There will be an international flavour to Thursday’s Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby at Newcastle Stadium, with runners travelling from England, Scotland and Ireland.
And Essex handler Maxine Locke is hoping the 600-mile round trip from her Wickford kennels will be worth it as Yahoo Maizy, Ballymac Lucia and Ballymac Axel go for the £12,500 prize.
Success would mark a fourth Category One win in as many months for Maxine and her team who have scooped the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby, English Puppy Oaks and Essex Vase with stars Droopys Display, Yahoo Maizy and Droopys Eunice in recent weeks.
The southern trainer has been especially pleased with the performances of Yahoo Maizy – a greyhound that has won at four venues already during her short career to date.
“(Yahoo) Maizy has been running out of her skin,” said Maxine. “We thought Newcastle would suit as she has great early pace, but to win this competition she needs to be in front at the first bend.
“It’s a tougher race on Thursday with Droopys Deploy drawn on her inside in trap two. Part of me wanted trap two, but she ran well from four in the semi finals so we have every reason to be optimistic.
“She’s the star of the kennel and has already won at four of the five tracks she’s raced at and hopefully she can follow-up on her Puppy Oaks success.”
There’ll be strong opposition for Thursday’s top prize with Irish challenger Droopys Deploy leading the market while Greenwell Tyson is the outsider of the six for Scottish trainer John Flaherty.
Swift Bullseye would draw the biggest cheer if he was to finish with his nose in front for local handler and part-time binman Raymond Hale, who sensationally won the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup with Swift Silly in 2023.
Maxine couldn’t discount her other challengers Ballymac Lucia and Ballymac Axel from making the frame either.
“(Ballymac) Lucia is at the top of her game,” said Maxine. “This is her third category one final and it’s still three months until she turns two.
“She’s a strong-running type but might just lack that bit of early pace to be competitive from the front here.
“(Ballymac) Axel is the underdog. He has tremendous middle pace and track craft which can work to his advantage. The big danger is Droopys Deploy, he was seriously impressive in the semi finals and will take some beating but trap two might not be his ideal draw.
“It’s a huge team effort to get three greyhounds into a final 300 miles from home. Jo (Ramsey, assistant) has been brilliant. A win would make the journey home that bit sweeter!”
Tickets for Thursday’s Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby are available online or on the door from just £9. Doors open at 5.45pm with the first of 12 races on the night off at 6.37pm.
2025 Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby: Ballymac Lucia, Droopys Deploy, Ballymac Axel, Yahoo Maizy, Swift Bullseye, Greenwell Tyson.
