Sky Night Reaction / Jonathan Hobbs / 18 October 2008 / Leave a comment

Jonathan Hobbs on the dogs to watch following the Northern Puppy Derby night at Sunderland.

Brilliant in the semi-finals, Droopys Kez confirmed his Classic credentials for 2009 in winning the Northern Puppy Derby at Sunderland on Thursday.

Ted Soppitt certainly has the magic sign over his peers in this event, with a third victory in the last four years, and the pace Droopys Kez showed from the first to third bends was quite awesome. He is very much out of the top drawer.

Crown Rover was unlucky behind, for sure. He broke too well and was bumped out of contention, but keep on the right side of him. Sunderland never was his track - Shawfield and the 2009 Scottish Derby might well be!

Talking of Classics, Lochbo Meg is an early fancy for the Oaks. Karen Sim's bitch was terrific in winning her TV race and will surely relish Wimbledon's contours if she travels down from her trainer's base in Scotland.

But also keep an eye on the runner-up here, Mill Pearl. Unlikely to have been fully race-fit, Kelly Macari's bitch nevertheless went to the bend with Lochbo Meg before getting slightly carried away and running very wide. She will be winning soon again.

Romeo Del Piero showed what might have been for his Northern Puppy Derby backers when securing a nice run to win the puppy race. Again, like Crown Rover, more of a test will see him flourish.

Boherbradda Mac is another never likely to be suited to Sunderland, but his class won the day. He was travelling far too quickly into the bend in the sprint and was value for more than the head or so he defeated the game Filingplusdogcom.

It was a case of well done to new connections when Sibsey Showtime won first time up for Paul Liddle, while Killieford Raven has always been a fast dog and took his chance well over six bends.

But Laverick Limmo really could be anything over eight bends. He won like a 7-4 chance, not a 7-1 chance, and this youngest runner in the race could just be the next big marathon thing. I'm not saying he's another Flying Winner, but it was impressive to say the least.

Barnfield Mike took his chance well when picking up Me Buddy, but the pair did come together out of the boxes as the recent Peterborough big-race winner dived for the fence. It was a manoeuvre that reiterated once more that the Dartnall dog pitched in red might just be unbeatable over an easy four bends. He was unlucky. Droopys Marcus caught the eye into the bend before being bumped wide here.

The veterans' race kicked off proceedings, and Fear Haribo continues to excel in these contests, but watch out for Noirs Ted. He took off down the back before tiring late on in what was a comeback from injury.