A GREYHOUND that rewrote the record books after it was nursed back from a crippling injury by two schoolboy brothers narrowly missed out on a sixth straight victory, despite starting seven metres behind his competitors.

Another Link, who smashed all records at Wheatley Hill dog track, in County Durham, by winning five re-graded handicap races on the trot, missed out on his sixth consecutive victory by a few metres on Tuesday.

Only six months ago, vets said the dog, known as Dash to his fans, would probably never race and may not even walk again.

But owners Tom Heilbron, 14, and his brother Paul, 11, from Heighington, County Durham, nursed Dash back to health and the dog has never looked back, going on to pull off his incredible winning streak - a story which echoes the plot of the Robert Carlyle film, The Mighty Celt, in which a 14-year-old boy develops a passion for dog racing.

As victor of the five previous races, 20-month-old Dash's handicap was increased for a sixth time, meaning he had to start seven metres back.

After tripping as he came out of the traps, Dash made good ground along the back-straight, and was with the pack all the way, only to get blocked in on the inside on the last bend.

He crossed the line fourth out of six, close behind three of the dogs.

At Christmas, the promising greyhound suffered an injury to his front left tricep, rendering him almost lame.

After Tuesday's race, Tom did not show a glimmer of disappointment with his record-breaking dog.

He said: "I am still really proud of him. He missed out. He did not come out of the traps well, but he has still got his record."

As most dogs peak at between two-and-a-half and three years old, it is possible that the best of Dash is yet to come. He is preparing to start racing in open events, which can be entered by dogs from anywhere in the country.

The boys' parents, Kevin and Tina, have also bought the brothers another greyhound, Rip, who is four months old.