DROOPYS VERVE put himself in line for GBGB Greyhound of the Year consideration when landing back-to-back wins in the event for Angela Harrison in Thursday’s £10,000 William Hill All England Cup Final at Newcastle.

Owned by the Conlon family and trained by Harrison, who sent out Droopys Expert to win the ‘North East Derby’ for the same owners last year, Droopys Verve was led from the boxes by Allowdale Bruno but was always the most likely winner once turning second.

The Derby runner-up and Dundalk International winner caught Harry Williams’ Sunderland Classic winner down the far side, hitting the front at the third bend before drawing clear to cross the line four-and-a-quarter lengths in front of the runner-up in 28.24sec (normal).

The June 2016 son of Loughteen Blanco and Droopys Cyclone will now look to add more GBGB Category One success in the upcoming MSCM Ltd. Eclipse at Nottingham and he will now trial at Colwick Park as part of a strong line-up in the 500m event for Harrison and Jimmy Wright.

Wright said: “We’ll be putting Verve round there as well as Droopys Trapper, and possibly Droopys Expert if he’s recovered from a slight setback. But tonight has been great for everyone, with two finals and four other wins. It’s great for us and all the staff.”

The Harrison six-timer on All England Cup Final night included success in the William Hill Great North Run for Droopys Live, but it was Droopys Verve – also this year runner-up in the Monmore Puppy Derby to Rising Brandy – who was the toast of Newcastle with victory in the main event.

Owner Neil Conlon was naturally delighted, but was quick to pay tribute to Yarmouth Derby winner Affane Party, whose injury in the semi-finals the previous week denied the sport a clash between two champions. John Lambe’s dog has subsequently been retired.

“We’re all owners, and we’ve all been there, and Affane Party was a special greyhound,” said Conlon. “It’s why you have to treasure moments like tonight and Angela and Jimmy have done another great job with Verve. He’s a real champion.

“Jimmy said he always felt the heat run would bring Verve forward, and you could see his race-fitness had improved in the semis last week, and tonight he was brilliant. At first we weren’t sure about trap two for him, but the make-up of the race was good for him.”

Harry Williams, three times a winner of the All England Cup with Pond Hurricane (1988), New Level (1992) and Mags Gamble (2012), was thrilled with the performance of runner-up Allowdale Bruno given Sunderland, scene of his William Hill Classic triumph, and Newcastle are so different.

“This trip pushes him here, and the tracks are so different,” he said. “However we knew he was at his best tonight in the final. We probably left him off too long coming into the competition, but to be honest against Verve he always needed something to happen to hold on. It’s been great to be a part of a great race again.”