DROOPYS RATED heads into Saturday’s Barking Mad Betting TV Trophy Final at Towcester as the new track record holder for the track’s 942m trip after an hugely impressive victory in heat two of the famous race at the weekend.

Helping to continue Paul Young’s fine 2026 with his Underground Gold going well in the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby and Innfield Fifi also winning her TV Trophy heat for a Young hat-trick on the night, Droopys Rated produced an impressive staying effort when reeling in long-time leader Bubbly Evie (Tony Dean) approaching the penultimate bend before racing away for an eye-catching eight-length success in 57.17sec.

In winning, Romford raider Droopys Rated clipped a chunk off Mongys Wild’s previous best of 57.41sec set in last year’s TV Trophy final, albeit changes to the track including the installation of new traps before the Derby has generally seen quicker times.

However, Towcester racing manager Danny Rayment said it was still a fantastic run from the April 2024 son of Out Of Range ASB and Droopys Natalia.

“We’ve seen times improve overall and already the track record over 500m has gone twice during the Derby,” he said. “Nevertheless that was some time clocked by Droopys Rated who is clearly an up-and-coming marathon star being lightly raced.

“Saturday’s heat was the first time he’s been over eight bends so to set a new track record was definitely something special whatever the circumstances. And fair play to Paul (Young) and his team with Innfield Fifi also winning her heat, and Underground Gold continuing to run well in the Derby.

“But going back to the TV Trophy, clearly it means that Mongys Wild might not have things his own way, as many expected. However, fair play to Mark’s dog who came through well to win his heat after stumbling badly at the start. Not many dogs could recover sufficiently to win as he did, but we’re talking about a champion here – and last year’s winner, too.”

Three heats of the TV Trophy had spiced an already good card at the Northamptonshire venue which had earlier hosted the second batch of second round heats of the English Derby – and the Mark Wallis-trained Mongys Wild kicked off the marathon showpiece with a comfortable victory in heat one – in the end!

Stumbling badly at the traps, the reigning champion and multiple Category One winner trailed the field early but was soon in top gear and had the race in safe keeping early on the second circuit, the October 2022 son of Roxholme Olaf and Banter Breeze coming through for a five-and-a-quarter length win over Frankton Ivy (Carol Weatherall) in 58.28sec.

Innfield Fifi later landed a TV Trophy heat double for Paul Young in heat three when producing a strong-running effort to land a runaway seven and three-quarter lengths from Remember Betty (Matt Dartnall) after third-placed Harlequin Flewin had led early. The winning time was 58.24sec.

Trap draw for Saturday’s £12,500 Barking Mad Betting TV Trophy Final: 1 Innfield Fifi, 2 Mongys Wild, 3 Frankton Ivy, 4 Bubbly Evie, 5 Remember Betty (m), 6 Droopys Rated (m).