IAN WALTON, Newcastle’s general manager, is looking forward to Thursday’s semi-finals of the Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby after last week’s heats of the Category One event produced a number of high-class performance from a select entry of precocious youngsters.

Walton singled out Droopys Eunice and Greenwell Ovett for particular praise after both won their heats of the 480m annual in good style on a night when Phil Barlow’s Velvet Violet set the standard timewise with a fastest-of-the-night victory in heat three – a success Walton was also hugely impressed by.

“That was a great run in what was one of the best finishes of the night, too, so credit the runner-up Ballymac Zari for her performance – she pushed him close at the line,” said Walton. “I also thought Droopys Eunice was sensational from trap one in her heat and looks a pup of Maxine’s (Locke) with a big future ahead.

“Greenwell Ovett was in a lot of people’s notebooks after some eye-catching trials here at Newcastle and some judges think this runner could also be special for trainer John Flaherty – and that was definitely an impressive debut.

“I’d also say both Diane Henry and Kevin Hutton will also be pleased with how it went on Thursday night, while Doncaster raider Colliers Brynner showed blistering early pace and posted the fastest sectional on the night. Again, connections must have been delighted with the run.

“Overall it’s wide open and there’s clearly all to play for as we head into Thursday’s semis.”

The first round started with victory for Tom Heilbron’s Omuircheartaigh who made an impressive winning UK debut as the April 2022 son of Broadstrand Bono and Lemon Ariana justified favouritism off the back of a smart Irish card to lead down the back on his way to a length and a quarter win over Ballymac Lineout in 29.02sec (normal).

Colliers Brynner, Paul Prior’s March 2022 son of Broadstrand Bono and Colliers Arms, then raced to a best-of-night 4.53sec sectional on route to a three and a half length win for the Doncaster tracker over Bramble Wilson (Steve Anderson) in heat two in 28.86sec (normal), before heat three went to another Yorkshire raider in the form of Velvet Violet.

A March 2022 daughter of Deerjet Sydney and Velvet Spring, Phil Barlow’s runner always led for a half-length victory over the staying-on Ballymac Zari (Kevin Hutton).

Droopys Eunice, singled out by stadium manager Walton for her efforts on the night, struck for Romford handler Maxine Locke in heat four as the July 2022 danger of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Charm soon led inside to beat Clona Curly (Diane Henry) by two and a half lengths in 28.17sec (normal), albeit the latter caught the eye on his UK debut.

Locke then landed a heat double as Droopys Display, a June 2022 son of Dromana Bucko and Droopys Zero, paced up into a winning lead early in heat five before crossing the line a length in front of local hope Agile Ange (Debbie Calvert) in 28.93sec (normal).

The sixth and final heat went to Greenwell Ovett as the British-bred July 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Killieford Kody sparkled on his debut by always bossing proceedings inside for a half-length success over Coppice Ella (Kevin Hutton) in 28.71sec (normal).

Trap draw for Thursday’s semi-finals: https://www.newcastle-greyhounds.co.uk/racing/results/