Shadow Storms to Kent Silver Salver opening round quickest

Shadow Storm headlines Rees Silver Salver brace

The opening round of the Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver was the highlight of Saturday night and Shadow Storm reminded everyone why he is the reigning Sprinter of the Year with a sub 16-second display. It was the fifth quickest time of the year so far and the dog that has produced three of the other four, Thurlesbeg Pablo, was knocked out in the opening round. 

There was a double in the heats for Richard Rees as Avarua Zlatan returned to winning ways in 16.29. He is not a regular winner by any means but he has shown on plenty of occasions throughout his career that there is a huge amount of ability there, making a Cat One final and a pair of Cat Two deciders. 

Craig Morris enjoyed an excellent night elsewhere but he also got on the board at Central Park with Nightingale Crew. His 16.06 was the second quickest of the heats to make it five wins on the bounce. This is now the third track that he has won at on his last three starts.

Crafty Alejandro had not been seen in race action since early-April but he had shaped well in a recent trial at Monmore and that was enough to get him ready for a tilt at this competition. 9/1 was the biggest starting price that he has been sent off at, winning a race where Magical Luka was sent off the 1/5 market leader, the winner stopping the clock at 16.20. 

There were two heats that were won by bigger prices still, with David Mullins landing a heat with Zenith Scorpion at 14/1. Missing the break a touch was to his benefit as he could capitalise on the huge hole left on the rails as runner-up Raha Jayjay moved middle. The winning time was 16.29. 

Paul Donovan took the other heat with Slaneyslade Swade. He was a 12/1 chance but showed the best pace up and got himself just far enough clear to hold off the late run of Avarua Lake who came within a short head of landing a treble in the heats for Rees.

There was a double on the night for Donovan as Westwood Shay landed a Cat Three final over 491m. He was another to show the best gears to the turn and by the time his main danger Lincoln Impact went into second to get after him, the contest was all over. 

The first winner on the night was Blackburny for Martyn Wiley. He had picked up wins in A2 and A1 at Romford before heading out on his first try at open class level and he impressed, dipping under 29 seconds on his first look at the track. 

If the shocks in the Silver Salver heats weren't enough for punters, they had been given a 22/1 surprise in the second race of the night by Dean Childs's Distant Eve. It was her first success since the end of January, pacing up well and getting the job done over some younger rivals chasing her home.  

The card concluded with a win for Maxine Locke and Ballymac Kobe. He showed off his all-around pace, turning handy after coming away well and proving too strong for his rivals late on. It was open race win number 10 for his career.

2025 Time Juvenile Derby finalist Rural Pest scored for the second time since joining the kennel of Gemma Evans. A big galloping track is in his wheelhouse, scoring at Hove for his other success since leaving Ireland. He showed the best pace from the traps to get himself into pole position early on.

There were two races over six bends on the card with the quicker of the pair being won by Aero Pepinillo. Richie Taberner would not be a regular visitor to the Kent circuit but his charge made it a worthwhile trip drawing right away from his field to score by five and a half lengths. 

Michelle Brown took the other six-bend contest with Gothic Abbess who took a notable scalp in Princess Matilda in the process. This was the longest distance that she has been seen over so far in her career, looking for the line late on having shown plenty of speed to produce a 12.52 split. 

Donny treble for Morris

Rockmount Kellie provided Craig Morris with the first of three winners at Doncaster last night, landing a sprint contest with a strong-running effort. 16.88 on a track rated -5 after missing the break like she did was a serious run. This was following up a 400m success at Romford so she is adaptable enough as well.

450m saw a success for Gymcrack semi-finalist Droopys Buck. It was his first victory since joining the Morris range from Patrick Janssens but this was only his fifth start for the Yarmouth handler and he has kept some solid company in that time.

Droopys Assured picked up a 483m win for Morris to round out the treble, stopping the clock in 29.49. He added to his success from a week back in decent fashion to make it a third win in four career starts. 

The only distance in use on the night that Morris didn't get a win over was the stayers 661m where Jacktavern Beaut picked up the quicker of the two contests over the distance for Jimmy Gaskin. She has plenty of stamina and looks the type to run over a little bit further in time. 

There was a double on the card for David Fradgley with Kanturk Ace kicking off the pair in the opening race of the night. The youngest in the race, he had to do it the hard way after a missed break but he paced up well form last to second by the opening bend to get on top late.

Senahel Scorpion brought up the double over 450m. He had had no luck last week on his Doncaster debut but the experience clearly brought him on, taking up the lead heading into the back and running clear form there to score impressively. 

Darren Golightly got on the scoresheet thanks to an all the way win from Newline Kielty over the 450m trip. She has been handed some tough races, pitched straight into the bet365 English Puppy Oaks on just her second start for the kennel after a B2 win. She looked to appreciate the return to four bends last night. 

Another to score over the shorter four-bend trip was Butterbride Fiz for Lisa Stephenson. She has not been with the kennel long but has taken well to this track, backing up a win from last week and finding a good step forward in terms of time in doing so. 

Clongeel Goody closed out the card with a win for Rose Draper, leading from the opening strides and never looking in any danger of being picked back up again. That is now three wins from her last four starts.

Christopher Gilbert had a winner with Tell Em Nothing who landed a 483m contest around the outside. He had bumped into Clongeel Goody on his only prior race at the track which gave a nice form boost to the Draper runner later on.

A second staying contest on the night was won by Ballymac Ivana for Samantha Lapidge. It was fourth time lucky for her over the longer distance, perhaps sharpened up by a sprint trial, she came away in front for the first time over six bends and there was no looking back.

Mickeys Tribute extends unbeaten Star Pelaw record

Star Pelaw's resurrection of hurdling has been a boon for Mickeys Tribute as the track record holder made it a perfect 4/4 at the venue. He came home two and three-quarters of a length to the good over his Ricky Holloway-trained kennelmate Razldazl Barkley.

There was a double on the card for Glenn Foot with Travel Safe impressive in racking up a hat-trick. She has serious early gears and even if she'd have missed it, with a middle mover in two, she would've led up and with her A1 winning form at Yarmouth over slightly further, she is a tough one to pick up again.

Moanteen Pudding picked up the first winner on the card for Foot, another to pick up a hat-trick of wins. She grabbed the lead heading into the back, making the winning move as the runner-up was only just moving into fourth at that point. 

There was also a double on the evening for John Watson. Kilshenane Diva closed out the card with a spectacular sprint run, just a single spot off the track record, clocking 14.21. The September 24 pup was having just her sixth start for the kennel, picking up her fourth win. Two of those wins came over this trip and a pair over 435m.

The quickest winner of the day over 435m also represented Watson in the form of Here Comes Bob. He smashed out from the inside box to run out an eight-length winner of his contest in a very smart 25.53. 

Spy Master took the sole six-bend contest on the night for David Wilkinson. She was seen in A7 grade in early February but has worked her way up to A3 over the shorter distance and now landed her first open success.

One other open on the card saw a victory for Frank Kearney and Jacktavern Remi. Twice a winner at Clonmel from three starts in Ireland, he got off the mark over here at the first attempt by eight and a half lengths. 

Cracker lands sole Yarmouth open

A single open on the Yarmouth card went to Outdoor Cracker for Erica Samuels. As is his usual style over four bends, he turned at the back of the field but showed his strength late on to pick then all up. It was his first win in seven starts but he has produced remarkable consistency in that time. He has now finished in the first three in 13 straight starts.