PATRICK JANSSENS consolidated a top-six position in the GBGB Trainer of the Year standings when landing his most prestigious victory as a trainer when Goldies Hotspur grabbed gold in the Colossus Bets TV Trophy final at Towcester on Wednesday – landing a 16-1 surprise to most, but not to her handler.

“I’ve always thought the world of her. She can catch the very best, has improved through the year and, when she’s hit the front so early I knew she’d keep pulling, and she’s done that,” said Janssens after the Andy Pelley-owned runner, the St Leger third, reversed form with her Perry Barr conqueror Rubys Rascal when making virtually all over the 906m trip.

In clocking 55.45sec (-40) for the eight-bend distance, Goldies Hotspur clocked the fastest time in this year’s TV Trophy final to win by three and three-quarter lengths from Mark Wallis’s dog. Stuart Buckland’s Millroad Smokey ran on for third ahead of red-hot favourite Roxholme Magic, who stayed on up the run-in but had been well adrift throughout.

Winning owner Pelley was also landing his biggest success as an owner with a bitch he bought from Keith Allsop, renaming her after his beloved Spurs. “Patrick felt she had something about her. She’s was very novicey early, but showed what she could do when winning at Romford by almost 20 lengths.

“Patrick has done a fantastic job, and he’s a great trainer with a great team – himself, Cheryl (wife) and Pete (Vernon) do a superb job and Ron (Mills, sports physiotherapist) plays his part too. We’ve always got on, ever since I had Droopys Zach with Mark (Wallis) when they were all working at Imperial Kennels.

“I suppose Zach, Walk The Talk and Head Iton Jason would be my best dogs over the years, and all have been super. Zach won the puppy race on the last night at Walthamstow before stepping up in trip to win the Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore before running a close second to his kennelmate Kinda Easy in the St Leger.”

Janssens added: “It’s been a good year. Bockos Alfie winning the Kent Derby for us was special and now the TV Trophy for Goldies Hotspur. Hopefully this can see her get a nomination for the GBGB Awards – third in the St Leger and now TV Trophy winner. She’s proving herself all the time.”

The news on Roxholme Magic is that Hayley Keightley’s bitch is now retired, with plans for a swansong at Shelbourne Park next weekend shelved. The multiple track-record breaking marathon star had seemingly overcome a dislike of Towcester when winning her heat, but defeat in the final ultimately came as no surprise no connections.

“Look, we were always hopeful,” said Mark Keightley. “She came home really strongly in the heats and you hoped she’d be okay, although her performance on the night was hardly a shock to my system. It was the very first time she’d got behind classy sorts at Towcester, and I saw that coming – so a shock it wasn’t.

“It’s of course not the ideal way to go out on I fully accept. However, as of last night her new home is by me in the office! There is no more. In my opinion, she’s been a champion in her division for many years now. She’s five years old as of Friday, owes us absolutely nothing, and will enjoy her retirement in the office – or the paddocks!”

Laurence Jones, head of betting operations at Colossus Bets, made the presentations afterwards and said: “Well done to Patrick and all his team at the kennels, she was a fantastic winner. It’s been a brilliant night – and we’ve exciting plans for Colossus jackpots in both horse and greyhound racing in 2018.”