Fastest first round winner Links Maverick will be at short odds to land the third semi final in tonight’s Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby third semi final from Newcastle.
Tom Heilbron’s black is the 7-4f to win the competition and will be looking to make it six wins from eight races from his trap two berth. He boasts a 4.42 sectional in a trial prior to the event and even off his slower first round sectional, is likely to have the early pace to go clear.
The race features three heat winners but is possibly the least competitive on paper. Kilara Scottie who began life in A4 company at Nottingham has quickly progressed for trainer Alex Hopkins and has now won his last two in open class here at Newcastle. A 20-1 chance ante post he has a couple of lengths to find on the clock but is improving week by week. The third winner in the line-up meanwhile Watchhall Annie is a 66-1 chance.
Maverick’s kennelmate Links Top Gun (16-1) goes in the opening, but arguably most open semi final. There were numerous hard luck stories in the first round and the Heilbron runner will almost certainly have to step up on his 29.03 run.
The BGBF Puppy Cup winner Watchhall Sid (10-1) was beaten by Top Gun in the opener and will be expected to find some of his Oxford form on the track where he was schooled. Stamina is an issue though and he is held on late December form by the third Heilbron first round winner, and competition second favourite White Clover (6-1). Completing the ‘second to fourth’ in the betting is Ted Soppitt’s Skywalker Isak (12-1) who looks ideally drawn in red. Tough to call, this one.
