Monmore dog looking to upset the odds in Puppy Derby

Carmac Pete is the only local hope left in the prestigious Category One competition, which is worth £20,000 to the winner, after six thrilling first-round heats.

The wide runner – who boasts two wins from seven career runs so far – is a rank outsider with bookmakers in terms of going all the way (as high as 100/1) but advanced from what appeared to be the strongest of the last weekend’s heats with a third-placed finish.

And with the first two from the semi-finals qualifying for next week’s showpiece, Hunt is not ruling anything out.

“He did run well in what was a very hot heat. I had given him a week off heading into it just to freshen him up as he hadn’t been trapping in his couple of races before that,” said Hunt. “He’s certainly benefitted from the milder climate over the last couple of weeks and getting some sun on his back.

“I think he can trap better than he did last weekend, which he’ll need to do to have any chance of qualifying.

“He’s got a slim chance which is reflected in his price, but he’ll be there trying his best and I’m hopeful he’ll continue to get better heading into the summer months.

“It’s great to still be involved in such a prestigious competition, the best puppy competition in the country in my opinion.

“We’d proud to be the last local hope left and it would be a great achievement to make the final.”

Carmac Pete was a 33/1 shot in last week’s heat, with the 10/11 favourite Droopys Berries (Kevin Hutton, Oxford) finishing second behind 20/1 winner Dark Madam (Seamus Cahill, Hove).

Romeo Tomcat (Patrick Janssens, Twocester) was the ante-post favourite for the competition but finished last in that race having been crowded out at the first bend.

Tonight sees Carmac Pete take on three heat winners in Rackethall Brute (Mark Wallis, Unattached) – the quickest last week in 28.10secs – Droopys Aladdin (Michael Burton, Valley) and Jacktavern Chief (David Byrne, Irish), so it is another sizeable challenge to overcome.

Dark Madam is in the second semi-final while the third has the two other winners from last week, Droopys Invent (Cahill) and Headford Dane (Maxine Locke, Romford) in traps one and three respectively.

Also tonight, the annual Jim Woods Memorial Trophy gets under way. The competition is run over 630m in tribute to Monmore’s long-serving former racing manager and sees superstar New Destiny (Wallis) look to add another trophy to her extensive haul.

New Destiny remarkably won three Category One events last year in the form of the Challenge Cup at Oxford and both the Coronation Cup and Champion Stakes at Romford.