DROOPYS CANNON posted the fastest time of the afternoon’s action as the Dean Childs-trained starlet landed a very impressive 27.41sec (normal) success in heat five of the Henlow Puppy Derby on Sunday.

The September 2017 son of Droopys Roddick and Droopys Loner made all the running over the 460m trip to register a ninth success in 11 career starts and back-to-back wins at the Bedfordshire venue after last week’s trial stakes victory.

Both Droopys Cannon and littermate Droopys Code were sent over to Childs’s Essex base as unraced pups by Michael and Sean Dunphy and are both by former kennel star and now successful dam Droopys Loner.

“The pair are both owned by Loner’s owner Mark Gilbert, John Winchester and Martin McDonagh – and Droopys Cannon has looked the part since day one, winning well at Crayford a number of times before going on to win opens at Romford and Central Park,” said Childs.

The Crayford trainer added: “He’s matured a lot recently but, being a tight railer, had to learn how to cope with a lot of middle draws early in his career which I hope will serve him well later on when needs be!

“He possesses great early and middle speed and sees out 480m well, so with some more consistency at the boxes I can see him being the full package next year. He’s certainly started the right way and is handling Puppy Derby class.

“Droopys Code didn’t have as good a start to his career being off for a few months with metacarpal soreness but is now finding his feet and looks a nice type. He doesn’t seem to get the 460m Henlow trip at full pace at the moment, but dug in well to qualify and should keep progressing in the summer months.”

Droopys Code qualified in fourth behind the Chris Akers-trained Sonic Bubba (27.62sec), while the other heats were won by Kevin Hutton’s Headford Ranger (27.65sec), Patrick Janssens’ Bockos Doomie (28.03sec) and the Frank Gray-trained Makeit Saymyname (27.97sec).

Kevin Boothby, Henlow owner and promoter, said: “I thought it was an excellent afternoon’s racing and we’ve clearly got some talented youngsters here for the Puppy Derby and we look forward to Sunday’s semi-finals.

“At this stage you’d say Droopys Cannon is the one to beat. He was very impressive, but I was happy as an owner to get three through (Makeit Saymyname, Savana Me Daddy, Savana Jimbo). They take their chance in competitive semis.”

Trap draw for Sunday’s semi-finals:

Semi-final 1: 1. Savana Jimbo 2. Distant Lucy 3. Droopys Cannon 4. Makeit Saymyname 5. Droopys Code (w) 6. Arthur Peanut (w)

Semi-final 2: 1. Headford Danny 2. Sonic Bubba 3. Jet Stream Jimmy 4. Dower Product 5. Dower Tyson (m) 6. Savana Me Daddy (w)

Semi-final 3: 1. Bockos Doomie 2. Perrys Choice 3. Headford Ranger 4. Dower Dazzler (m) 5. Jet Stream Socks (w) 6. Pennys Dragon (w)