IAN WALTON, Newcastle’s general manager, believes the race to succeed last year’s winner Droopys Deploy is wide open after six heats of the Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby at the Byker venue last week.

Three semi-finals of the £12,500-to-the-winner Category One take centre-stage at the north-east venue on Thursday, with UK debutant Copney Queen fastest of the six heat winners as the local runner starred on the clock. However, Walton believes there is a long way to go before the track’s first major winner of 2026 is crowned.

“Copney Queen was superb and looks a nice newcomer for John (Flaherty) and the team,” said Walton. “They won last year’s Time Northern Flat with Naochra and have their eyes on another major prize here – and, while they’re based over the border, John has his runners with us at Newcastle and is definitely one of ours!”

Walton believes the home side remains strong enough to win their first Northern Puppy Derby since Links Maverick’s win for Tom Heilbron in 2023, but respects the travelling contingent and, on the basis of last week’s heats, a third ‘away’ victory in a row after Irish success last year for Robert Gleeson and success for Diane Henry’s Clona Curly in 2024 is not beyond the realms of possibility.

“It’s always great to have interest from trainers outside of the north east and they had a good Thursday night here with wins for Maxine (Locke) and Carol (Weatherall), and Nathan (Hunt), Michelle (Brown) and Paul (Young) getting runners through. We’ve got three intriguing semi-finals to look forward to.”

Romford’s Newinn Aero kicked off the 2026 running of the Northern Puppy Derby with an impressive all-the-way victory in heat one as Maxine Locke’s runner made it third time lucky in the UK, albeit no luck was required as a fast start set up a four and a half length victory over local hope Fardoe Sleek (Ray Hale) in 28.83sec (-20).

The visitors struck again in heat two as the Carol Weatherall-trained Backtoyourbest led down the far side before stretching out nicely to win by two and a half lengths from Newinn Aero’s kennelmate Barnfield Titan (Maxine Locke) in 28.98sec (-20).

Newcastle hit back in heat three as Ballymac Buddy emerged from first-bend scrimmaging to always hold sway over favourite Goldcash Warrior (Nathan Hunt).

Ted Soppitt’s runner, making it four wins from five starts, crossed the line a length and a quarter clear of the Monmore tracker in 29.10sec (-20).

Savva Roberts scored another local victory in heat four as he returned Droopys Trigger to the fray after a break, the winner cutting loose early for a runaway seven-length win over Bowmers Buddy (Paul Young) in a slick 28.78sec (-20).

John Flaherty’s Copney Queen then set the standard in heat five as the Dundalk winner made a winning UK debut by taking the scalp of Puppy Oaks finalist Soapy Suds (Debbie Calvert), leading early and escaping the pack to score by five lengths from the runner-up, who recovered from crowding, in 28.70sec (-20).

Newcastle also took the sixth and final heat as Jimmy Fenwick’s Woltemade burst from the traps – his 4.55sec sectional was the best of the night – before making all by two and three-quarter lengths in 28.82sec (-20).