Butlers Lane remains unbeaten at Dunstall Park

Butlers Lane remains unbeaten at Dunstall Park

Seven runs, seven wins. Butlers Lane retained her unbeaten status at Dunstall Park on Friday night, chased home once more by her old foe Kilwest Diva. The Oaks one-two were split by more than two lengths on this occasion as Barry Denby's kennel star smashed down the bars for a 2.95 split on a track that was rated -20.

She was not the quickest on the night over 480m, that honour went to Kim Billingham-Hine's Pain Barrier. The Eclipse finalist is another who has proven to be very well suited to the Wolverhampton circuit, winning all three of his starts there to date. There's a lot of water to pass under the bridge before April but he looks a natural type for the Laurels in the spring.

A stayers final on the card saw Droopys Extragud extend his winning streak over six bends. It was a minor surprise to see him led up but having turned handy, he proved far too good for his field to bring up a hat-trick of wins. There are tougher assignments ahead next year for him as a stayer, but for now he is making hay for Heather Dimmock.

Bang On Edith had looked like an interesting one dropped back sprinting for Nathan Hunt. She had to do things the hard way after she bunny hopped from the boxes but having paced up well up the inside, she drove the bend hard and cleared away.

Those who follow Sunderland grading will be more than aware of how smart Laughil Larry can be. He joined Julie Bateson last month and picked up an open race win on just his second start for his new kennel. He stopped the clock in 28.47 which compares nicely with Pain Barrier's 28.26 and Butlers Lane's 28.32.

The other open on the night went to Brickhill Lewis for Robert Hall. It was his UK debut after just a pair of starts at Galway where he had also produced a win. Just a February 24 whelp, there would appear to be plenty of potential for better to come from him.

Double for Wallis as Sonique proves Fabulous again

There were only five open races on the card at Romford on Friday night but one of those included the majestic Fabulous Sonique who just keeps adding wins to a CV that is already bulging with them. Away and gone was the order of the day again as she went more than six lengths clear at the line over a promising type in Aayamza Legend. 

Wallis also won one of the 400m heats with Vermithor.  The Romford Puppy Cup semi-finalist has won on back-to-back weeks at the London Road venue. The three winners of the heats were split by just eight spots with Maxine Locke's Droopys Rarity just the fastest of the three and Bombay Buck taking the opening one for Paul Young. Chelms Skint won the other open on the night for Allison Kelly-Pilgrim.