King Dec extended his winning sequence to eight with a fastest-of-round 28.48 win in the first round of the Calne Racing Arc at Swindon.
The British bred defending champion was led up by Screen Critic but led off the second and was never challenged.
His 28.48 winning time was just three spots slower than his best over course and distance.
Puppy Derby runner-up Millwards Whitey made trap one count in the opening qualifier when forcing his way through at the first turn and leaving trouble in his wake to score a five length victory over Evanta Evita in 28.59sec.
Mark Wallis’s Domino Storm made it a red jacket treble in heat three when forcing his way past Leamaneigh Turbo at the opening bend and coming home a length and three quarters clear of that rival in 28.61sec.
Yarmouth Derby winner Swift Keith rode a few early bumps in the fourth qualifier before catching long-time leader Home Raider close home to score by three quarters of a length in 28.97sec.
Droopys Jarrow was the fifth consecutive favourite to score when landing a scrappy heat five.
Nottingham specialist Bromwich Tom has forced his way past early leader Lann Jacob at the third turn but was caught close home by Seamus Cahill’s runner, who scored by half a length in 28.90sec.
Chris Allsopp’s Kippers Usain provided the only shock of the first round in the last qualifier when making all to outpoint Bubbly Gold by just over a length in 28.72sec. Favourite Coolemore Joe was eliminated in fourth after first bend trouble.
Semi final draw:
Ht1- Evanta Evita, Swift Keith, Kippers Usain, King Dec, Leamaneigh Turbo, Home Raider
Ht 2- My Real Mutley, Bubbly Gold, Loughteen Eoin, Teejays Panther, Lann Jacob, Droopys Jarrow
Ht 3 – Millwards Whitey, Calco Flyer, Domino Storm, Bromwich Tom, Forest Sara, Screen Critic
