A quick glance at the Puppy Classic Roll of Honour gives some indication to the significance of the competition as one of the most important juvenile events in the calendar.

Roxholme Butt 6 Ballymac Defo 8 Droopys Trawler 8
Seaglass Phantom 8 Newinn Jet 10 Swift Taxman 16
Arthur Noodle 20 Colston Aero 20 Ela Bomber 20
Good Lad 20 Incognito 20 Salacres Barley 20
Antigua Boss 25 Raise The Stakes 25 Magical Icarus 33
Piemans Cougar 33 Seaglass Celine 33 Shoot The Bolt 40
Affleck Barney 50 Colston Havana 50 Down To The Felt 50
Droopys Policy 50 Moanteenbullseye 50 Blackstone Blue 66
Desperado Dan 66 Doing A Stretch 66 Headford Maurice 66
Salacres Alaska 66 Blue Trooper 100 Bubbly Majestic 100
Droopys Notice 100 Gypsy Yolo 100 Parkers Frank 100
Fizzypop Jet 125 Master Reed 150 Wildfire Gal 150

Top Savings, Droopys Shearer, Eyeon The Storm, Ballymac Eske, Newinn Yolo, Bubbly Bluebird are just six stars who made their reputations in the Nottinham Cat 1 event.

Three of last week’s William Hill Northern Puppy Derby finalists feature in the top five of the market.

The first three from each heat go through to next Monday’s semi finals with the £6,000 decider one week later.

Tonight’s card, including additional opens is broadcast on RPGTV.

Patrons are reminded of the

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY SPECIAL OFFER

  • £13.00 per person to include admission, racecard and a 3 course meal
  • Final of the Category 1 GMG Puppy Classic
  • Heats of the Category 1 Lowther Stakes
  • 2 x Category 3 finals
  • Other supporting open races

Must be booked on-line

ARTHUR NOODLE – High class bitch bought out of Cork after winning sole Irish start there in 29.03 (+10).  A winner of 5 of her 8 UK starts including 3 wins around this Nottingham venue.  Leading bitch and one to keep an eye on throughout the rest of the year , particularly in the forthcoming bitches only competitions.

SEAGLASS PHANTOM – Beaten on career debut at Romford but put that run behind him when destroying a good class field on his second start here at Nottingham last week.  Recorded a top class 497 split when running away with his trial stake by 6 1/2 lengths in a top class time for a puppy of 29.69 (+50). Could be anything.
BLUE TROOPER – 4 starts in Ireland , twice each at Lifford and Dundalk.  Gained first career success when winning on the last of those around the Dundalk circuit in 29.05.  Well beaten on UK debut here at Nottingham last week but had a troubled passage and can only improve for experience.
DOING A STRETCH – Winner of 2 of his first 3 graded races at home track Doncaster including in a very decent 27.69 in the last of those.  Stepped up in to open class here at Nottingham for the first time last week and ran with credit.  Will need to improve to figure in the competition but has plenty of time on his side.
HEADFORD MAURICE – 2 career races in Ireland around the Galway circuit winning at the second time of asking in 29.00.  Sent off at 14/1 for his UK debut at Nottingham a couple of weeks ago in a very tough race but ran with huge credit to be beaten just 3 1/4 lengths after being much further back in the early stages.   Took a tumble on his second UK start here at Nottingham last week but got up to complete the course.  Even at this stage this dogs future looks certain to be over further where he could turn out to be something very special.
MASTER REED – A winner on his Irish debut by 11 1/2 lengths around Clonmel in 29.02.  Finished second on his second Irish start at the same venue before arriving here in the UK.  Has had 3 races around this Nottingham circuit for experience which should serve him well but all without success and will have to improve to trouble some of his rivals in this competition.

BALLYMAC DEFO – Top class prospect and leading player in this competition.  A winner of 8 of his 12 career starts to date including when winning the first two races of his life which were heat and final of an unraced puppy competition around this venue.  An impressive winner last time out around Swindon on Produce Final night in 2860.  A danger to all.

WILDFIRE GAL – Promising trials and looks a bitch with a bright future.  Sole career start to date came when beaten at double figure odds in the Guys and Dolls recently around Crayford.  Lacks a look around this venue and might just find things a little tough at this stage.

