Kevin Boon, initially disappointed at seeing his kennel superstar Murrys Act beaten at odds on, bounced back with an excellent double at Nottingham on Monday night.

Bitch puppy Old Fort Comet (Royal Impact – Fire Height Amy Mar’16), a winner over 400m at Romford recently, landed the 480m Betfred Puppy Trophy Final at 8-1, reversing heat form with Ballymac Reds in 28.80 (+60) for the owner trainer.

Boon, delighted with how she handled the track a lot better than last week, reckons her future lies over further: “Her dam holds the 750 yds clock at Cork, and she’s been clear to the pick up in both her wins so I’m very confident she’ll turn into a decent stayer. I acquired her from one of my contacts in Ireland. Actually I prefer to call them friends rather than contacts – I’ve been very happy with my dealings across the water.

OLD FORT COMET Photo: © Steve Nash

“The old boy Shaneboy Freddie (completed Boon’s double in the Dogs Trophy heats) again did me proud tonight. He’s well into his fifth year and still running in top class over four and six bends. He recently  contested the semis of the Coronation Cup Final (575) for a second year running but just failed to make the decider, so I switched him back and now he’s in this final. He’s never really had the recognition he deserves.” Unbeaten through last year’s Sussex Cup (the oldest to win the Cat 1) and with numerous other finals on an impressive CV, he is still a major force on the open race scene.

Freddie will line up against fastest heat winner Autumn Fluent, who on his only other appearance at Colwick Park last summer ended down the field. On this occasion John Lambe’s Perry Barr raider made all in an impressive 28.38 (+60), and on that evidence will take some holding.

Kevin Place, a licence holder under the new owner/trainer scheme, has just two greyhounds in his care, but took the night’s Oaks Trophy top division Final with Merry Miss (Taylors Sky – Rosies Champ Nov 15).

The 8-1 shot got up in the last stride to deny Madabout Maggie by a head in 29.65 (+60) for the 500m.  Favourite Ballydoyle Maura (Oaks third) was always struggling after a slow start. The Whitstable based Place, with plenty of experience under his belt at long lost tracks such as Ramsgate and Canterbury, explained that being drawn away from the rails was the key.

“She moved off from one last week and found trouble, but got a better run tonight. I knew she’d stay on and I got a nice price too – she’d have been a lot shorter if trained by one of the better known trainers!”

The other division of the Bookmakers Oaks decider went to bang in form Pollys Pim for David Pruhs, beating Thameside Bound for a Peterborough 1-2 in 29.61 (+60).