DROOPYS RATED followed up his track record performance by matching those best-ever figures for the 942m trip in winning the Barking Mad Betting TV Trophy Final at Towcester – the famous marathon showpiece staged alongside the third round of the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby.

It was a superb performance from the up-and-coming Paul Young-trained star, part-owned by Romford trainer Young, Dave Cunningham and Kurn Rushen, whose stock rose in winning the £12,500 Category One decider, albeit on a night connections of the winner were quick to pay tribute to the defending champion Mongys Wild who broke down on the run to the first bend and, while continuing the race for a time, ultimately failed to finish.

Subsequently operated on and expected to make a full recovery, Mark Wallis’s champion, who went close to GBGB Greyhound of the Year honours in 2025 only to be edged out by kennelmate Proper Heiress, has been retired after a glorious, multiple Category One-winning career, and Paul Young, trainer of Droopys Rated was among the first to send his best wishes to connections.

“It’s certainly not the way we wanted to win and we wanted to see our lad and Mongys Wild go head to head, but it wasn’t to be. We’re naturally delighted to win but best wishes to Mark (Wallis) and Mike (Davis) – their dog was a champion, right up there with the best I’ve ever seen, and was a joy to watch. You’d make a point of watching his races, he was that good. He’ll have a fantastic retirement I’m sure.”

As for Droopys Rated, who caught leader Bubbly Evie (Tony Dean) approaching the penultimate bend in Saturday’s final before going on to score from that rival by eight and three-quarter lengths in a track record-equalling 57.17sec for the 942m trip. Third home was Remember Betty (Matt Dartnall).

Victory for Droopys Rated, who arrived at Young’s Wickford kennels unraced from Ireland and made a winning debut for the Romford trainer over 500m at Hove in October, adds a record-equalling fifth TV Trophy triumph for Paul Young after wins for Serious Dog (2002), Ericas Equity (2003 and 2005), and Bubbly Inferno (2024).

The newest TV Trophy winner is an April 2024 son of Out Of Range ASB and Droopys Natalia, and thus from the same dam line as dual St Leger winner Droopys Clue and Laurels champion Droopys Aladdin.

“We gave him plenty of time after Hove but it was clear he wanted further. He only raced for the first time over 695m at Hove in February and stayed well enough for us to think in time he’d stay even further . But it was only after the TV Trophy was announced we thought, why not? He’s only young but the timing worked out well enough.”