The David Mullins-trained youngster, winner of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup in September, produced a show of all-round pace to win the opening heat in a standard-setting 29.41sec (normal) for the 500m distance.

Led up by Irish raider Undulation (Brendan Matthews), the January 2021 son of Magic Sprite and Buckos Lass took up the running before the third bend on his way to a three and a quarter length victory over Undulation and Kilara Coco (Nathan Hunt).

Training honours on the day went to Towcester handler Frank Gray who landed a littermate double in the eight heats which kicked off the GBGB Category One event.

First up was Makeit The Bear who was quickly away in heat two as the March 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Wishahowareyou made all in 29.70sec from the fast-finishing Team News (Carol Weatherall) and Savana Fella (Eric Cantillon).

The Gray double came in heat six as litter brother Makeitkingkaiden stayed on best to grab longtime leader Trickys Whist (Robert Holt) on the run for home to cross the line three-quarters of a length clear of Forest Icon (Kevin Hutton) in 29.97sec.

The Patrick Janssens-trained Romeo Command, the ante-post favourite, was forced to pull out all the stops to win heat eight after My Girl Mia (Seamus Cahill) had raced clear.

However, a strong-running effort in behind saw the January 2021 son of Dorotas Wildcat and Drive On Betsy preserve his unbeaten record after fast back-to-back wins at Monmore to score by a head from My Girl Mia and Queen Pink (Liz McNair) in 29.54sec.

The Richard Rees-trained Kilara Dazzler matched the fastest sectional (4.16sec) posted by heat six third Trickys Whist on her way to a trap-to-line length and a half victory over King Ezra (Liz McNair) and Lostrigg Paddy (Tony Collett) in heat three.

The March 2021 son of Ballymac Best and Kilara Jessie clocked a fast 29.59sec.

Lively Lauren also produced an eye-catching performance in heat four as Matt Dartnall’s bitch, third in the RPGTV Cowley Puppy Collar, ran amok off the back of a fast break (4.24sec split) to score in 29.65sec.

The qualifiers here behind the February 2021 daughter of Ballymac Anton and Art Of Illusion were Ireland’s Coordination (Brendan Matthews) and Skywalker Isak (Ted Soppitt).

Cooliogold continued on an upward curve in heat five as Maxine Locke’s pup led home a pair of Bet365 Puppy Oaks finalists in Fabulous Lynx (Patrick Janssens) and Ballymac Mags (Angie Kibble), making all by half a length in 29.63sec.

Nathan Hunt’s Droopys Google landed heat seven as the March 2021 son of Malachi and Droopys Saga produced a powerful off-the-pace effort to reel in Makeitkingsydney (Frank Gray) for a head win in 29.70sec. Queen Gaga (Liz McNair) was third.

Towcester spokesman and consultant Nathan Corden said: “We’ve clearly got a nice crop of youngsters in training – and not just here in the UK! In fact, it was great to see entries from Ireland and once again Brendan Matthews has supported us here at Towcester, which we really value. It was also good to see two of his three runners qualify.

“There were doubles for Frank Gray and Dave Firmager – Frank as a trainer and Dave as an owner and breeder with his ‘Romeo’ prefix. Fastest was his Romeo Hotshot, trained by David (Mullins), who certainly lived up to his name, while I thought it was a lovely run from Lively Lauren from Matt’s (Dartnall) kennel.

“She was a finalist in the recent RPGTV Cowley Puppy Collar at Oxford, while it was also good to see the Bet365 Puppy Oaks form from here in recent weeks upheld. There’s clearly a good crop of bitches also in this year’s RPGTV English Puppy Derby.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=391781&raceId=895076