NOMANSLAND FLYER has his sights set on another title after posting the fastest time in the heats of the Arc Champion Hurdle at Central Park on Sunday.

A winner recently of the Kent National Hurdle at Crayford, the Ricky Holloway-trained two-time Grand National finalist was always in command after a slick exit on his way to a length victory over kennelmates Roxholme Biscuit and Aayamza Baron in 29.82sec (-50), so completing the first of two 1-2-3s for Holloway in the first round.

Nomansland Flyer was one of nine runners in the GBGB Category One jumpers’ showpiece for Holloway and the prolific-winning September 2017 son of Makeshift and Swift Hazel was completing a heat double for the Essex-based handler after the earlier victory of Lenson Doolin.

Lining up in heat three, the Kent Derby third again showed the transition from the flat to hurdles has been seamless with an all-the-way exhibition of solid jumping to win by nine lengths in 29.88sec (-50) from kennelmates Toolmaker Daddy and Tullig Bee.

Seaglass Smokey produced a strong-running effort in the opening heat as Jamie Kingsley’s runner took advantage of favourite Chasing Turkey stumbling after jumping the fourth flight in front to sweep through and score by half a length from Darbys Bullet (Ricky Holloway) and Lemming Shoni (Jim Daly) in 30.30sec (-50).

Droopys Rex was back at the scene of his Springbok triumph this year when lining up for Barry O’Sullivan in heat three and, always handy after a decent exit, came home strongly to win by a length from kennelmate Slowlane Penny and Resilient Lad (Ricky Holloway). The winning time was 30.65sec (-50).

Central Park racing manager Rob Killingbeck said: “We had some decent performances and one or two surprises, probably caused by mistakes at the hurdles, but you couldn’t fail to be impressed by Seaglass Smokey’s jumping in heat one.

“The time wasn’t there as such, but he did it nicely and his hurdling was great and that’s what it’s about.

“You’d have to say heat two winner Lenson Doolin is the standout improver. He’s quick enough to have finished third on the flat in the Kent Derby and now looks a serious force in the hurdling game.

“Of course, Droopys Rex has been a force in hurdling for a while now ever since winning the Springbok for Dave Mullins earlier this year. He’s now representing Barry (O’Sullivan) and again there was no time but his smooth jumping got him through. I should mention his kennel companion Slowlane Penny here. The old girl came through like a hot knife through butter and looked all over the winner until fluffing the last hurdle.

“In heat four Nomansland Flyer had his trapping boots on and he and kennelmate Roxholme Biscuit completed a pretty good night for Ricky (Holloway) with two 1-2-3-s on the night. Both look back to their best and are major players.

“Overall Lenson Doolin excites me massively. He effortlessly glides through hurdles, has plenty of flat pace, and looks a future Hurdler of the Year.”

Trap draw for Sunday’s semi-finals: https://www.centralparkstadium.co.uk/assets/uploaded/files/documents/sunday-12th-december-champion-hurdle.pdf