PUPPY CLASSIC REVIEW AND SEMI FORM

“If I am any sort of judge, I genuinely think he could be an exceptional greyhound. After what happened at Newcastle, he could have come out with the idea that this racing game was not enjoyable. But he overcame a very difficult situation at the start and produced a thoroughly professional performance.”

Roxholme Butt who was given as much as seven months advantage away to some of his rivals produced the fastest run in the opening round of the GMG Puppy Classic at Nottingham much to the delight of Mark Keightley.

His wife’s black and white youngster was moderately away from trap two in heat 6 but reeled in early leader Raise The Stakes in 29.82. It was an understated run considering the 500m going allowance was assessed at (+20) when Monday 500m opens are regularly returned at (+50).

Mark added: “I had a small concern about the trap draw at Newcastle or I think he had a favourite’s chance in that if he had been drawn one. But he wasn’t put off at Nottingham, overcame some early crowding and you couldn’t have got a fag paper between him and the rail around the first two bends.

“For such a young dog, who is still some way from being fully developed, he has a brain of a much older dog. He will have very little for the rest of the year. We will see how Nottingham maps out and, fingers crossed, then it will be off to Towcester for the Puppy Derby.”

Latest betting: 7-2 Roxholme Butt, 7-1 Newinn Jet, 8-1 Droopys Trawler, Good Man, 12-1 Arthur Noodle, Raise The Stakes, Swift Taxman, 20-1 Antigua Boss, Incognito, 25-1 Piemans Cougar, Salacres Barley, 33-1 Seaglas Celine, Shoot The Bolt, 50-1 Doing A Stretch

All footage courtesy of Greyhoundbet

Heat 1 produced the second fastest time of the night and went to Poole’s Arthur Noodle (T1) after seizing the initiative from Blue Trooper (T2), The winner’s time was 29.95, though the nature of Trooper’s swerve to the rail will be of concern to Roxholme Butt’s connections given the semi final draw – though he did allow plenty of room on his inside at the bend. The heat also featured the night’s biggest shock with the elimination of Seaglass Phantom.

ARTHUR NOODLE wins the opening Puppy Clasic heat in a ‘next best’ time of the night 29.95 (+30). Photo: © Steve Nash

Heat 2 featured the Northern Puppy Derby winner Droopys Trawler (T3) who ran an absolute stormer to finish second on his first look at the track. The race was dominated from the front by Ballymac Defo and although he won, Angie Kibble’s prolific winner failed to show his usual sparkle up front and clocked a disappointing 30.10. He was duly withdrawn lame from the semi finals.

BALLYMAC DEFO (t1) is soon in control of Puppy Classic heat 2, leading up Antigua Boss (t6). Photo: © Steve Nash

Heat 3 featured the UK debut of the highly rated Irish youngster Good Lad. Although he was yet another short priced favourite from trap one, he seemed set on a middle course and looks better drawn in the semi finals. His winning time was 30.04.

GOOD LAD (t1) battles early with Seaglass Celine (t5) before going on to win heat 3 of the Puppy Classic. Photo: © Steve Nash

Heat 4 almost saw the departure of the third Northern Puppy Derby finalist Newinn Jet (T1). In what looked every bit a race for raw pups, Pat Rosney’s odds on favourite came from a long way off the pace to finish third. The flawless winner though was Lynn Cook’s Swift Taxman in 30.18.

SWIFT TAXMAN (t2, 30.18 +30) leads early from Desperado Dan (t3) in Puppy Classic heat 4. Fizzypop Jet (t6) was runner up with Newinn Jet (t1) also through.Photo: © Steve Nash

Heat 5 was another messy novicey event as evident from the winning time of 30.52. Tom Heilbron, whose father owned a previous winner of the event, Newinn Yolo, trained the fifth-to-first winner, Incognito.