ARKADY landed a brilliant and popular trap-to-line success in Sunday’s RPGTV Juvenile at Towcester – just days after competing in a major final at Central Park.

Ultimately crowded out of contention after running well for a long way behind Fromposttopillar in the Arc Kent Plate Final the previous Wednesday, the David Mullins-trained runner turned out four days later to produce arguably a career-best effort in the prestigious £5,000 one-off over the Derby distance at the Northamptonshire venue.

A 7-1 chance against the likes of unbeaten Romeo Command and Monmore Puppy Derby winner Bradys Bullet (Belinda Green), a fast start from the reigning Arc Kent Derby champion saw him soon in command in the run to the bend.

Thereafter, with crowding among his rivals in behind, the Kelly Searle-owned runner was not for catching and, while Romeo Command stayed on resolutely, Arkady crossed the line a length and a quarter clear of the Patrick Janssens-trained runner-up, with Makeit The Bear (Frank Gray) back in third. The winning time was 29.50sec (-20).

Clive Lawrence, RPGTV executive producer and speaking on behalf of the big-race sponsors, said: “Well done to David and Julie (Mullins) and to Kelly (Searle). The same combination enjoyed great success with Shrewd Call and Arkady has continued in that vein with his Kent Derby win and now the Juvenile.

“The Juvenile is always a high-class race which we are proud to be associated with and are delighted to broadcast on the channel. Well done to Arkady.”

Winning owner Searle said: “As an owner there are some races you just want to be part of and, for me, it’s always been the RPGTV Juvenile. When David (Mullins) told me we were eligible to run, and then to get the invite, I Iiterally told everyone I knew being that excited!

“When I saw Arkady break and lead round the first two bends I was looking to see who was behind us and, when I saw it was Romeo Command, I just started shouting our boy home – anything to help him get over the line in front!

“And when he did, I just turned to David and all I could say was “We’ve just won the Juvenile!” It was probably more out of surprise than anything else, even though I knew he was capable, and was just thrilled.

“Touchingly the first person to come over and say congratulations after the race was Patrick (Janssens) which was really good of him and very much appreciated.

“I don’t think I’ve seen David so happy to see him win either. If you haven’t seen the video of him shouting our boy home from the centre of the track then you are missing a treat.

“Thank you to Steve Nash for taking some amazing photos, but most importantly a huge thank-you to Team Mullins and, of course, Arkady for winning the one race, apart from the Derby, I’ve always wanted to win.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=395603&raceId=927023