SEAMUS CAHILL was at the double as his littermates Sharp Darcy and Sharp Judy, from a Feb 18 batch by Droopys Nidge out of Ballinakil Biddy, made it a solid start for the Hove handler in the 74th British Bred Two-Year-Old Produce Stakes at Swindon.

However, it was Our Boy Jack who posted the fastest first-round clock as Rob Copping’s runner kicked off the 476m event in the best possible style when making all in 28.36sec (normal) from Kevin Hutton’s Boca Junior and the McNairs’ Queen Dolly.

Then it was the turn of Cahill’s Sharp Darcy (28.5sec) who led at halfway in heat two and went on to win well from King Louis (McNair), before the trainer of the runner-up was on the mark in heat three as outright favourite Queen Jessie (28.49sec) held on by a head to score from the Hutton-trained Liberty Belle.

Jack Brain’s Wildcard was next up when making all from Westmead Margo (Andy Ioannou) in heat four, after which a good morning for the Hutton team was boosted by the victory of Houston Main (29.91sec) in heat five from Pat Rosney’s Moyar Hero.

Bob Smith’s Amke Rofe, a recent Ladbrokes Gold Cup trial stakes winner for Bob Smith, landed a local victory in heat six in 28.50sec before another local charge in Angie Kibble’s Only You ran amok from the start in heat seven to score in 28.64sec.

Sharp Judy (28.77sec) completed the Cahill double in heat eight, while the remaining heats were won by Kevin Ferguson’s Kinsley raider Acomb Winston (28.42sec) and Kim Billingham’s Monmore entry Deeteedee Viper (29.04sec)

The event had seen a 1-2-3-4 for Liz McNair in last year’s final as King Sheeran took top honours on his way to being crowned British Bred Greyhound of the Year at the annual GBGB Awards.

The McNairs have again mounted a strong challenge for this year’s event, but Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum, believes the 2020 renewal is more competitive – borne out by nine different trainers winning the ten heats.

Mort said: “It was an amazing Produce first round for many reasons, so congratulations to the ten heat winners and to all those who are through to the next round on Wednesday. They’re on the way now!

“Quite a few people thought the first round would be a series of predictable processions, but it was far from that. Credit therefore goes all the breeders given we have so many superb youngsters in the competition.

“It’s always good to see different litters and breeders starring and special mention has to go to Mike and George Burton’s September 2018 litter by Taylors Sky out of Terminator – six pups in the litter and all six going through for Kevin Hutton with one of them, Houston Main, winning his heat.

“The surprise and disappointment of the day was seeing King Drake fail to qualify. He won our BGBF Sprint only last Sunday at Towcester, but this wasn’t to be his week – although once again well done to the McNairs who still have plenty in there.

“Queen Jessiej was the best of their bunch, winning her heat in the third fastest of the day, so special mention therefore to Acomb Winston (Hiya Butt-Acomb Ruby, April 2018) who went quicker. His litter sister Acomb Lillian also went through for Kevin Ferguson.

“Fastest of the whole morning was the first winner, the impressive Our Boy Jack. He was bred by Max Alden and is by Holdem Spy out of Unique Lillian, trained by Robert Copping at Yarmouth for owner Raymond Pizzey. Well done to them.

“The two heat winners from the Cahill kennels are also very interesting. They’re littermates and, interestingly, their dam Ballinakil Biddy has since had another litter of nine to Forest Con. It will be exciting to see how they progress, too.

“Thanks as ever to Swindon for hosting the event. They provided trainers and staff with food and drink this year which was fantastic given the restaurant facilities there are still closed, of course. That was much appreciated. Now for round two . . ! ”

Trap draw and form for Wednesday’s second round: www.bagsracing.com/assets/9-september—swindon-adv.pdf