TOP DOG Harsu Super returns to his old track, Sunderland, tonight looking to add the Regal Gold Cup to his sparkling Regal Puppy Derby success.

The January 1999 Ratify-Yes Super fawn dog lifted the £7,000 Puppy Derby first prize with an unbeaten three-race run in November soon after breaking the eight-year-old 450m track record.

Now Harsu Super returns to his old stamping ground at East Boldon, where he started his racing career under the guidance of Bishop Auckland trainer George Miller, and is a strong ante-post favourite to lift the Gold Cup.

It is hard to see anything beating the young flyer, who is now trained, along with litter sister Harsu Heather, by Reading-based John McGee. The middle-runner should oblige from trap five in heat two, with the main threat expected to come from Sheffield's New Lawn Nile.

Harsu Heather, who has won her last three open races at Romford under McGee's wing, should overcome a tricky trap three draw in the sixth heat.

The two main local hopes are Harry Williams' Custard Cream Kid and Graham Calvert's True Reward.

Custard Cream Kid has not really lived up to expectations at the Sunderland track, winning only one A1 race in October. But the May 1998 Im Alisya-Joyful Trading white and black dog clocked an impressive 27.46 secs in a trial last week.

True Reward is in form and won last week in 27.64 secs from the back of the handicap.

The Gold Cup, the first major open competition of the new year, has attracted a strong entry from top trainers in England and Scotland. The first three in tonight's six heats go through to three semi-finals on Saturday, when the first two in each will qualify for the final a week later.

l Brough Park is expecting a top class entry for its inaugural William Hill Puppy Cup next month.

A first prize of £2,000 is on offer, with the heats on Friday, February 9 and the final a week later.

Catching the eye at the Tyneside track is Wide Open, which is undefeated in his four races since switching to the hurdles last month. Trained by Paul Davies, the December 1998 Top Honcho-Upyalala black and white dog arrived as a novice from Ireland last August and won two low grade flat races before switching to the jumps