DROOPYS TRAWLER – Unsuccessful in first 4 career starts but came good with a last to first victory in the Northern Puppy Derby final. Lacks a trial over course and distance and will probably be best watched in the first round. If he gets through, can only improve and will relish the extra metres.
MAGICAL ICARUS – Unraced but highly promising trials around Swindon and a promising 18.00 (normal) 305m trial at Nottingham on Friday which provides a valuable look at the track.  Out of top open class producing dam Sizzling Sarah who has produced many open class greyhounds including superstar marathon performer Roxholme Magic and up and coming star Magical Bale so staying this trip at a minimum should be no problem at all and breeding suggests will appreciate further given time.
DOWN TO THE FELT – Never runs a bad race but just the 1 victory to show for his 13 career starts to date.  Importantly that win came last time out around this venue and could be the type to keep qualifying.
ANTIGUA BOSS – Two races under his belt in Ireland , winning at the second time of asking in an excellent 28.70 around Enniscorthy.  Beaten in two UK starts to date around Hove but trialed well here at Nottingham last week in 30.67.  Got to improve but sure to do so.

GOOD LAD – Looks a top class prospect.  A winner of his sole Irish start around Waterford in a top class 28.50 having qualified around Thurles in an excellent 2911.  Unraced in the UK thus far and two trials around Nottingham have been promising enough including a 2909 over the 480m trip.  Will have to improve on those but looks a pup to follow.

COLSTON AERO – Ex Effernogue Aero was purchased after winning 3 of his 7 Irish starts including 28.73 for the 525yrds and 31.28 for the 575yrd course around Dundalk.  Unraced here in the UK but has trialed well here at Nottingham including a 29.98 (+30) last Monday.  Looks a top prospect.

AFFLECK BARNEY – Just the one victory to his name thus far which came in an A3 at home track Central Park.  Stepped into open class for the first time when leading for a long way at double figure odds here at Nottingham last week in a trial stakes.  In good hands and can only improve for experience.
SALACRES ALASKA – Young bitch with plenty of experience in her career so far , going through the grades here at Nottingham winning 6 of her 20 starts.  Has done nothing but improve in her career to date and though she may find some of these rivals a step too far , deserves to take her chance.  A small bitch with plenty of heart.
SEAGLASS CELINE – 4 career races to her name in Ireland around the Clonmel circuit.  Well beaten in the first 3 of those but an always led winner on her fourth start there in 28.98.  Has had 3 races here in the UK including when a good second to a high class winner here at Nottingham in a trial stakes last week.
BLACKSTONE BLUE – Unraced here in the UK but his trials have been reasonable enough including a 29.73 over the 480m course here at Nottingham.  No win in 4 starts in Ireland either but was noted staying on strongly around the testing Kilkenny track.

NEWINN JET – High class prospect with vital experience of this Nottingham course.  A winner of 4 of his 13 starts to date including 30.41 over the 500m here at Nottingham and a top class 2877 at Newcastle when winning his heat of the Northern Puppy Derby.  Finished a very good second to Droopys Trapper in the semi final of that event before eventually finishing last albeit far from disgraced in the final itself.  Very much one to keep on side.

SWIFT TAXMAN – Early paced local with 6 victories from 15 career starts to date.  Improved from A4 debut to winning an open race around Nottingham in 29.88 (+60).  Local knowledge and early pace sure to prove useful during this competition.
DESPERADO DAN – Improved through the grades at Youghal in Ireland , winning 3 out of 4 whilst improving from A7 to A3.  Sole Irish loss coming on debut.  Two races here in the UK at Central Park , winning on the first of those in a maiden open around the track in 29.59.  Trialed here at Nottingham in 30.94.  Will have to improve to challenge the leading contenders.
MOANTEENBULLSEYE – Two races under his belt around Clonmel in Ireland , including a 29.29 success on debut.  Just the one UK race under his belt when well beaten at Hove , however trialed well around Nottingham in 30.51 so obviously a dog with potential.
DROOPYS POLICY – Unraced here in the UK but 4 career races under his belt in Ireland.  No win to show for his efforts so far but reached the Red Mills Unraced 525 Final at Kilkenny which is renowned for producing nice types year after year.  Beaten just 2 3/4 lengths in his second trial at Nottingham when recording 29.53 over the 480m course behind Oaks winner Wuheida.
FIZZYPOP JET – Six races under his belt in graded company at Hove , winning 50% of those at A9 , A8 and A7 level.  Has trialed here in a decent 30.77.  Looks sure to improve through the grades further but might just find this competition coming a little too soon.

