‘Video spotters’ Mark McLoughlan and George Kennedy were the unseen stars behind Velvet Juliet’s thrilling victory in the Ted Lloyd Classic Final at Sunderland on Wednesday night.

The buckle between Angela Harrison’s star defending champ Allowdale Bruno produced a see-saw battle for supremacy that eventually went the way of the 7-4jf. Click on result to see replay.

It was a fifth win from 11 races for a bitch who had been talented spotted by the kennel’s scouts Mark and George.

Assistant trainer Jimmy Wright said: “Mark has spotted her in a couple of races at Clonmel where had been beaten but showed some potential. I phoned Tadgh Buckley and asked if she was for sale and we agreed a deal.

“She wasn’t an expensive bitch, but she arrived in superb condition and hasn’t put a foot wrong since. She already has winning form in 28.09 at Monmore. I think she will stay, and thought about the Stayers Classic at Monmore, but the temptation of the Oaks and the Lowther Stakes is too big.

 

Pos. Trainer W R % TPM Pts
1 P Janssens 120 351 34% £81,700 631
2 M A Wallis 100 537 19% £72,653 444
3 S A Cahill 71 258 28% £46,360 349
4 A Harrison 58 162 36% £58,490 342
5 K R Hutton 74 327 23% £71,925 333
6 E Mcnair 52 147 35% £37,225 307
7 H Keightley 27 68 40% £33,170 288
8 R J Holloway 25 82 30% £24,200 216
9 D Mullins 60 347 17% £46,795 192
10 P W Young 47 432 11% £38,210 189

Juliet’s victory saw Angela Harrison move into fourth place on the Trainers Championship table, most notably moving above Liz McNair.

While the ladies would be indifferent to the progress, not so their two assistant trainers.

Jimmy said: “Rab and I are very competitive, and we have been going all the way back to the flapping days.

“He is the best friend I’ve ever had . . . .I just wish he didn’t talk so much. He does my head in.”