HAVANA LOVER landed the odds in Saturday’s SportyStuff TV/RPGTV Puppy Cup Final at Towcester as the GBGB Category Two event for youngsters supported the Classic on Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby Final night.

Trained by Liz McNair for Brendan Keogh and the KSS Syndicate, the Newcastle Puppy Derby and Towcester Maiden Derby semi-finalist bettered the form of her impressive off-the-pace semi-final with a brilliant front-running success in the £3,000 decider, which initiated a double for connections given kennelmate Havana Class dead-heated with Knocknaseed Gem in the very next race, the RPGTV Notebook Watling Street Sprint Trophy Final.

Well away, Havana Lover was soon in pole position and looked in control down the far side from Ivanexile (Matt Dartnall). However, Blackhouse Harry (Stuart Ray) produced a superb back-straight surge to challenge between the third and fourth bends before the August 2020 daughter of Laughil Blake and Love Honey strode clear again to win by three lengths from Blackhouse Harry in 29.30sec for the 500m trip.

A delighted Rab McNair, husband of trainer Liz, said: “If you don’t get a runner through to the Derby final, getting these lads (KSS Syndicate) a winner on Derby final night is the next best thing. She’s run a great race, seems to be getting better, and it’s just great to get one in the bag.”

Brendan Keogh added: “It’s the best night of the year. She gave me a fright into the third bend when the six-dog (Blackhouse Harry) gave her something to think about, but she then stayed on well to win.”

Antigua Sugar completed a hat-trick of wins on the night for champion trainer Mark Wallis when following up her heat win with victory in the final of the greyhoundtrader.com Stakes Final, the penultimate race on Derby final night. It followed wins for Wallis with Ivy Hill Skyhigh and Bombardier in the first two races.

An August 2020 daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Dolce Vita, the Nic and Amanda Jeal-owned Antigua Sugar powered through her field to win by two lengths from Deanridge Skippy in 29.59sec. The winner’s kennelmate Antigua Princess finished third here.

Daniel Wallis, son of trainer Mark, said: “That’s three nice wins on the night – and Sugar is turning out to be a really nice bitch and staying prospect. I thought she was very clever in running. She’s showing great trackcraft now after finding trouble in her first couple of races. The Juvenile Classic back here could be a possible option.”

Damien Matthews collected the £500 vendor bonus given the two-run competition was restricted to those greyhounds either purchased at a Greyhound Trader track sale or sourced privately by the sponsor.

He said: “We knew from an early stage she might be an outstanding bitch. Fraser Black had her for us in Ireland and we recommended her to James and Nathan Corden. It’s lovely to be part of a win on Derby final night in front of a great crowd, so well done to Nic and Amanda Jeal.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=386449&raceId=851873