Harry's Gamble is fastest in All England Cup heats
Bubbly Phoenix: Won his first round heat of All England Cup
PICTURE: STEVE NASHSATURDAY night saw Newcastle stage first round heats of the William Hill-sponsored All England Cup as well as the Northern Puppy Derby.
Tony Collett's Lenson Bob set the standard for the All England Cup when taking the opener in 28.58sec.
However, Harry Williams' Mags Gamble bettered that when storming to an impressive 28.32sec when taking the second.
Williams was on the mark again in the third when his Tudor Prince out-stayed the odds-on Alien Planet in 28.67sec.
Heat four then produced a surprise result when Dave Wilkinson's 10-1 chance Elwick Ghost made all in 28.81sec.
Malcolm Daniels' Duke Box Melody got up on the line to take the fifth in 28.85sec.
Paul Young's ante-post favourite Bubbly Phoenix had to work hard to get the better of Denwill Star in the last but strode on from the final bend to score in 28.45sec.
The four Puppy Derby heats were won by Barrie Draper's Farley Semour (28.46sec), Charlie Lister's Killeford Deal (28.73sec), Pat Flaherty's Greenwell Mentor (28.91sec) and Chris Allsopp's Express Flame (28.56sec)
CRAYFORD staged the two semi-finals of the John Smiths Kent St Leger and the opening eliminator saw a major shock when Paul Tompsett's Mullrook Proby (28-1) beat Lottes Girl by 3 1/4L in 46.12sec.
The second semi saw Kevin Hutton's Crinkill Jewel leave last week's heat form behind when determinedly outstaying Mountjoy Orion to score by 1/2L in 46.00sec.
Draw for next Saturday's final: 1 Mullrook Proby, 2 Lottes Girl, 3 Mountjoy Orion, 4 Airforce Harlem, 5 Westmead Armour, 6 Crinkhill Jewel (w).
MONMORE held two open races over the 835-metre trip, the same course that will be used for the Ladbrokes TV Trophy later this month.
Nick Savva's Bubbly Swallow, currently ante-post favourite for the event, went in Div 1 at 9.14.
However, despite slipping five lengths clear on the first circuit, she was comprehensively outstayed by Jason Foster's Storm Pockets who strode clear from the final bend to win by 5 1/2L in 52.06sec.
Div 2 at 8.58 was won by Paul Young's Aero Gaga who led at fourth bend and drew away to score by 7 1/2L in a quicker 51.89sec.
At OXFORD three heats of the Blanchford Building Supplies Oxfordshire Stakes (450m) were due to be run but the third heat was declared void and was not re-run (a decision will be made on Sunday).
The first two heats were won by Kevin Hutton's Glenbane Air (27.26sec) and Norah McEllistrim's Zodiac Zeus (27.48sec).
There was thrilling action in the quarter finals of the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels at CORK on Saturday when Ballymac Vic was again the star turn as he won in 28.19sec, writes Michael Fortune
But the limelight was shared by Rachel Wheeler as she completed a heat double for a second week with Boherna House (28.45sec) and Camas Crash (28.33sec).
Saturday's semis: 1st semi 1 Tinas Nova 2 Razldazl Rioga 3 Knockglass Billy 4 Camas Crash 5 Ashfield Impact 6 Cashen Mafuma
2nd semi 1 Allen Master 2 Ballymac Vic 3 Bohera House 4 Liveanddangerous 5 Confident Rankin 6 Ballybough Hawke (w)