PIEMANS COUGAR – A winner of 2 of her 6 career starts to date including a 28.98 over 500m when winning in maiden open company at Sheffield.  Was well fancied when well beaten on Nottingham debut last week behind a high class winner when not getting the clearest of runs.  Purchased earlier this year out of Galway when running with credit albeit unsuccessfully in 4 races around the track including a 29.01 second on her final start there.  Another interesting bitch , especially when running in the forthcoming bitches only competitions.

COLSTON HAVANA NR-
DENVER – reserve
Two wins from nine career starts to date , winning on debut in a low grade sprint race at Drumbo and following that up a few runs later with a reasonable 1827 in an S2 at the same venue.  Bought to race at Kinsley and though beaten in first two races at the track looks like he should shape up into a decent grader in time.  With no luck around the Colwick Park venue will likely find this tough , especially against the class of animal he’s due to meet.
PARKERS FRANK – Highly promising unraced dog who recorded a more than reasonable 29.78 over 480m around Nottingham in his final trial despite easing at the sough.  This extremely young April 2017 pup can only improve and looks a top class prospect even if this competition might just come a little too soon.
SHOOT THE BOLT – Four wins from twenty career starts including a Hove maiden over 515m.  Finished runner up in the Produce Stakes Final at Swindon and improved upon his first Nottingham trial of 30.64 with a 30.54 effort last week.  Stays on well.
INCOGNITO – Bought unraced from Ireland , sole win from 5 career starts to date came when winning off scratch in a Newcastle handicap.  That is no easy feat for a pup on debut so obviously has a bit of track craft and though will need improvement his 3030 trial around Nottingham advertises his potential.
GYPSY YOLO – Yet to win in six career starts including opens around a likely unsuited Romford and a couple of A1 races at Central Park.  Now doubt better than the bare form suggests but a moderate 31.02 trial around Nottingham will need to be improved upon if he’s to play any meaningful part in this competition.

ROXHOLME BUTT – the dog that was named after the superstar Hiya Butt.  A tough name to carry but the name wasn’t given out lightly and this greyhound has unlimited potential.  Undoubtedly his future will lay over further but in his short career to date he has performed brilliantly.  Running a very eye catching race in second place in his heat of the Northern Puppy Derby he backed that up by winning his semi final well.  Though suffering crowding in the final itself and in the end well beaten, he remains a leading player in this competition and has trialed well around the track in 30.33.

SALACRES BARLEY – Always highly rated even as an unraced pup when reared at the purpose built Salacres rearing facility which has been churning out some nice types over the past few years.  A winner of 5 of his 9 career races so far , brought on steadily in graded races before winning two open class events , including a Puppy Classic Trial Stake in the fastest time of the night last week in 29.68 (+50).  Maybe lacks a yard of early pace but if turning off the second bend unscathed is a danger to all in the competition especially given his excellent local knowledge.

BUBBLY MAJESTIC – Eight races under his belt in his fledgling career so far.  Winning just the once in A5 company over a trip far short of his best.  Has since ran a couple of 575m open races at the track but maybe finds that trip a little testing at this stage of his career.  Could be well suited by this 500m trip but unlikely that he’ll have the class to trouble the leading contenders unless improvement forthcoming.
RAISE THE STAKES – Showed extreme promise in all of his qualifying trials and backed that up with some excellent efforts in the Produce Stakes at Swindon.  Won his first and second round heats before finishing a good second at the semi final stage.  Was sent off the even money favourite in the final itself but a troubled passage saw him finishing in last position.  A classy type and sure to improve on his well beaten Nottingham debut when sent off 11/10f.
DROOPYS NOTICE – Purchased out of the famous Droopys Stud in Ireland unraced.  Undoubtedly better than the bare form of his 3 career races to date when well beaten at big odds.  Likely to improve in time but this competition might come a bit too soon.
ELA BOMBER – Three wins in his five career races to date including a very good 28.37 at Monmore last time out.  Since trialed at Nottingham in 30.81 over 500m , leading for a long way before being picked up close home by Antigua Boss.  Will have to improve on that effort but the experience of the track should serve him well.