HEADFORD DANE completed an unbeaten run through the event with a brilliant performance to claim victory in the Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby Final at Monmore on Saturday – on what was just the precocious youngster’s third start.

Unraced in Ireland, Maxine Locke’s August 2023 son of Ballymac Bolger and Headford Honey maintained his unbeaten record in the £20,000-to-the-winner Category One with a brilliant show of all-round pace to take his chance with all four paws against a good-class field, including red-hot favourite Rackethall Brute (Mark Wallis).

The race to the bend always looked key and it was the eventual winner’s kennelmate Ballymac Kobe and Newcastle’s Swift Bullseye (Ray Hale) who trapped best and headed the field early, only for both Ballinakill Liam (Mark Wallis) and Headford Dane, both now getting into top gear, joining issue as the bend approached.

Rushing up inside, Headford Dane bumped Ballymac Kobe at the turn before taking the initiative and racing into what proved a winning advantage for in-form trainer Locke and the youngster’s owners, the JR Racing Syndicate.

Rackethall Brute was fastest in both heats and semi-finals and was always expected to be finishing best. However, he was held up rounding the first two turns and the deficit on this occasion was too much for the 4-5 favourite, albeit he got to within a length and a half of the 28.09sec (normal) winner at the line.

Arthur Job (Patrick Godfrey) stayed on well for third, but victory went to Romford’s Maxine Locke who claimed a second Category One victory of 2025 after Droopys Eunice’s win in the Coral Essex Vase in January and was delighted with the progress of her young star.

“You can’t ask for much more of a young dog to win his first three races in such good company and it’s just great to win this competition,” she said. “Cooliogold was second for us two years ago and (Droopys) Eunice was also in last year’s final, so maybe it was third time lucky for us!

“We’ve got a team ready for Trainers Judgement Night at Perry Barr but I’d say Ballymac Kobe would be our puppy there and Dane will go instead to Sheffield for the Gymcrack.

“Either way, thanks again to Jo (Ramsey) who has been on the road with our Monmore team. She does a great job, as do all the team at the kennels. I’m very lucky to have them.”

Monmore racing manager Tony Williamson congratulated connections of Headford Dane and was delighted with how another gala night’s racing unfolded at the Wolverhampton venue.

“It was a good night all-round and well done to Maxine and her team. Her pup took his chance against the favourite and is really improving as you’d expect as the youngest finalist in just his third race – that’s some achievement.

“Well done to all our other winners on the night. I’d particularly like to mention New Destiny winning the Jim Woods Memorial Trophy Final for Mark Wallis – she’s a classy and worthy winner of a race we’re proud to stage in memory of our former racing manager Jim.”