Jolly is quickest in the opening round of the Champion Stakes

Billingham-Hine's winner is Jolly impressive 

There were six heats of the Coral 100 Champion Stakes at Romford on Friday night where Kim Billingham-Hine's Newinn Jolly was the quickest of the winners. He had produced a very impressive time in a trial ahead of the competition, able to back that up comfortably in race action to complete a hat-trick of wins after a pair at Nottingham. His 34.82 was 30 spots quicker than any other runner in the competition. 

It was a great night for Kelly Wilton who picked up a pair of the heats. Grouchos Gregor was the quicker of her two winners, making just his second start over six bends. He was drawn against his litter brother Ballymac Ralf as he had been in a recent trial stake and had no problem with blowing the Derby finalist away once more with his early pace. 

Wilton's 3 Steps to Victory winner Fortanach Col provided the other success. A rare missed break from the favourite Tiffield Tarquin saw the winner and Bubbly Holly of Paul Young's dominate early on, and it was the impressive style with which he ran the third and fourth bends that allowed him to press on into the lead. He remains a very progressive stayer. 

Young got a heat winner of his own with Bubbly Kingdom. It was a horribly messy heat behind him but his pace to the opening bend looked set to secure him victory long before the trouble. It was his first start for Young having been a Lee Strand and National Puppy Derby finalist when with Liam Dowling and known as Ballymac Scheff. New connections should be delighted with such a bright start.

The lack of a prior look was no issue for Carrick Scholsey who continued the hot form of trainer Mike Burton with a heat win. He trapped out in front which allowed him to learn the London Road circuit on the fly, producing a solid 35.26. He should be up to bettering that now that he has had a viewing of the venue.

It was good to see Zenith Jimbombom bounce back to winning ways in the other heat for David Mullins. He has kept warm company this year, making the semis of both the Arc Kent Plate and the Ladbrokes Gold Cup. This was only his second try over six bends, able to make a big step forward from his maiden defeat a week ago.

There was a double on the undercard for Dave Lee, with Slippy Coleman the quicker of his two winners. On September 22 he began his current winning run with an A4 success, scoring in A3, A2 and now an open contest, stopping the clock in 23.92 to bring up the four-timer. There is no knowing where the ceiling of his ability is at present. 

Ontherun Jamie was the other Lee winner, picking up a third win on the bounce himself to make it 6/13 in his career, also dipping under 24 seconds. As a January 25 whelp, he is younger than his kennelmate, though he has more track experience. He too remains an exciting recruit for the kennel, a 3.66 split getting him to the front early in the red jacket.  

Paul Young added to his winner in the Champion Stakes with Scooby Amethyst scoring in a the final of a maiden 400m contest. She got the better of Tony Dean's Charming Charlie in the heats and the wide runner was her biggest threat again, leading her to the three-quarters mark. Both the front pair are youngsters to follow as we head through the autumn. 

There was a win for Maxine Locke to kick off the opens with Ballymac Abia. She had made a winning start to her career last week, getting herself to the front early on once more to make it a quickfire double. It was a fitting start to a night with plenty of unexposed and progressive types scoring.

One who is certainly no youngster anymore but rather a Romford legend is Piemans Goalie who gave Mullins a double on the night. He timed his break to perfection to lead up Bretons Girl, which is no mean feat, greeting the judge in front for the 40th time in his career, 39 of those for Mullins. It was a fifth win from his last nine starts having made the final of the Guys And Dolls on his first foray as a veteran.

Buddy and Lav take Sunderland pair

The clash of the double b's was the feature of the Sunderland Friday night card where it was Ted Soppitt's Ballymac Buddy who got the better of the odds-on favourite Bockos Buster. The favourite missed the break and although he paced into the lead at the opening bend, he used up plenty of petrol to get there and had no answer to the winner who was in control at the third bend, 

Mossend Lav took the other open race on the card, a sprint contest for Savva Roberts. He was not the quickest to break but he paced up best to grab the lead at the opening bend. He had returned from two and a half months off from race action last week with a success as well, looking in rude health with himself at present.