Droopys Expert and Boylesports Star were the fastest winners of the respective William Hill Classic and William Hill Grand Prix at Sunderland on Wednesday night.
Angela Harrison’s Expert – beaten by Roxholme Nidge in last year’s Puppy Plate Final – took his course and distance record to 5/6 with a 26.80 run off a 4.95 sectional. There is clearly still plenty in the tank, a year ago he ran 26.67 off a 4.78 sectional.
Boylesports Star, who recently produced the fastest time of the year for Yarmouth’s six bend trip, gave further indication that the 2017 Golden Jacket winner has lost little of his ability in the last 18 months. Carol Weatherall’s 5-2 chance clocked 39.28 for the 640m course with off easily the fastest sectional of the night – 15.55.
There were notable Classic doubles for Liz McNair and Paul Young. There were plenty of shocks too with Queen Adele one of three runners KO’d in the opening heat of the Classic. There were more shocks in the Grand Prix with the fancied quarter: Droopys Live, Roswell Romanov, Affleck Bolt and Roxholme Poppy all eliminated.
BOYLESPORTS STAR (t3) leads early from Onedin Paradise (t4) to clock the fastest time 39.28 in the Grand Prix heats.
Sunderland 4th July 2018.
Photo: © Steve Nash
