PUNK ROCK MUTLEY helped maintain the fine tradition of Hove-based trainers in the event when hitting his rivals for six in the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket Final at Crayford on Saturday – in the processs becoming the biggest-priced winner in the event’s long history.

The Stuart Maplesden-trained runner went off a 33-1 chance to grab gold in the £17,500 showpiece, but was always on the premises after pacing up and turning handy as first-bend crowding saw unbeaten Bo Shine Bullet (Mark Wallis) hit the deck, although the favourite was soon up on her feet.

Taking up the running past halfway, the sole wide seed enjoyed a solo round the outside from this point and always held sway as her rivals crowded for position at the bends, with TV Trophy runner-up Redzer Renae (Tony Gifkins) only emerging clear rounding the last two bends but unable to get to the winner.

Galloping on well round the outer, Punk Rock Mutley was on his way to Ladbrokes Golden Jacket glory with the September 2017 son of Farloe Blitz and Highvew Dreamer crossing the line four and a half lengths clear of Redzer Renae and Ragtime Storm (Dan Brabon) in 45.78sec (+30) for the 714m trip.

A delighted Maplesden, celebrating his biggest win as a trainer, said afterwards: “I’m just delighted for the dog himself and for his owner Matt Christelow who, I can assure you, will have been going mad watching this at home. It’s a shame he and the other owners couldn’t be here, but he’d have enjoyed this – in fact, I know he did because he lost his voice shouting him home!

“I’d also like to thank my kennel staff. They work hard day in, day out with the hounds and it’s nice for them to enjoy this sort of win for the kennel – so a big thank you to Sandra, Natalie, Adrian and Abi.

“It’s been a tough start for the kennel. We had a few of ours retire in January and then a particular nice young dog we had developed cancer and we lost him, so days like Saturday help with the low times, for sure. It helps put a small kennel like ours on the map and gives everyone lots of confidence that we’re doing the right things.”

Maplesden used to work for fellow Hove trainer Claude Gardiner and then Doreen Walsh before taking over the licence himself. “I worked for Doreen for three years and got all her experience before she had to retire due to health reasons,” he added.

The Albourne-based handler now adds his name to a long line of Hove successes in the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket following wins for Derek Knight (five), Brian Clemenson (three) and George Curtis (one) since the Crayford annual was first run in 1975.

“The Hove dogs seem to do well here – and it’s great we’ve joined those winners,” added Maplesden. “He was the oldest runner in the race and the only dog against five really good bitches. We actually started him out sprinting as a young dog but was soon A1 over four bends and has always handled himself well in open class over a trip.

“I actually thought he ran pretty well in the semis, because the going was definitely not in his favour on the outside. The Crayford track staff had played a blinder just getting the meeting on given the snow and temperatures, but it was slower outside and so today I always felt he’d go better given the conditions – and so it proved!”

A winner of his heat of the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger (714m) last year, Punk Rock Mutley had shown he ran Crayford well enough and connections were always planning a crack at the Golden Jacket after a break towards the back-end of last year. A third in a Hove A1 last month on his return gave his trainer all the necessary encouragement that he was as good as ever, before a trial stakes entry.

Peter Broadbridge, Crayford’s stadium manager, congratulated all concerned before paying tribute to his track staff after a hare malfunction caused a 30-minute delay to racing.

He said: “Well done to Stuart (Maplesden) and all his team. It’s a special achievement to win a Ladbrokes Golden Jacket and Punk Rock Mutley ran his race and the rest just seemed to get in each other’s way, although of course we were very happy to see Bo Shine Bullet up quickly after her tumble.

“I thought the track ran really well today – and I’ve got to credit our track staff given the tough temperatures of the past two weeks and then an issue with the hare mechanism early in the meeting. They acted swiftly and we were able to then catch up the time throughout the rest of the meeting.

“I was delighted with the overall quality on the day,” added Broadbridge. “Look, it wasn’t the same without crowds and owners on a Ladbrokes Golden Jacket morning, but everyone knows the situation and I have to thank and praise the trainers and kennel staff, both ours and those visiting for adhering to all the guidelines we have in place here.

“It’s always special to see a 1,048m race here and well done to Michelle Brown and Micks Little Gem and well done also to the winners of our other finals today – a special thanks go to Nic and Amanda Jeal for their support in rescheduling the Welcome To Hope Jeal Trophy as a two-run competition on Jacket morning. It worked out well.”

Results: www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=370743&raceId=714640