Barrie Draper’s Keefill Arthur won the fastest heat of a highly competitive BGBF British Bred Sprint – the first open race competition to be staged over the new Towcester circuit.
The first heat was held up when an unnamed kennelhand lost track of the time while enjoying Sunday lunch in a nearby pub – we were told – Ed
The Sheffield A1/A2 runner who had clocked a 15.93 trial for the 270 metres took up the running at the first bend and held off one of the four McNair trainer littermates on show, King Bruno by just under two lengths in 15.97.
The McNairs were out of luck in the second heat too. This time the winner was Mark Wallis’ Henlow A3 runner Saffrons Xpress, a son of former local favourite Blackstone Marco. The 35 kilo black held off Silver Salver runner-up King Drake by a head in 16.14.
Rab McNair rates Queen Lilly as an equal with the highly rated, but more experienced Queen Jessiej and Lilly justified that confidence in the third heat when turning over the expensive purchased (and recently ‘awkward’) Antigua Breeze in 15.98.
The final qualifier featured the 2019 Scurry winner Signet Hawk, but went to litter sister Agile Dorotas in 16.03 who lead home Sean Parker’s Barnside Mata.
The draw for the semi finals will take place at GBGB on Monday. The £3,000 decider takes place in a fortnight’s time.
