Magical Luka lives up to his name on his UK debut at Romford
Magical Luka impressed on his British debut at Romford on Friday night, while there was also a four-timer for Paul Young at the Essex track.
Luka looks Magical at Romford
The unbeaten Magical Luka made a winning British debut with a very impressive performance at Romford on Friday night.
Sent to Kevin Hutton by Pat Guilfoyle after winning seven from seven in Ireland, including three track records at Tralee, the October 2023 son of King Sheeran and Magical Mary was sent off a 2/9 favourite for his kennel bow and won as his odds suggested.
He came away level but showed tremendous early speed to turn in front and maintained a furious march to come home six and a half lengths clear of Itsur Hero in an excellent 23.68. Bluey Bullet was third.
That was heat one of the Romford Friday Night 500 Novice Standard, with heat two going to Conans Express (4/1), who dominated from the front to beat Loli Pop Jamstyx by three lengths in 24.35. Feeling The Love was a further neck behind in third.
That was part of a four-timer for Young, who had the first three home in heat one of the Tony Williams Dual Distance over 400m as Yahoo Mareike ran out an easy winner.
The 8/15 favourite made all by five and three-quarter lengths from Chilli Drago and Young Velvet to strike in 23.97.
Heat two saw a gutsy performance from Kevins Rocket (4/5fav), as Seamus Cahill’s dog battled hard to deny Chelms Skint by half a length in 24.14, with Imonlytwilight in third.
Young’s quartet of winners also included Quinton Boy (4/1), who stayed on well to score over 400m in 24.17, and Bombay Jupiter, who sprang a 7/1 surprise over 225m in 13.23.
Cahill completed his double when Missile One landed odds of 8/13 by half a length from Aero Pepinillo in 35.14 over 575m.
Bacon Roll came out on top when landing a thrilling Romford Friday Night 500 final in 24.07.
Paul Burr’s 2/1 favourite had a terrific tussle with Piemans Goalie before forging ahead on the run-in to score by a head from Yahoo Lolls, who just got up for second.
Richie Taberner began the night with a winner as his Aero Najem (9/2) took the opener in 24.10, while Gothic Kitty (6/5fav) struck for Michelle Brown when making all with ease over 750m in 47.36.
Distant Rover got on the scoresheet for Dean Childs with a 24.23 success at 8/1, while the 575m finale went to Cree Bono at 100/30 in 34.93.
Blackbird swoops at Sunderland
There was also open-race action at Sunderland where Dean Blackbird landed both heats of the Arena Racing Company Standard Bitches.
Dairyhill Suzi belied her odds of 9/1 by landing the first instalment from the front in 27.11, with kennelmate Ashwood Chanel and Lavender Blue chasing her home.
Emers Bean (11/4) followed suit for the kennel when landing heat two from the front in 27.32 from Blue Planet and Strike It Belle.
The three heats of the Arena Racing Company Sprint Heat went the way of the Savva Roberts-trained Stonepark Hoffa (1/5fav) in 15.63, Ted Soppitt’s Sunnyside Jayden (1/2fav) in 15.54 and Bramble Idris (11/8fav) in 15.84 for Chloe Hardy.
Soppitt made it a double on the night when Sunnyside Gurkha (2/1jt-fav) made all in division one of the Arena Racing Company Standard in 27.02, while the second division saw Tom Heilbron’s Toddys Tank (8/15fav) land the odds in 27.15.
Mark Bulmer’s Sporting Juniper caused an upset when taking the Arena Racing Company Puppy at 9/1 in 27.76.
Upcoming opens:
Saturday: Central Park-Doncaster-Perry Barr-Oxford-Yarmouth
Sunday: Sheffield
Monday: Nottingham-Star Pelaw
