BISCUIT BILLY set a new record for trainer Ted Soppitt when winning the Arc Puppy Cup Final at Sunderland last week – incredibly the EIGHTH time the Durham handler has won the 450m competition at the Wearside track.

After wins for Skywalker Stan two years ago and victories previously for Calzaghe Boyo, Droopys McAndrew, Droopys Kez, Skywalker Teddy, Calzaghe George and Calzaghe Mint, it was the turn of the August 2020 son of Ballymac Best and Calzaghe Jan to strut his stuff for the same kennel.

As favourite Arkady looked to pace up after a moderate exit, before suddenly easing on the run-up, the John Monk-owned Biscuit Billy raced to a 4.77sec sectional and was soon in command in the £5,000-to-the-winner GBGB Category Two event.

Racing away to score comfortably in the end, Biscuit Billy had two and a quarter lengths to spare at the line over the staying-on Snake Root (Andrew Wood) with Arkady (David Mullins) recovering to finish third. The winning time was 26.75sec (+10).

A delighted winner trainer Soppitt said: “He arrived here at 15 months old from Paddy Sinnott who breeds the Blackstone dogs – he also bred Skywalker Barry – and has been a good dog for John (Monk), who’s been a good and loyal owner of mine for many years.

“Billy won third time up for us at Sheffield and then won at Sunderland in a good race against Blackhouse Harry. That’s good form, so this competition was in my mind – as it always is! We’ve got a good record in it and some cracking dogs have come through it.

“We were a decent price come the final, but I always felt if he could break in front of the favourite then it might be game-on and that’s how it’s proved. Pups can do strange things sometimes – even Billy was checking-up into the pick-up which we had to work on.

“In time I’m sure he’ll handled 500m at Towcester, but he’s got plenty of speed – his sectional tells you that – and that will hopefully see him win a good few more races.”

The Sunderland presentation proved a real family affair with Soppitt’s wife Sue and daughter Lisa also joining the celebrations.

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=386658&raceId=853883