-up: Macash Rose (Trap 6)
Third: Nidderdalesummer (Trap 4)
Recommendation: Swift Dive is the “Banker” of the morning. The 10/11 forecast price might even be generous if she reproduces that 29.71 run.
RESULT: Swift Dive Lands The Nap To Kick Off 2026!
Happy New Year! We have started 2026 exactly how we intended—with a winner in the very first race of the year at Nottingham Greyhound Stadium.
Our Dog Of The Day, Swift Dive, justified the 2/1 favorite tag, showing a different side to her game to secure the victory in the A4 opener.
The Race Breakdown
Winner: Swift Dive (Trap 3)
Time: 30.27 (+20)
Distance: Won by 1 Length
SP: 2/1F
Forecast (3×2): £25.71
While we tipped her based on her explosive 29.71 speed from Boxing Day, she had to do it the hard way this morning. The race comments note she was “slow away” (5.25 split) and found herself chasing the early leader Jumeriah Pooky.
However, her class shone through. Despite being “crowded at the third,” she knuckled down and “ran on” powerfully down the home straight, reeling in the leader near the line to win by a length. It was a gritty performance that proved she has the heart to match her speed.
Why She Won
Stamina & Determination: When the break didn’t go her way, she didn’t panic. She used the long Nottingham run-in to her advantage.
Class Edge: Even with a troubled run (“slow away,” “crowded”), she still clocked a respectable winning time, proving she was simply a cut above this grade.
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