BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby and Harry Burton Trophy kick off at Newcastle

BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby Heats kick off at Newcastle

Four heats of the British Bred Maiden Derby headlined the Newcastle card on Thursday night with Joe Edgar picking up a pair of winners. There were also four heats of the Harry Burton trophy with three going to Jimmy Fenwick. 

Fabulous Show was the quicker of Edgar's pair, though at 10/1, she was a surprise winner of what turned out to be a very messy contest. She held off her own kennelmate Romeo Elite by a short head with only half a length back to Maxine Locke's Bonville Secret in a tight-knit finish.

It took Fabulous Kira a while to get on top in her heat, but she came home best to grab the money late on. Her dam was a semi-finalist in the Golden Jacket back in 2023, winning opens at Crayford over 714m and at Towcester over 712m, so being strong late over 480m is no shock.

The quickest of the four winners was Glengar Vegas for Brian Fairbairn. He came home more than six lengths to the good, despite not picking up the running until the end of the back straight. His 28.70 was a length and three-quarters quicker than any of the other heat winners. 

Tom Heilbron rounded out the heats with Romeo Liberty. His was the second quickest winning time and also the biggest surprise on the night for punters, sent off at 22/1. The youngster was making his debut for Heilbron after a pair of starts for Laurence Tuffin. 

It was Jimmy Fenwick who produced the quickest winner on the night in the heats of the Harry Burton Trophy. Woltemade already has the Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby title under his belt, as well as making the final of the Bet St George Gymcrack. Back on home soil, he clocked 28.30 to lead the way.

Ballymac Service had chased him home in the Northern Puppy Derby and his 28.38 went down as the second quickest of the heat winners.  He was twice behind Underground Gold in the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby at Monmore, winning three of his last four starts back at his home track.

The trio of Fenwick winners was completed by Brunssum Bubble. He had dropped into A2 grade for the first time since November on his most recent start, successful there and with confidence high, he got on top late on to grab the front-running Mossend Brute. 

Although Savva Roberts was out of luck with Mossend Brute, he did pick up the other heat with Born Scooby. What had looked a competitive enough heat on paper prior to the start ended up being very one sided as the winner led up and never looked like being caught. 

Monmore doubles for Billingham-Hine, Wallis and Thompson

Kim Billingham-Hine extended her lead in the home league of the Monmore Open Championship with another pair of winners. Catchem Boyo took the sprint that ended the card in 15.21 which tied for the third quickest of the year over 264m.

The other win for the kennel came over six bends courtesy of Onceina Lifetime. He turned handy enough to the speed, picking up the running as they hit the back for the second time. It was a smart field in opposition, able to see them off with plenty in hand.

There was a deeply impressive win over the same trip for Mark Wallis's Vhagar who clocked a very smart 37.26. It was the quickest time since July 2023 when New Destiny clocked that for the same trainer. 

The Wallis team kicked off the night with a win from Bower Aoibhin. She has not been the most consistent so far but there have been some smart efforts when she has got things right. A draw in five was as wide as she has ever started, with only three rivals though, it was no concern. 

Brian Thompson picked up a pair of winners as well with Paradise Sky the quicker of his pair. She produced a flying 4.31 split and that was more than enough to see her well clear from an early stage. Her lead was being cut down late on but there was never a worry that she was ever going to get picked up.

Goldstar Michael was the other winner, scoring in a similar style to his kenenlmate, showing the best pace on the run to the bend and going around in front. He won an A3 last time out, adding a win here in decent fashion.

Kevin Hutton had another success from Ollie the Ox who has taken well to the track since Oxford shut. He has now won three of his four starts around here, the only defeat coming at the paws of Armagh Daithi. 

That runner was beaten at 2/7 in a later contest, the win going to Vampire Bob for David Page. Bob was the Monmore Owners' Association Dog of the Year, winning this race which had been named in his honour, with 20/1 the starting price!

Nathan Hunt is the closest challenger to Billingham-Hine in the home league, picking up a win for himself with Senahel Sydney. He had been chasing home Armagh Daithi on a weekly basis, and without that runner in the race, found himself with a well-deserved win.

Aero Boris was knocked out in the opening round of the Derby last weekend but back on home soil and over a more suitable 630m, picked up a victory for Richie Taberner. The success makes it four in a row over the track and trip for the son of Aero Dylan.

There was a sprint win for Longacres Danny for Pat Curtin. It was a fourth win on the bounce for the speedy type who was quickly in the ascendancy to run out an impressive four and a half length winner. 

The other open on the card went to Esther Driver and Poppea Tinner. She has been in good form at her home track of Nottingham in recent weeks, getting on top late on over this shorter trip on a sharper track. 

Cahill and Heath with Hove trebles

Powerhouse Duke is really starting to lay down some impressive runs over 695m for Seamus Cahill, stopping the clock last night in 41.45. That is three spots quicker than Mongys Wild's quickest of the year coming into Thursday's action, which is going to make for any rematch of the pair interesting, though we may have to wait until July and the Coral Regency.

Adding to the impressive times on the night for Cahill was Droopys Invent who produced a 29.12 win over 500m. It was a messy contest for his rivals behind as he was away and gone on the run to the bend.

The Cahill treble was rounded out in a sprint contest by The Hill. The veteran took on the same tactics as his two successful kenenlmates and made all of the running, backing up a D1 win from earlier on in the month.

Jason Heath also picked up a treble of winners on the card, starting with an excellent win from Droopys Deploy. He was a casualty in the opening round of the Derby but showed that was just a blip on his card with a 29.13 win, just a spot off Droopys Invent. 

Burrows Fizz has worn five different jackets in her five starts at Hove to this point for Heath, finding the black one to her liking last night, picking up her first success. The half-sister to the smart Cooliogold might be able to kick on from here with a boost in her confidence. 

It was left to Burrows Titan to round out the three, taking a competitive contest from the front. There was only a point and a half separating four of the five runners at the head of the market, the winner making the best of his way home from an early stage, avoiding the crowding behind him.

The quality 500m efforts were added to by Zenith Sultan for Richard Rees. Another who didn't make it past the opening round at Towcester, his 29.09 was the pick of the times on the night over four bends, absolutely running riot from the front. 

A Maidens Final on the card was won by Annadown Wendy for Maxine Locke. She was another who was in front from an early stage, grabbing the lead around the opening couple of turns. From a September 24 litter who are showing huge amounts of promise, she looks another nice recruit.

It is a rare Hove open night that Paul Young doesn't pick up a winner, and this wasn't one of them, taking a staying contest with Underground Navy. At 1/5 she was fully expected to make the most of the opportunity provided her as she made her English debut in a 695m contest. 

There was also a six-bend winner for David Elcock as Swift Megan got far enough clear early on to hold off the late challenge from Droopys Rhona. The winner had chased home Bombay Nutty and Powerhouse Duke on her last two starts over the trip and was deserving of a change of luck.

The final winner on the card went to Paul Marchant and Soul Nomad. Another on the night to make all of the running, the pup was getting himself off the mark for the kennel. He had a pair of wins in Ireland at Lifford and might be able to kick on from here.