The supporting card for the Star Sports/ARC/LPS Greyhound Derby will feature the finals of four 18-runner £3,000 competitions, the qualifiers of which were staged on Saturday night.

DROOPYS CARAT RPGTV Puppy Trophy heat 1 winner Photo: © Steve Nash

The star of the puppy competition was once again Ice On Fire. Jimmy Fenwick’s runner failed to match his amazing 4.86 sectional of his previous outing but still produced an excellent 29.53 when beating his ‘cousin’ Sonic Spur (Bigmans Gainne and Bigmans Daisy are litter sisters) by three quarters of a length in a Derby class 29.53

RPGTV Puppy Trophy heat 3: TRICKYS DUMBO (t2) on his way to victory, pressed early by Deanridge Kane (t3) and Antigua Rum (t5) Photo: © Steve Nash

Two of the three heats of the 480 metre JPW trophy went to the market leaders. In her previous outing over course and distance Geelo Blissful was just over a length outside the track record. Although this subsequent outing was back on the clock, she will almost certainly start favourite for Saturday’s final.

FOREST JASON 28.39 in the heats of the JPW Trophy. Photo: © Steve Nash

GEELO BLISSFUL (t6) leads early on her way to fastest 28.34 in the heas of the 480m JPW Trophy. Photo: © Steve Nash

You would have got very big odds on Angela Harrison not having a runner in the RPGTV Derby Plate Final to go with Droopys Expert in the big one, but Droopys Trapper (5-2jf), Droopys Verve (4-11f) and Droopys Nadal (2-1) all failed to make it through their respect heats. Roxholme Jim was marginally quickest on the clock in what looks to be a tricky race to call.

Runners squeeze for room on the run up in the Derby Plate heats. L-R: Droopys Gold (t6), Droooys Trapper (t5), Honour Turbo (t4 reserve), Seaglass Tiger (t3) and winner Roxholme Jim (t2). Photo: © Steve Nash

QUANTUM LEAP wins Derby Plate heat from Wildfire Jimmy (t3) Photo: © Steve Nash

41.51 two lengths. 41.54 a neck, 41.54 half a length.

Two lengths cover all six runners in what will surely be Saturday’s most competitive event – the RPGTV Stayers Trophy. Quickest on the clock was the lightly raced Drive On Betsy, owned by former local trainer Dave Firmager.

Nottingham’s 14 open race card on Derby Semis night concludes with SHELDAN (t4) beating Stardom (t1) in heat 3 of the RPGTV Stayers with Brigadier Bullet (t6) third. Photo: © Steve Nash