Whirlwind and Jason are electric at Towcester on Sunday

Whirlwind flies into Produce final

The semi-finals of the BGBF Produce Stakes were the features at Towcester yesterday afternoon where for the second time in three rounds, it was Rose Draper's Harton Whirlwind who led them on the clock. A strong runner over four bends, he was not going to be for catching after flashing out the lids with a 3.74 sectional on his way to a 28.64. Keefill Teak for Phil Milner and Countess Penny for Richie Taberner chased him home to book their slots in the decider. 

There will be a rematch of the BGBF Puppy Cup final from Dunstall Park as Tom Heilbron's Romeo Astron won the other semi. He was a head behind Harton Whirlwind in that prior final, leading up before finding that rival too strong. His 3.84/29.13 performance was more than enough to see off Dave Lee's Untold Dinero and Romeo Arran for Patrick Janssens from the front ahead of a second Category One final next week.

Over two bends there was a spectacular run from Magical Jason who blew his Elite Southern Supplies Northamptonshire Sprint semi-final rivals away for Kevin Hutton. Electric from the boxes, he was a couple of lengths clear before they could react to him, coming home five lengths to the good in a flash 15.43. That time was good enough for fourth quickest of the year on career start number five. Mark Wallis's Ballinakill Liam and Heilbron's Toddys Wolf made it through behind him. 

The other semi-final was turned into a procession by Newinn Souly who was very much the class act in the weaker of the two semis. He still had to go out there and get the job done for Kim Billingham-Hine and he did so in style in a more than respectable 15.81. Pat Doocey claimed the other two finalists with Longacres Miss and Longacres Trixie.

Laurence Tuffin picked up a double with Romeo Sicario the quicker of his pair of 500m winners. He was sent off at 16/1 in the face of a nice-looking newcomer for Janssens in opposition but the prior race experience of the local runner around here helped the victor as he came away in front, with the market leader never quite able to muster the pace to challenge him.

Romeo Elio kicked off the double in the contest before. He has plenty of solid efforts at this track in graded company, reaching the second round of the Produce Stakes, and he was not inconvenienced by the drop back in trip to 460m, proving strongest from the third bend.

Another 460m contest saw a win for Kevin Hutton and Jazzy Velvet. It was the two traps on the wings that dominated early here, pacing up from his slot on the inside to take the lead off the striped runner Zenith Bullet at the opening bend. That was all she wrote, coming away to win by five lengths from that point. 

Angie Kibble got on the scoresheet with Rioja Wanda who had looked one for the notebook when bolting up over track and trip in August by more than eight lengths. She was unfortunate to draw a heat of the Arc Birmingham Cup that contained two of the finalists, but she was away and gone on her return to Towcester, making all the running in a contest that saw the return to race action of 2025 Derby winner Droopys Plunge. 

A six-bend race on the afternoon was won by Chasing Rachel for Heather Dimmock. She and Eagles Respect swapped the lead a couple of times on the way around which resulted in the winning time being modest enough for the level. 

Fenwick takes three at Sheffield 

Jimmy Fenwick was the man to beat at Sheffield with Wicky Ned leading the way, returned to a very happy hunting ground where he had won a Gymcrack, a Steel City Cup and a 3 Steps to Victory! He led up with a smart 4.30 split, clocking a time just four spots off the quickest of the year so far. He has now won 10 of his 12 starts at Owlerton.

Brunssum Bubble was a finalist in the 3 Steps this year for Fenwick, taking well to the 660m here. It was almost a carbon copy of the race that he won a week back, showing the best pace to go around in front, just pulling out enough to hold off the late charge of Distant Fox with Jameson Johnny back in third. 

Another winner from last week doubling up for Fenwick was Clonbrien Piper. He turned closer to the speed than he had seven days back, proving to be too strong for his rivals. There was some scrimmaging to overcome at the second bend but he took off down the back and looks a very smart recruit.

Over 480m there was a double for Rose Draper, led by Brickhill Patsy. She was a smart winner of a sprint contest last week, using that early pace to have things well under control from an early stage. A bit of trouble behind her helped extend the winning margin to 12 lengths but she was already about eight clear at that point in any case. 

The race before had seen Ballintee Roxy get the brace started for Draper, using the same away and gone tactics over the shorter four-bend trip. She is another who has been seen in sprints, working her way back up to full fitness after a long time off. The winner of three of her four starts back at this track with a short head defeat in the other, she is in great heart at present. 

There was a sprint winner for Philip Sanderson in the shape of Glavin Thief. She spent most of her time in Ireland over four bends but she has raced primarily in sprints since arriving at Sheffield, landing a D2, D1 and now an open contest in her first six starts for her new kennel. 

Sean Davy got in on the act over two bends with Good Levi. He made it four wins in five starts with a battling display, overcoming a bit of trouble at the opening bend with Headford Mason (who came off worse from the clash) to go on and score. That affected the time but connections won't be too worried about that.

Tromora Sand landed his second win in four starts for Karl Parsonage in a puppy contest. He was just outpointed on the run to the opening bend but he dug in well down the back to have things won by the third turn. There are some speedy types in his family, and he shapes like a nice type for the future, just a March 25 whelp.

The strong-running Romeo Cobra took a 500m win for Kelly Hodson. He had made things hard for himself with a 4.45 split (has only ever gone slower once with a 4.46) but things opened up well for him, driving the second bend hard to put himself up into second and from there, it felt like there was only going to be one winner. 

Droopys Sami only got into her contest as a reserve but that did not stop her from staying on powerfully to grab the win in the final strides for Colin Handford. She was slowest into stride but her position on the rails allowed her to make up places around the opening couple of bends and challenge latest of all. 

Marston springs Valley surprise with Sadele

Although the win of Craig Marston's Sadele was a surprise to punters at Valley, turning over 1/5 favourite Lady Divine, she clocked a sub 16-second win off a smart break on the outside. She always looked to have things under control after that slick exit, although she carried a bit too much speed into the second bend which saw her have to put the breaks on a touch before kicking on again.

A short head separated Vixons Lionheart form No Dont Panic at the conclusion of their sprint contest, with the Christian Darch-trained first named just getting himself to the front in the closing strides. This was a third win in his last four outings.

Wings Of War was also a short head winner of the third sprint open on the card. Anna Jeffrey's runner had comfortably cleared her two rivals on the inside but had to wait for a bit of trouble between the outside two runners to make her move and slip around on the rails to land the success. 

The sole 460m open on the card went the way of Ashway Danny for Adrian Rawlings. The October pup had three wins in A4 ahead of this breakthrough success in an open, running on well to deny the long time leader Crokers Darwin.