The death of top-grade greyhound Pawseys Pride , pictured, has left owner Kirk Wheeler and trainer Angie Kibble devastated.

Pride, a dog the punters could rely on at Oxford, was blessed with great early pace and finished in the top three in 90 of his 128 races, winning 30 – mostly top grade A1 races.

Pride’s downfall was unexpected, as the dog was being treated with a routine type of wrist injury when the vet discovered a further complication.

Pride was treated with antibiotics, and they were thought to be working. However, the six-year-old, named after Kirk’s late grandfather, George Pawsey, died from a tumour at the weekend.

Coincidentally, the tragedy happened on the sixth anniversary of George’s death.