NEWINN BANGER was fastest in the semi-finals of the Gain Nutrition English Puppy Derby at Henlow on Sunday.

The Pat Rosney-trained runner (pictured above in last week’s heats) arrived at the Bedfordshire track on the back of a minor competition victory at Nottingham, but now has a shot at the Category One prize after making all in the third semi-final of the £7,500 competition.

Trapping smartly, the April 17 son of Farloe Blitz and Coolavanny Pearl, who will line up in Sunday’s final as the youngest runner, was soon clear and raced away to win by six lengths from Liz McNair’s King Nelson in 27.43sec (normal).

A delighted Rosney said: “Newinn Banger is a gentle giant of a greyhound who is thriving on his racing right now. He kept on improving for his races at Nottingham and has handled Henlow really well.

“I’m happy with his draw in the final and, a bit of good luck which you always need, it would be a nice way to end the year with. He’s owned by a syndicate headed by Darren Price who had Take The Crown with me – and they’re enjoying the ride!”

Incidentally, runner-up King Nelson, winner of the Young Guns event at Central Park, will be joined in the Henlow decider by two of his littermates from the same Feb 17 Eden The Kid-Skate On batch, as the Brendan Keogh-bred litter continues to excel.

King Lennon stayed on behind first semi-final winner Swift Jim (Kevin Hutton), the winner making all in 27.49sec, while King Dylan swooped late to deny and edge out another Hutton-trained runner in Argentina in the second semi-final, scoring in 27.63sec.

It means Sunday’s final will comprise three British-bred Liz McNair-trained runners, one from Pat Rosney and two from Kevin Hutton – with the Derby-winning trainer now eyeing back-to-back successes in the event after Magical Bale’s win at Towcester last year.

“It’s great to get two through to the final for the second year running and hopefully we can pinch it again! Both absolutely have to lead to win so we need to take fliers and hope the ‘King’ dogs don’t turn too close! It’s a very good, wide-open final.

“Argentina had the sickness after his Henlow trial so is improving all the time and should improve again for the final. Swift Jim is a lovely little dog who loves the rails – he’s done everything we’ve asked of him and that was a good run by him in the semis.

Rab McNair, representing his trainer wife Liz, added: “It’s a great final to look forward to, good for Brendan (Keogh, KSS Syndicate) and the lads to look forward to, especially after a tough night for us at Sheffield last week. That’s the ups and downs of the game.

“All the pups have run well, and you never know. Qualifying three of them makes all the hard work worth it, it’s what you breed litters for and this bunch just continue to delight us. They are all still coming forward too.”

Trap draw for Sunday’s final:- 1. Swift Jim 2. King Dylan 3. King Nelson(m) 4. King Lennon(m) 5. Newinn Banger(w) 6. Argentina(w)