Recently attached Towcester trainer Eric Cantillon was no respecter of reputations with two wins and a second in the opening round of the Tote Premier League.
11-4 chance Blackrose Vic, who began life in Henlow’s A6, turned over Blonde Nipper in 28.34 in the opening ‘480’.
The Bury St Edmunds based handler, who was only drafted into the league following the withdrawal of at least half a dozen other kennels, then took the sprint with 14-1 chance Blackrose Rebel. Track record holder Cloudbursting was back in fourth.
It was proving a bad night for champion trainer Wallis who saw another of his record breakers, Blue Moment, back in fifth place as Kevin Hutton’s Jolly Tricks won the other ‘480’ in 28.55 with yet another ‘Blackrose’ – this time, Ice, running on for second.
Wallis finally achieved a maximum when Golden Jacket finalist Black Francis easily won the ‘655’ in 40.23 from Heather Dimmock’s Colarhouse Ruby.
The fourth member of the Cantillon team, Blackrose Dame, finished back in fifth place.
Arguably the two ‘most likely’ in the first round of the PCS Legal Puppy Oaks, both lived up to their billing.
Hayley Keightley’s new Irish arrival Roxholme Hottie – a September puppy – went to traps at 8-13f in heat three and beat Gymcrack finalist Yesnomaybeso by more than four lengths in 28.68.
That time was then equalled by Mark Wallis’ Parkers Poison who beat kennelmate Ribble Rush by a similar margin.
Earlier there was a Droopys forecast when Alberta beat favourite Axis by three lengths in 28.95 while Stuart Buckland’s Ballydoyle Time won the opener in 28.99.
