ANTIGUA LAVA set the standard on the clock in the heats of the 1st Containers Marathon Trophy at Towcester on Sunday with a brilliant front-running performance in heat two of the inaugural eight-bend competition.

With most attention focused on heat three of the 912m showpiece featuring GBGB Greyhound of the Year Aayamza Royale, Dorando heroine Savana Volcano and newly crowned St Leger champion Space Jet, it was Mark Wallis’s runner who starred timewise with a 56.38sec victory for the 912m trip.

Racing to a 27.60sec split, the February 2019 daughter of Droopys Jet and Volcano was never in danger, crossing the line a whopping 13 and three-quarter lengths clear of Bodens Jaguar (Karen Coupe) in 56.38sec (+60), with Ballyea Sally (Mark Fenwick) and Roseville Tiger (Robert Emery) also making it into next week’s semis.

Droopys Jungle initiated a double for Matt Dartnall in heat one as the June 2019 daughter of Laughil Bolt and Droopys Sylvia grabbed longtime leader Alaskan Dawn (Heather Dimmock) on the line to win by a short-head in 57.30sec (+60), with Romeo Riot (Laurence Tuffin) and Roseville Era (Robert Emery) the other qualifiers.

The Dartnall double was completed by Space Jet, another member of the February 2019 Droopys Jet and Volcano litter, who led home Aayamaza Royale and Savana Volcano in what was on paper an outstanding heat three match-up – and did not disappoint.

Burgess Elite (John Mullins) set the tempo here, leading until down the far side before the St Leger winner Space Jet, who had broken well and turned behind the leader, hit the front. However, in behind both Aayamza Royale and Savana Volcano were also winding up a challenge and the trio now had it between them.

But Space Jet was not for stopping and held her older rivals to the line, winning by one a quarter lengths in front of Aayamza Royale, with Savana Volcano a further three-quarters of a length behind. The winning time was 56.48sec (+60).

Mark Wallis, trainer of the runner-up and fastest heat winner Antigua Lava, told RPGTV: “I’m delighted with my pair. Antigua Lava is really coming to herself, is terrifically well bred, stays all day and has posted a great time.

“She was in the easiest of the three heats admittedly, but it was still some run, and followed what I thought was a terrific run over six bends here last week. And as for Aayamaza Royale we’re more than happy with second place.

“It was easily the best marathon race we’ve seen for a long, long while and she’s been beaten by a brilliant St Leger winner in Space Jet, so that in itself was no huge surprise. But that was only the first round and, hopefully, she’s got the semis and the final to come and you know she’ll be there or thereabouts.

“She’s coming to the end of her career but is still running really well, although for all of these outstanding marathon bitches this event will definitely take some winning!”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=378145&raceId=780899