A MAGNIFICENT six-timer on All England Cup Final night for Angela Harrison at Newcastle on Thursday included another William Hill Great North Run success as Droopys Live justified favouritism to grab the £3,000 first prize in the Category Two competition for connections.

Following on from Shellam Delano’s success in the 670m competition a year ago, Droopys Live made no mistake from the boxes as she trapped smartly and was always setting the tempo which proved race-winning tactics for the May 15 daughter of Tullymurry Queen and Live Queen.

Stretching out well, Droopys Live was always in command and had enough in hand to hold strong-running Slippy Maggie by one and a three-quarter lengths in fast 40.69sec, Hazel Kemp’s runner-up grabbing Minnies Highway (John Mullins) for second close home. But the title was Droopys Live’s, much to the delight of Harrison’s partner and assistant Jimmy Wright.

“She needed to come away to give herself every chance in a very good field,” he said. “This bitch has incredible middle pace and has, since she’s been with us at least, not quite achieved what she can in big events. She’s let herself down at the boxes, but she deserves this. She has so much talent.

“We’ll think about the St Leger, although I’m wondering whether the trip at Perry Barr might just stretch her. We’ll have a chat with the owners and discuss things, but it’s just great to win this. She does 28.50m for the 480m here and the track record over 640m, so she’s something special.”

Hazel Kemp, trainer of the runner-up, has confirmed the St Leger is definitely the next target for Slippy Maggie. “She ran a great race again, we’ve just been beaten by a top-class bitch out in front, so there’s no disgrace. The extra metres at Perry Barr will certainly suit her style of running.”

In addition to the William Hill All England Cup and William Hill Great North Run, both won by locally-trained stars in the form of Angela Harrison’s Droopys Verve and Droopys Live, Newcastle also hosted the William Hill Puppy Final and the £500 prize went the way of another home-trained runner in Droopys Heron.

Trained by Jimmy Fenwick, the January 2017 son of Romeo Recruit and Droopys Keisha led home Sparta Oscar (John Mullins) and littermate Droopys Kite to win by one and a quarter lengths and a short-head in 28.84sec in a cracking finish to the 480m contest – and winning trainer Fenwick and wife, and assistant, Melanie were naturally delighted.

Jimmy Fenwick said: “They are two cracking pups and before the final I couldn’t really split them – it’s just great one of them won!”, while Melanie Fenwick added: “The draw inside Sparta Oscar was a real help and it’s given him a chance to get to the front. It was a great race and we’re thrilled to have won it.”