BALLYMAC JOHN and Jacktavern Magic continued a fine start to trainer Mark Wallis’s new ownership partnership with Mike Davis and Michelle Connolly in the best possible style by landing an Imperial Kennels one-two in the Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup Final at Hove on Saturday.

The GBGB Category Two event shared the stage at the Sussex venue with the Coral Brighton Belle Final and, in just the fourth running of the 500m competition sponsored by local owner Steve Eason, the 500m pups-only event produced another high-quality affair with success ultimately for the Liam Dowling-bred youngster.

Ballymac John, a September 2021 son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Arminta, was quickly away and soon on his way to success after a moderate exit and then first and second-bend crowding for favourite Maree Champion (Seamus Cahill) which gave Wallis’s charge every chance to escape the pack – and he duly did.

Keeping up the gallop all the way to the wire, the winner crossed the line four and three-quarter lengths clear of his running-on kennelmate Jacktavern Magic to claim the £5,000 first prize, with Maree Champion rallying well to finish just a short-head away in third. The winning time for Ballymac John was 29.28sec (-10).

Wallis said: “It’s a really good puppy competition with great sponsorship and I’m convinced you’ll be hearing more about these pups across the rest of the year and into next. It’s fantastic to therefore get a one-two in the Seasons Scaffolding with two runners from our MWD Partnership with Michelle and Mike.”

Interviewed by RPGTV at the presentation, sponsor and Hove owner Steve Eason said he was delighted with the overall quality again of the competition. “The standard was fantastic and this is a competition to be taken seriously as a stepping stone to bigger things. All credit to Mark for getting Ballymac John prepared and well done to the owners.”

The Wallis camp would also land the Coral Sprint Trophy Final on the card with the brilliant Gougane Jet as the reigning GBGB Sprinter of the Year led on the run to the bend before driving away to win by four and a quarter lengths from Old Fort Beetee (David Mullins) in 16.13sec (-5) for the 285m distance.

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=396493&raceId=933397