FAYPOINT HARVEY became a rare Irish-trained winner of the Juvenile Championship when landing the valuable Time Greyhound Nutrition-sponsored four-runner one-off annual at Towcester on Sunday.

The field had been depleted by the withdrawal of Newinn Syd and King Memphis, but nevertheless produced a good contest as the Graham Holland-trained Munster Juvenile Cup winner at Clonmel was quickly into stride and never headed, racing to a slick 4.03sec sectional on his way to a fast 29.21sec (normal) for the 480m trip.

In winning, Faypoint Harvey led home the staying-on Arc Northern Puppy Derby champion Clona Curly (Diane Henry) by two and three-quarter lengths. Third was Coral Romford Puppy Cup champion Romeo Crusade (David Mullins), with Slick Sabo (Patrick Janssens), who as Glenvale Bill won last year’s Puppy Classic, in fourth.

The prestigious one-off brings together the major puppy class of the previous year and had looked in threat following the closure of Greyhound TV – RPGTV sponsored last year’s Juvenile – until Time Greyhound Nutrition, a leading Irish-based greyhound feed supplier, stepped in to back the contest with a £3,000 first prize and £500 to others.

Willie Rigney of Time Greyhound Nutrition said: “When the opportunity arose to back one of the most famous races in UK greyhound racing, we had no hesitation to step in – and the original line-up with Newinn Syd and King Memphis in was really top drawer.

“Look, it was disappointing to lose Syd and then King Memphis. You could understand the Syd situation but I’m pretty sure with better communication the situation with Memphis could definitely have been avoided. These sorts of things need to be ironed out at Towcester before the English Derby.”

As for the winner Faypoint Harvey, the near 37-kilo March 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Roaming Shari was a worthy winner of the Juvenile Championship says Rigney – and he was particularly delighted for the Hollands.

“Graham is a client of ours at Time and a great supporter of what we try to do with not just the products we have but our sponsorships on both sides of the Irish Sea. Once he knew that Faypoint Harvey qualified as a major puppy stakes winner in Ireland he was on to Towcester and its’s worked out well.

“Everyone knows the success the Hollands have had at Towcester with back-to-back English Derbys and no doubt Faypoint Harvey will be heading back for the big race itself. Graham also has runners in the Maiden Derby, so they’re definitely setting out their stall to try and win three in a row this year!”