DROOPYS ALADDIN added his name to a famous roll of honour when landing the Arena Racing Company Laurels Final at Dunstall Park.

On a night in which the Wolverhampton Racecourse also staged the final of the Arena Racing Company Dunstall Dash, a brand new Category Two event won by Stuart Tighe’s Good Acclaim (see separate story), it was the Mike Burton-trained, Severn Racing Club-owned Droopys Aladdin who proved the star of the show with a second Category One title for Burton and his assistant Michael Jones.

Having sent out Outa The Clouds for victory in Oxford’s Puppy Collar at the backend of last year, Droopy Aladdin deservedly doubled the former British Lion’s tally when reeling in hot favourite and fast-starting Romeo Steel (Patrick Janssens) rounding the second bend before gamely keeping rivals at bay for the win.

Droopys Aladdin and Romeo Steel went head to head down the back-straight before Burton’s dog took a narrow advantage into the third bend, with No Better Feelin (Esther Driver) and Ballymac Blanco (Maxine Locke) also very much on the premises and both looking to launch challenges rounding the last bend.

As Romeo Steel came under pressure, Droopys Aladdin forged on and was on his way to a one and a half lengths victory over Ballymac Blanco in 28.88sec (-20) for the 480m trip, with No Better Feelin keeping on well also in third.

Delighted to have won the first Laurels staged at Dunstall Park, Burton was especially thrilled and relieved to have struck with the July 2023 son of Serene Ace and Droopys Natalia who had led in the Ladbrokes Winter Derby Final and looked on his way to victory before the hare was stopped in the interest of safety.

Beaten in the re-run, Burton had been delighted to have seen Droopys Aladdin win heat and semi-final in the Laurels but feared his midfield draw in the final with Romeo Steel in the coveted red-box might prove his runner’s undoing.

“It looked tough but I knew he was running well and he’s run great and I’m just delighted and relieved,” he said. “I’m not sure I’ve ever been so nervous – even compared to playing rugby in front of thousands of people. That was easier than this!

“We’ll go to Towcester now for the Derby. We had some fun last year, getting to the quarter-finals, and are ready to give it another crack!”

Burton’s assistant Michael Jones said: “He deserved that. He’s definitely getting stronger and is a different dog to when he was younger. If you remember in the Monmore Puppy Derby he’d come out and turn left. He’s got more trackcraft now and when it all comes together tonight like it has it’s great.”