MINNIE BULLET made her rivals see red in Sunday’s final of the Bet365 Puppy Oaks at Towcester to claim the £10,000 first prize and GBGB Category One gold for owner Ashley Curtin and trainer Mark Wallis.

Lining up from the inside box in an all-railer field, the January 2021 daughter of Good News and Moanduff Daisy made the most of the pitch with a fast start inside as a 4.18sec set up a first-bend lead which the youngster never looked likely to relinquish.

With market leaders Bubbly Bluebelle (Paul Matthews) and Ballymac Mags (Angie Kibble) both slowly away, the way was clear for Minnie Bullet and Fabulous Lynx (Patrick Janssens) to dominate, with the latter always in contention after pacing up well herself.

However, Minnie Bullet held the advantage to the line, coming home a half a length clear of Fabulous Lynx with Selsey Bullet (Belinda Green) crossing the line in third. The winning time for the 500m was 29.68sec (normal).

A delighted winning trainer Mark Wallis said: “We’ve always thought a lot of her and she’s always run well at Towcester. The draw in the red box always looked an advantage once it became clear it’d be all railers, but she still had to do things right.

“She actually made her debut at Towcester in the Juvenile Classic and also ran in the Puppy Classic at Nottingham so has always kept good company. I’d say she’s run her best races when in traps one or two, so from that point of view she can be draw-dependent.

“We’ll let her take her chance in the (RPGTV English) Puppy Derby back at Towcester now and hope the draw is kind, because when it is we know what’s she capable of.

“I’m just delighted for her owner Ashley Curtin. Ashley’s dad has had dogs before, but this is his first greyhound – and I have to thank two of my other owners in Billy Boyle and Nic Jeal for making it possible. They sold Minnie to Ashley and I know are delighted for him.”

Andy Lisemore, Towcester racing manager, added: ‘Well done to Mark (Wallis) and his team for winning the Bet365 Puppy Oaks, an event we’ve been delighted to return to the Calendar – and many thanks to Bet365 for helping make it possible.

“It was a foot-perfect performance on the day from Minnie Bullet when it mattered most.

“We are now building up to the RPGTV English Puppy Derby which, if the quality of the trial stakes we’ve staged is anything to go by, should be another cracking event here.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=391449&raceId=892365