PACEMAKER TED heads for the English Derby at Towcester as trainer Tom Heilbron’s first GBGB Category One winner after landing the spoils with a brilliant performance in Wednesday’s Arena Racing Company Northern Flat at Newcastle on Wednesday.

The April 2018 son of Laughil Blake and Droopys Harbour had impressively qualified for the final behind King Bruno (Liz McNair) the previous week in that hot semi-final featuring Jaguar Macie and Ice On Fire – and raised his game still further in the £6,500 decider.

Well away, Pacemaker Ted raced to a 4.54sec sectional and was in pole position on the outer as the field hit the first bend. With crowding at the turn, involving the remainder of the field, the eventual winner was away and gone.

Keeping up the pressure with a superb front-running performance, the three-year-old crossed the line four and a half lengths clear of running-on trackmate Look Like Power (Jimmy Fenwick), clocking a fast 28.37sec for the 480m trip.

Winning trainer Heilbron was delighted to have registered a first major success, especially on home soil, and the young handler thanked everyone who contacted him and sent messages of congratulations.

He said: “What a tremendous night – and I’m still on cloud nine! This little dog has been an absolute superstar for me.

“A guy called Mazhar Khan bought the dog having got in touch with me via my kennel Facebook page around seven months ago and we speak most days. He’s got a few more dogs with me now – and another one comes in next month.

“He’s a genuinely nice guy. Ted was his first dog with me and he said he had never won an open race at that point until Ted won his first – so obviously we’ve had a great journey the last few months!

“I sourced Ted for him from Ireland and he’s gone from strength to strength. He’s one of those dogs who always gives his all and is an absolute pleasure to train.

“I wouldn’t say I was confident in the lead up to the final but the dog was so well in himself in the kennel I knew there was a big run in him. We had worked on getting him out of the boxes and that’s exactly what he showed on Wednesday night.

“Obviously I was gutted for Carl Jackson to see what happened to Calzaghe Edward at the bend, but it was fantastic to see the dog was home, in the kennel with Carl on the night, and he looked comfortable. I wish him a speedy recovery.

“Even with trouble in the race it’s probably the first time in my life that, in a final, I knew we’d won from trap-rise. Once he led, nothing was going to pull him back.

“He’s got nothing to prove now and will go down as my first Category One winner – hopefully the first of many!

“Massive thanks to the sponsors of the event and Newcastle for putting on a top-class evening. It was even more special to win on home soil with crowds allowed back in, especially with my wife and kids there with me to see it live.

“That’s been a childhood dream of mine which I’ve tried to accomplish for the last 20 years, so it will take a long time for the smile to be wiped off my face!

“Massive thanks also to the team in the kennels who day in, day out give everything to these dogs. They’ve loved this just as much as me.”

Ian Walton, Newcastle general manager, said: “Congratulations to Tom and his team – it was a fantastic run from Pacemaker Ted and great to see a Newcastle one-two in the Arena Racing Company Northern Flat Final.

“It might not have been the final we expected, but Pacemaker Ted certainly deserved his place as you could see from his effort in the final and a fast time clocked – capping what was a thrilling competition from the start.

“Thank-you to the connections of all the runners who have taken part in this year’s Arc Northern Flat.”