The Time Juvenile lives up to the hype as Proper Heiress reigns supreme

Proper Heiress adds another huge success with Juvenile romp

After winning the Greyhound Racing UK Greyhound of the Month award for both February (after his Winter Derby win) and March (Kent Plate) it might be a tough task for any dog to take away a hat-trick from Proper Heiress after a stunning win in the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile at Towcester on Sunday.

The crowd got one of the key battles that they had turned up in the spring sunshine for as Proper Heiress and Bockos Diamond, (pictured above)entered the backstraight in a head to head war. It was the Mark Wallis-trained dog who used his match fitness to best effect to see off the Irish Derby winner who faded into third up the straight.

There is no doubt that Proper Heiress is a far better performer than he was when he kicked off his 2025 campaign with defeat behind his kennelmate Table Toppers in the Blue Riband, winning six of his seven starts since. He is the number one contender for the 'home team' in the Star Sports Derby which starts on May 8.

A slightly missed break and a first start for five months were no help to Bockos Diamond. While some might see this as a disappointment, he blew up on the run-in in the fashion of a dog that will come on plenty for his return to race action. All the trials in the world can't replicate race conditions and giving best late on to one of the top four bend performers in recent years was no disgrace. June 14 is the date ringed in the calendar for Graham Holland, roll on Heiress V Diamond round two! 

It was the Patrick Janssens-trained Droopys Plunge who kept digging in bravely to grab the runner-up spot. In 11 starts at Towcester, he has only once finished out of the first three. His strength over this distance will keep him in the mix for qualification all the way through the Derby.

March On Freddie never looked like winning but he stuck to his guns after checking off the back of Droopys Plunge at the second turn. Boylesports Blue lost all chance when he was squeezed up on the run to the bend and had to check. Wicky Ned blew the start so it is a run that is easy enough to put a line through. The Puppy Invitational winner on Derby final night last year has won two of his four starts at the track.

Hello Diego is too strong in the Maiden Derby

The current stars of the sport put on a great show in the Juvenile and the future stars did their best to match them in the BetGoodwin and J R Racing Maiden Derby. For a long way it looked like the sponsors would recoup their generous investment as Maxine Locke's Ballybough Nutz showed the best early gears to set the fractions. He made himself difficult to pass when challenged by Burrows Charm but he couldn't hold off the winner.

Paul Hennessy won the contest last year with Jaytee Etienne, following it up with the striking Hello Diego. A Time Juvenile finalist at Shelbourne last summer when behind Callaway Knegare, he raced just once between the final of that competition and the opening round of this one.

That time off has done him no harm, a powerful runner with all-around pace, he is a home bred for the Hennessy team which will have made the success all the more special. He will be back for the Star Sports Derby and looks just the type who will improve for the further looks and experience of the track.

The runner-up lost nothing in defeat, simply finding a stronger runner on the day. His early pace is always going to be a potent weapon and he is clearly well thought of at home, sent straight into PGR Judgement Night on his UK debut. An easier four bends like Monmore for the Ladbrokes Gold Cup in the summer could be the perfect competition for him.

A draw on the inside in red proved to be the undoing of the favourite Lennies Desire. He moved straight off but was noted putting in serious late work to grab third for Hennessy. A move to a middle seed for the Derby would be the way forward and his strength over 500m could see him progress to a late stage. Burrows Charm finished fourth for Jason Heath, Val Tashadelek fifth for Graham Holland with Indian Bonnie rounding out the contest for Locke.

Towcester undercard

Although Graham Holland was out of luck in the Juvenile and Maiden Derby, the kennel enjoyed a double on the undercard. Yorkie Ollie (above) and Cheap Sandwiches (below) clocked 28.88 and 28.94 respectively in their winning efforts as they begin to add the finishing touches to their Derby preps. 

There was a winning UK debut for Droopys Bookem (below)who is now with Tom Heilbron. One of the most popular winners of the day with the punters, the cheers were going up as they entered the back straight and the son of Droopys Sydney hit the front. Rackethall Brute produced a strong-running performance to get his head in front at the perfect time for Mark Wallis to beat Clona Dash and Faypoint Harvey.

The card opened with a win for Michelle Brown and her new recruit Gun Slinger. Frank Gray struck another blow for the local trainers with Essjay Oakley in the following contest. Nine Percent was a winner for the bookmakers in race four, Richard Rees' hound was the biggest price winner on the afternoon at 7/1. Bradley Stowe picked up a success from Sehnsa Mac while Broadway Murty closed out the afternoon with a sprint win for Sean White.