There were shocks galore in the heats of the William Hill Springbok which saw favourite Lenson Royale on the floor and another leading fancy Jaytee Seville also eliminated.
Lenson Royal was a 1-2 chance for heat three and he took up the running at the third flight only to fall at the very next obstacle.
The race went to Barry O’Sullivan’s 2-1 second favourite Reculver Ozzie who went on to beat Julius George by just over three lengths in a fastest 29.35sec.
Jason Foster’s Priceless Sun (5-1) was the only other winner to break the 30 second barrier when taking heat one.
The son of Top Honcho led early and went on to slam Sparta Impact by over seven lengths in 29.78sec.
Tony Taylor’s Final Farloe was soon in front in the second qualifier to easily account for Jolly Master by nine and a half lengths in 30.03sec.
Yassoo Blue was another local winner of heat four when he led on the home turn to beat Bua Frank by three quarters of a length in 30.02sec.
Draw for Friday’s semi-finals:
1 Reculver Ozzie
2 Julius George
3 Final Farloe
4 Clonkeen Skipper (m)
5 Bua Frank (w)
6 Sparta Impact (w)
1 Stride Rumble
2 Priceless Sun
3 Yassoo Blue (m)
4 Lanesdown Pay (m)
5 Barnagrane Ash (w)
6 Jolly Master (w)
