MARK WALLIS was at the double in the heats of the Juvenile Classic at Towcester on Sunday as New Destiny, fastest in the official trial stakes a week previously, underlined her position as favourite for the GBGB Category One competition.

Victory for the October 2021 daughter of Grangeview Ten and Coonough Dolly in heat four rounded off a good afternoon for the champion trainer after his Rapido Lady started the ball rolling for Imperial Kennels in heat one – a fast start laying the foundation for an all-the-way success over the 500m trip at the Northamptonshire venue.

Posting a 4.15sec split, the August 2021 daughter of Sparta Maestro and Perfecto Rosie was soon in command and, with favourite Droopys Reserve slower away before being crowded out, went on to score by three and a half lengths from kennelmate Droopys Prymtime for a Wallis 1-2, with Blue Mustang (Patrick Janssens) in third.

The winning time for Rapido Lady was 29.60sec (+10).

New Destiny then completed the Wallis double and clocked the fastest time of the round with a 28.93sec (+10) in heat four. Quickly into stride, the 4-11 favourite was soon well clear and drew steadily away to win by eight and a half lengths from Coppice Warrior (Kevin Hutton) and Bombay Zero (Paul Young) in 28.93sec (+10).

Wallis also qualified Chanceme Jacko and Ballymac John from the other heats and, with Newinn Syd later clocking a fastest-of-the-day 28.90sec (+10) in winning a maiden contest on the card, it was a good day at the office for Wallis, who said: “It was a cracking day all round – and hopefully can continue next Sunday for the semis!

“Getting all five runners through to the Juvenile Classic semi-finals is no mean feat and well done to them all. New Destiny is carrying all before her at the moment. She just didn’t make the bend in the match race against Maree Champion, who’s very strong, but she’s definitely come forward since and is clocking some fantastic times.

“Rapido Lady made the Greyhound Trader final at Towcester but is best when she hits the ground running and won well, while Chanceme Jacko and Ballymac John both kept on well to qualify, as did Droopys Prymtime from a tough draw in his heat behind Rapido Lady. And then to cap it all, Newinn Syd did a flying time in a later race.

“Syd’s a nice prospect. He was off after Monmore in May and Sunday was only his this race for us – so that sort of time was pretty good indeed. He’s off to Nottingham next week to begin his preparation for the (JenningsBet) Puppy Classic there.”

The other Juvenile Classic heats were won by John Mullins’s Wrighty, who again made all to score by five and a half lengths from Chanceme Jacko and Make It Flo (Frank Gray) in 29.22sec (+10), and Seamus Cahill’s Droopys Clue, who led early to score by the same margin from Ballymac John and Coppice Rocket (Kevin Hutton) in 29.00sec (+10).

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=399212&raceId=955022

Form and trap draw for Sunday’s Juvenile Classic semis: https://towcester-racecourse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/129.pdf