KISHLAWN SHAKIRA followed up her track record in the heats with an equally impressive victory in the Gain Greyhound Nutrition Challenge Cup Final – the £5,000-to-the-winner GBGB Category Two event on Derby final night at Towcester.

Forced to come from off the pace this time as Burgess Puma (Jason Bloomfield) led his field for much of the 712m distance, the Dave Mullins-owned and trained two-year-old hit the front approaching the sixth bend and held the challenge of running-on Deadly Do Lago (Simon Harms) by half a length in 43.72sec (normal).

The winner is a February 2019 daughter of Good News and Jaytee Sahara and litter sister of Irish Oaks and Easter Cup third Billys Diva.

Romford also landed the winner of the RPGTV Notebook Ladies Stakes Final over 500m, another Category Two event on the card, with Droopys Aoife.

The Gemma Evans-trained 2019 Essex Vase champion and multiple big-race finalist was soon pitching for a position after breaking with her field and used the inside line to edge in front of favourite Luna Rocket at the bend before going on to score by one a quarter lengths from that rival in 29.55sec (normal).

Winning trainer Evans said: “It’s my first winner on Derby final night, so that’s a special but emotional feeling. Aoife was just brilliant again tonight. She’s so jealous and wanted to be in front at the turn which she needed to be in this company.”

The Irish challenge throughout the Derby has been strong and the visitors landed a treble on the night with Pat Buckley’s Coom Leo (29.66sec -10) winning over 500m, while Peter Cronin’s pair of All About Ted (29.65sec -10) and Angry Dad (29.31sec normal) landed a double for the trainer.

Cronin said about All About Ted: “I thought he was unlucky to go out in the quarter-finals but grabbed his opportunity well tonight when they crowded inside. In truth I’m not sure Towcester really suits him – he’s more a 550-yard dog at Shelbourne so will be heading back there for the Derby.

“As for Angry Dad, I just delighted for his owner Liam Walsh, who also bred him. He’s always had great faith in him and is a real nice pup. We’ll look at things now. He could go for the Derby but is still young enough for races such as the Texacloth.”

Cronin was joined again at the presentation by his son Michael, who said of Angry Dad: “That was a really good run in a tough race. He had the track record holder inside him and plenty of pace outside him so had to do everything right and thankfully he did.”