FREEDOM ALIBI and Innfield Trojan, first and second in the Arc Northern Puppy Derby, franked the Newcastle form by winning their respective heats of the Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby at Monmore on Saturday.

The Tom Heilbron-trained pair starred to help the handler to a treble on the night – Titan Jim won a supporting 630m contest – and secure fourth place in the current Trainer of the Year standings as he continues to enjoy a great start to the season.

Freedom Alibi was first up in heat one as the April 2020 son of Confident Rankin and Freedom Dream paced up well from a midfield pitch, headed to the rails, and always led as the 37-kilo powerhouse scored by almost three lengths in a fastest-of-the-night 28.25sec (normal) ahead of Milton Pepe (Lee Field) and Beatties Diva (Kim Billingham).

Innfield Trojan later followed his kennelmate into the winner’s enclosure when overcoming a missed break and crowding in the sixth and final heat before the Jun 2020 son of Pat C Sabbath and Coolemount Bally led down the back, coming home almost two lengths clear of Havana Robusto (Liz McNair) and Coppice Fox (Kevin Hutton) in 28.59sec.

Deelish Frankie had caught the eye in a trial stakes the previous week when battling to success, but his victory in heat four was more straightforward as an early lead saw the Patrick Janssens-trained youngster went well clear to win by over five lengths in 28.35sec in Slaneyside Harvy (Seamus Cahill) and Lemming Fizz (Carol Weatherall).

Milton Noah scored a surprise but deserved success in heat two as the Lee Field-trained runner was almost handy after a decent break in heat two before stretching two and a half lengths clear at the line in 28.43sec, with Peejays Forever (Heather Dimmock) and Crafty Galactico (David Mullins) the qualifiers here.

Annual Sydney struck for Kevin Hutton in heat three. Posting the fastest sectional of the six heat winners, the April 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Amelia was always in command as he led home favourite Tiffield Trajan (Mark Wallis) by two lengths, with Farneys Buster (Kevin Boon) the other qualifier in third. The winning time was 28.49sec.

Stuart Ray’s Blackhouse Harry, the Northern Puppy Derby third, also franked the form of the Newcastle competition when later winning heat five in which ante-post favourite Havana Bale Out (Liz McNair) crashed out after a troubled run. The eventual winner was always handy before powering to a two-and-a-half length success from Clairekeith Remy (Claude Gardiner) and Farneys Richie (Kevin Boon) in 28.47sec.

Monmore racing manager Craig Gardiner said: “There were some fantastic performances on Saturday and there’s no doubt this is a brilliant Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby – and clearly a very talented sort in Freedom Alibi was quickest.

“I thought Tom Heilbron’s dog was really impressive in winning – he looks a really consistent dog for connections and, if reproducing that run, will be the one to beat in his semi-final. He’s got great early pace, will have no problem clearing the inside dogs with a decent break, and stays the trip well.

“That’s the third semi-final, but you’d say the second semi was the toughest. Deelish Frankie looks like he’s just getting better and better and has taken to the track well, improving with each run. He’ll need to have his trapping boots on the rail but if he comes away will have a great chance of making the final. Either way I’m sure Patrick Janssens’ kennel and connections will have some real fun with this dog this year.

“The first semi-final is really competitive. Maybe Slaneyside Harvy is still under the radar and could improve, while Milton Noah ran a great race in his heat, showing some real determination and could go well again.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=382808&raceId=821063

Form and draw for Saturday’s semis: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Monmore/form-guides/Saturday-12th-March-Puppy-semi-final.pdf