BUBBLY APACHE proved a popular winner of the RPGTV Juvenile at Towcester on Sunday.

The Paul Young-trained 2021 Puppy Classic winner went off favourite to land the prestigious £5,000-to-the-winner contest over 500m, which brings together the major young talent from the previous year for a one-off event over the Derby distance.

Going off favourite to land the spoils, Bubbly Apache was led in the early stages by Signet Otis (Kevin Hutton) and Brookside Richie (Jimmy Fenwick) but drew alongside that pair approaching the first turn before launching a winning challenge down the far side.

Taking over from last year’s Juvenile Classic winner Brookside Richie before the third bend, the October 2019 son of Loughteen Blanco and Droopys Berry put the race to bed quickly, although Carol Weatherall’s Trumps Benefit ran on really well for second.

At the line, however, the Champagne Club-owned Bubbly Apache had a length and a half to spare over Trumps Benefit, with this year’s Northern Puppy Derby hero Freedom Alibi (Tom Heilbron) crossing the line in third. The winning time was 29.63sec (normal).

Clive Lawrence, RPGTV executive producer and speaking on behalf of the big-race sponsors, said: “It was a great race all round, but well done especially to Paul and Miriam Young, Steve Fluin and all the Champagne Club members.

“I know it’s a race Paul and Steve have wanted to win for many years and, in Bubbly Apache, they have a really exciting performer who no doubt will be targeted at the Derby now and must be one of the leading contenders. Good luck to them.

“Once again the Juvenile provided a high-class field for a superb one-off and we were delighted as ever to broadcast the race on the channel and have a reporter on track to catch the atmosphere on the day and catch interviews and reaction.”

Towcester consultant and spokesman Nathan Corden said: “Many thanks to RPGTV and SportyStuff TV for their support of such a prestigious race as the Juvenile. The race was a cracker and Bubbly Apache produced a fantastic performance to win.

“Congratulations to Paul (Young) and the Champagne Club – and it was great to see such a packed winner’s podium. It’s great for the game.

“No doubt Bubbly Apache will be aiming for the Derby as are hopefully all the other Juvenile runners, so the race is very much a pointer to the classic as are the trials we staged before racing – Coolavanny Shado again impressed.

“He is being targeted by Patrick (Janssens) at the Matchbook Betting Exchange Maiden Derby which starts on Sunday. Of course, last year’s Derby winner Thorn Falcon won the Maiden Derby last year so the event as a whole will be another huge Derby pointer.

“The competition is for UK greyhounds who have not won opens and for Irish runners who have not won AA0.

“It remains a very busy 2022 for Towcester and, in addition to the Matchbook sponsorship recently announced for the Maiden Derby, it was also great to welcome bet365 as big-race sponsors at the track this year. They are backing the Empress Stakes and the Puppy Oaks.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=383685&raceId=829385