A MYSTICAL LOVE took chief advantage of hot favourite Space Jet’s absence when winning the first semi-final of the Star Sports Galaxy Marathon at Oxford on Friday.

With the recently crowned SIS Marathon Performer of the Year withdrawn in-season, the way was clear for the Lee Pearce-trained Hove raider to finish best to land the spoils in the first semi of the 847m event which now offers a superb £10,000 for two runs at the Cowley track one Friday.

Untold Rupee (Carol Weatherall) set the pace for much of the eight-bend contest in the first semi, but the field closed up approaching the final bend with the always-prominent Beach Babe (Tom Levers) making a challenge before A Mystical Love came powering through to put the race to bed very quickly.

Racing away, the 24-kilo October 2020 daughter of Whitewood Lad and Dye Hard crossed the line six and a half lengths of Beach Babe, with Castell Mill (Robert Short) staying on well in third and into the decider of this brand new GBGB Category One competition. The winning time was 53.49sec (normal).

The second semi-final saw 2021 Coral Champion Stakes winner Night Time Danny make the successful switch to eight bends as Towcester trainer Stephen Rayner’s cracking senior produced a game trap-to-line success to fend off his rivals.

Soon in top gear inside, the November 2018 son of Sh Avatar and Nom De Plume posted a 27.30sec sectional on his way to a two and a quarter lengths success over staying-on favourite Droopys Jungle (Matt Dartnall) and Ower Smasher (June Harvey) in 53.61sec  (normal) – all three securing their places in Friday’s final.

Overseeing the action was Paul Johnson, Oxford’s deputy racing manager, who agreed the withdrawal of Space Jet had thrown the competition wide open.

“Obviously it was disappointing to lose such a top-class performer such as Space Jet with nature intervening, but you’d have to say the event is now really up for grabs with a very good prize for two runs,” said Johnson.

“I was very impressed with A Mystical Love who stayed on strongly to take the first semi, albeit Beach Babe did get slightly held up when challenging at the fifth bend and lost momentum when looking strong.

“Night Time Danny showed nice early pace to lead by quite a way in the second semi to hold off the strong-staying Droopys Jungle and Ower Smasher. It was definitely a very game effort in the front and sets things up nicely for the final in which I think it’s fair to say you couldn’t rule out any of the runners.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=394881&raceId=920960

Trap draw for Friday’s Star Sports Galaxy Marathon Final: 1 Ower Smasher, 2 Night Time Danny, 3 Castell Mill, 4 A Mystical Love (w), 5 Droopys Jungle (w), 6 Beach Babe (w).