JAMES CHALKLEY, director of racing at Towcester, is looking forward to seeing English Puppy Derby back Bombay Birch back at the Northamptonshire circuit on December 21 for the track’s Christmas Bonanza, including the Bet365 Puppy Oaks Final, on Saturday, December 21, after landing the Category One title at the weekend.

“I’d say it’d be great to see the likes of Bombay Birch and Ballymac Kobe – and a few of the others in what was a really good English Puppy Derby – back here and Paul (Young) has certainly intimated that might well be the case. He’s a cracking pup and is just tailor-made for Towcester, so is also a Derby dog,” said Chalkley.

Lining up as second favourite for the £10,000-to-the-winner Category One behind trackmate and 5-4 favourite Ballymac Kobe (Maxine Locke), it was the latter who raced to the front and, from an early stage, a Romford one-two in the famous Towcester feature was very much on the cards.

Rounding the first and second bends, Ballymac Kobe was clear but Bombay Birch was winding up for a challenge and closed steadily but impressively on the leader before hitting the front on the run for home for a length and a quarter success over Ballymac Kobe and Do Gooder (Kim Billingham-Hine) in 29.60sec (-50).

The slow time reflected conditions on the day as Storm Bert raged through the Northamptonshire countryside and winning trainer Paul Young was quick to praise the trackstaff for their efforts, commenting:

“Weather-wise it wasn’t an easy day and well done to Kevin and Dave (Boothby) for producing a very good track – and we’re delighted to win, of course. It’s been a while but is a good feeling and it was nice to have the family there to celebrate. I’m just delighted for his owners – they’re a good bunch and have got a nice one here!

“We’ll hopefully be back for the December meeting. They’ve got decent money for one-offs and longer-term the (Star Sports/TRP) English Derby has to be a target.”

Bombay Birch, owned by Jim Cornish, Graham Curtis, Bay Gee and Dylan Minto, is a February 2023 son of Broadstrand Bono and Change Me and victory in the Towcester final completed an unbeaten run through the 500m competition, landing a third win in four starts – he was unraced in Ireland.

James Chalkley is looking forward to the Christmas Bonanza and is anticipating a strong entry for the Night of Stars-type meeting – above and beyond the entry for the Bet365 Puppy Oaks.

“We’ve got eight £3,000 one-offs plus kennel sweepstakes and the team from Gone To The Dogs – Live! will be here for a live broadcast. They’ve chosen what should be a great meeting and, having seen what they achieved at Yarmouth, Romford and Nottingham, we’re delighted they are showcasing the very best of racing.”