CLONA CURLY has the ultimate target of the Star Sports English Greyhound Derby at the track run by his owner after winning the Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby Final at Newcastle on Thursday.

Trained by Diane Henry for Towcester promoter Kevin Boothby, the strapping 37-kilo April 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Newinn Cuckoo proved too strong for gallant Romford raider Droopys Eunice to claim the £12,500 prize and land a second victory in the 480m competition after her beloved Ten Large Down struck gold in 2010 when the famous event was held at Sunderland.

A staying-on second in both his heat and semi-final, Clona Curly saved his best start in the event for when it mattered most, pacing up to turn second behind pace-setting Droopys Eunice who made a good start herself inside.

One of two Maxine Locke-trained runners in the decider along with Droopys Display, Droopys Eunice set the tempo down the back and, while the pair now had the race between them after the remainder jostled for position behind, Clona Curly always looked set to prove the stronger and challenged for the lead at the third bend before asserting and going on for a three-and-a-quarter length success.

Droopys Eunice claimed the runner-up spot ahead of Coppice Ella (Kevin Hutton) who stayed on for third. The winning time was a fast 28.23sec (+10) for the 28.25sec Cork winner who was unlucky to be knocked out at the semi-final stage of the National Puppy Stake at Shelbourne Park in November when denied a place in the final after being hampered by a loose runner who rejoined the race.

The victory delighted winning trainer Diane Henry, who explained how she came by the youngster and how Thursday’s success was so special for many reasons – not least following Ten Large Down’s success all those years ago.

“Thursday was just brilliant but it was the way he won which was special,” said Henry. “He’d been improving each week – it took him a few runs to get the hang of Newcastle – but how he got out on the night and the pace he showed was brilliant, especially the change of pace from the third to the fourth bend. That’s the kind of run to really get you excited seeing that in a greyhound so young.

“He did everything right in the final which is what was needed with some really nice pups in the race. He needed to get a good pitch round the first two bends to avoid any trouble but to see him come away like he did was everything I hoped for but didn’t expect!

“It was a friend of mine in Ireland, Davy Sutton, who first rang me. He said Kevin O’Brien potentially might be selling Clona Curly so I checked him out and immediately rang him back to make a bid as I liked what I saw. He lacked early but the pace was there and, being so young, I thought he had time to develop this. If so, we could have a top dog. He’s very exciting but again you just take each race as it comes with any dog.

“Winning the Northern Puppy Derby again was special. Ten Large Down was on my mind, of course, him winning this event all those years ago for me. I’ve not long lost him at the age of 15 and a half years old, so I know he was with us on Thursday.

“The Monmore Puppy Derby is next. I gave him his qualifying trials there as part of the plan to switch him back if all goes well at Newcastle, as I knew I wouldn’t have to enough time for him to get familiar with the track if not.

“I’d like to say a big thank-you to everyone up at Newcastle, especially Ian Walton (general manager) and all the staff. They are so welcoming and the local trainers, too, are always lovely, so it’s a real pleasure to go there. It’s hard to beat the locals round Newcastle as track knowledge is worth lengths there, so it’s nice to finally win a big one at the track. Thank you to everyone again – I feel very blessed.

“A big well done to Kevin Boothby, too. Hopefully, that will give him a real boost for the year now.”