Reigning Sprinter of the Year Roxholme Hat made an impressive early play to defend his title with an unbeaten run through the Kent Silver Salver at Central Park on Friday night though assistant trainer Mark Keightley was a far from happy man on the way home!

KENT SILVER SALVER

Central Park 265m £3,000 March 30
1. ROXHOLME HAT (Ballymac Vic-Emma Honey) (T6) 1-2f
2. TO TONE PRINCE (Zero Ten-Coolavany Angel) (T1) 12-1
3. TROY BELLA (Tyrur Big Mike-Fire Height Brid) (T5) 3-1
4. PREMIER FRANKEL (Tullymurry Act-Groupie Doll) (T2) 12-1
5. GOOD START (Tullymurry Act-Dustbin) (T4) 6-1
6. TEDDYBEAR POPS (Zero Ten-Cornamaddy Spin) (T3) 14-1

16.36 (-30) 6, ½, ½, 2¼, ¾,

Owner:Mr M Green, Mrs H Keightley, Mr D Lambie

Trainer: Hayley Keightley

The Hayley Keightly trained Scurry winner went to traps at 1-2f and was never troubled when winning by six lengths in 16.36 (-30) for the 265 metres. (Murlens Crash’s track record stands at 16.00 on going rated +05)

Hat’s career record 25-races, 16-wins, 5-seconds

Mark Keightley said: “It doesn’t get any better than that. He had one of his best breaks and as I have often said, when he comes away, I don’t think there is a dog in training to live with him.

“However, it was a long journey home because I had forgotten that the Bresmed closed earlier in the day and I hadn’t entered him. It was inexcusable on my part.

“As a result, we will just keep our eyes open for the odd sprint leading up to the Sunderland race.”

 

ROXHOLME HAT Kent  Silver Salver winner.Photo: Steve Nash

On what would have been Trainers Championship weekend, Liz McNair would have been delighted that three of her team were firing on all cylinders.

Over two bends, Queen Anna (11-10f) beat the highly rated Union Jack in 16.54 (-30).

Over the 480m course, King Kid (1-5f) won by nearly seven lengths in 29.10 – a time that – with going allowance of (-60) would equal Coolavanny Bert’s track record.

While over the 642m course, Paradise Valdez (8-11f) won by almost eight lengths in 40.37 (-90).

(Touch Tackle’s track record stands at 39.44)

 

The meeting also featured the return of Cearnsport Springbok winner Lenson Wilson who extended his unbeaten run over hurdles to six races – at an average or almost nine lengths per victory. His winning time was 29.66 (-60).