Stunning run from Eske in heats of Puppy Classic

Barrie Draper: trains the very impressive Ballymac Eske

  PICTURE: STEVE NASH  

NOTTINGHAM staged six first round heats of the Caffreys Puppy Classic on Monday night and topping the charts with a stunning 29.55sec was Ballymac Eske.

Barrie Draper's charge, runner-up to kennelmate Farloe Warhawk in an epic Puppy Derby final at Wimbledon last week, was Usain Bolt-like as he cruised through his heat in beating Skywalker Flash by six lengths - the runner-up clocked the third fastest time of the night (30.03sec).
The opening heat saw Paul Young's Jaytee Swaby take advantage of a dream run around the first two bends and kick on to beat the unlucky Droopys Hope by almost four lengths in 30.16sec.
Kim Billingham's Whittle Murtagh was a game winner of heat two. Crowded at the start, he was only second round but stuck to his guns to wear down Garly Rocky to score by a length in 30.05sec.
Charlie Lister's Killieford Deal showed good early pace to dominate heat three from start to finish and record 30.11sec.
The fifth eliminator went to Dave Firmager's Romeo You Decide who made the most of his sizzling early foot to make all in 30.15sec.
The closing heat produced an eyecatching run from Dean Childs' Droopys Ed Moses who, despite a modest break, showed superb speed from the second bend to simply outpace early leaders Ballymac Eat and Farloe Brainy to win going away by almost seven lengths in a useful 29.74sec.

The Betfred Maiden Standard Trophy final that closed the Bags section of the Nottingham programme, was won by Paula Timmins' 5-4 favourite Homestead Call who was recording his sixth C&D success from his last seven starts.

There were just two heats of the Coral On TV  Standard at Romford (final Friday live on RPGTV) and these were won by Kelly Findlay's Bush Standard, who outpaced his opposition in the early exchanges to make all in a speedy 23.98sec and Paul Young's well-supported Millwards Matt who was workmanlike rather than spectacular in winning in 24.01sec.

Draw for Friday's final: 1 Bush Standard, 2 Sharons Return, 3 Droopys Chase, 4 Bonamassa Buddy (m), 5 Millwards Matt (w), 6 Surreal Rambler (w).