Prior to the first round of the Ted Lloyd Classic, assistant trainer Mark Keightley said: “He will need to be on his best behaviour at the traps tonight. This is not a muppet field. If he is vulnerable in his trapping, it is at the start of a competition.
“But if he runs well tonight, I would expect him to progress all the way to the final.”
Team Keightley needn’t have worried as their superstar Roxholme Nidge went to within 10 spots of the Sunderland 450 metre track record with a stunning 26.59 (+20) run. It was the fastest time of the night by around three and a half lengths.
Nidge’s GBGB career record now reads: 21 races, 15 wins, 4 seconds, 2 KO’d
Draw for the semis:
1st semi: 1) Calzaghe Alfie, 2) Ballymartin Hero, 3) Move Over Evie, 4) Jaguar Jack, 5) Velvet Juliet (m), 6) Colston Havana (m)
2nd semi: 1) Pinpoint Rocco, 2) Ballyrobin Reno, 3) Payyaway Kane, 4) Droopys Nadal (m), 5) Droopys Trapper (m), 6) Laughil Jake (w)
3rd semi: 1) Roxholme Nidge, 2) Curley Freddie, 3) Coloured Dubh, 4) Strides Farran (m), 5) Bramble Millburn (m), 6) Allowdale Bruno (w)
Click on results to view video replays
