King Alley completed an unbeaten run through the £5,000 British Bred Derby over 480 metres at Towcester on Thursday when landing the £5,000 final writes Jason Craddock.
Liz McNair’s runner blasted clear from the traps and was soon well clear after early trouble.
Sambuca Sam emerged from the first bend in second place and was closing all the way to the line but the even money favourite held on to score by a neck in 28.29sec.
Assistant trainer Rab McNair said afterwards: “He really taken to this place and flying out the boxes although it was as far as he wants to go.
Winning owner Brendan Keogh said: “He seems a different dog when drawn in trap six and did it very well.”
Blackstone Marco was a shock 10-1 winner of the high-class Totepool Invitation Standard over 480 metres.
Derek Law’s Coolavanny Jap led from the first turn and looked home and hosed. However Blackstone Marco reeled him in and got up on the line to score by half a length in 28.21sec.
Paul Carpenter, a part owner said: “The dog is four years old and Heather (Dimmock) and Mick (Pacey) have worked wonders with him and he’s running as well as ever.
“He beat five exceptionally good dogs and we were pleased just to get in the field.”
Mick Pacey added: “He’s an OAP now but I still think he’s capable of winning plenty of races.”
Gyp Rosetti (7-2) was a winner for Ireland in the @Totepool On Twitter Premier League Stakes over 480 metres.
The favourite Calco Flyer led to the opening turn but Peter Cronin’s runner got up his inside and then went on to eventually beat Barefoot Apollo by two lengths in 28.17sec.
Cronin said: “We didn’t know what to expect but when he trapped a length behind he has such good early pace I knew he would get to the front and he did it well in the end.
“He left the kennels at 6.30am this morning and to win like that was special. We’ll run him in the English Derby at Wimbledon next year, where the long run-up will suit him.”
Derby sponsors William Hill make Gyp Rosetti a 66-1 chance for the 2016 Derby.
Glenanore Ace (11-10f) was an impressive winner of the Tote Placepot Premier League Sprint over 260 metres.
Kevin Hutton’s runner was led to the bend by Holdem Jet but he nipped inside to eventually score by five and a half lengths in 15.30sec.
Hutton said afterwards: “He’s got savage early pace. He’s got better four bend form in Ireland than sprinting and could turn out to be an Arc dog for Swindon next year.”
Clondoty Alex (5-2f) was another winning favourite in the Tote Jackpot Premier League Standard over 480 metres.
Mark Wallis’s runner flew out and made all to beat Holdem Bernado by almost two lengths in 28.28sec.
Wallis said afterwards: “He had to trap from that draw (four) and has a good record at this track. He could follow the Blonde Snapper route of going to the Golden Sprint before the Derby.”
Wallis had a quick double when his Black Francis landed the Premier League Stayers Stakes over 655 metres which saw him land the £2,000 Premier League title for good measure.
The son of Head Bound had not won since August but flashed out and made all to hold Dinzeo by two lengths in 39.50sec.
Loop The Loop (5-2) knew exactly where the winning line was in the Toteliveinfo Marathon over 906 metres.
TV Trophy Finalist Alma Prince took up the running on the second lap but was caught right on the line by Sean Davy’s Loop The Loop who scored a head in 56.64sec.
Davy said afterwards: “The penny has dropped with him and he’s won three of his last four races.”
Swansalona Diva finished strongly to land the Play £1.5 Million Tote Scoop Six Stayers Stakes over 655 metres.
Heather Dimmock’s Cabra Miller went into a five length lead and looked for much of the journey like hanging on but Swansalona Diva finished strongly to get up close home and score by a length in 39.55sec.
Her trainer Kevin Hutton said afterwards: “She seems underrated and won countless races and beat a top class field fair and square.
“We intend to breed from her and at the age of four I don’t think she will be having too many more races. Maybe one more competition and we’ll call it a day.”
