LOCAL Heroes the racehorse is almost ready for her first run after being put through her paces in front of her excited owners at the weekend.

The two-year-old bay filly, the second racehorse to be owned by The Northern Echo Racing Partnership, is progressing well at Michael Dods' stables at Denton, near Darlington.

At an open morning for shareholders on Saturday, Local Heroes galloped over five furlongs with stable companion By Hec.

Ridden by Victor Coglan, the filly impressed, despite being a little distracted by having so many people watching her for the first time.

Trainer Dods said: "She lost a couple of weeks work when she slipped and cut her knee, but she's fine now. She's doing everything nicely, and a run is probably only three weeks away."

Local Heroes is named after the increasingly popular grass roots sport supplement published free with The Northern Echo every Friday.

The Northern Echo Racing Partnership's first horse, called Northern Echo, has now been sold, but is expected to carry on racing.