NOMANSLAND FLYER heads into Sunday’s Arc Champion Hurdle Final at Central Park as not just the fastest semi-final winner but one of four Ricky Holloway-trained finalists as the Essex-based handler eyes a fifth win in the event.

Lining up as favourite in the second semi-final of the third leg of hurdling’s triple crown, the two-time Grand National finalist and recent Kent National Hurdle winner never looked in any danger as a quick exit set up a first-bend lead and ultimately a three and three-quarter length success over kennelmate Toolmaker Daddy for a Holloway-trained one-two.

Jim Daly’s bitch Lemming Shoni qualified here in third with the winning time a fastest-of-the-event 29.40sec (normal) for the 480m hurdles trip.

Another well-known and successful trainer and schooler of hurdlers Barry O’Sullivan halted the Holloway bandwagon in the first semi-final as 20-1 chance Slowlane Penny swooped late to win in a thrilling contest.

A length separated the first five home with the local hope edging her rivals on the wire to make it two bitches going for gold this weekend as she crossed the line a short-head and a neck in front of Holloway’s pair of Lenson Doolin and Roxholme Biscuit in 30.06sec.

However, for O’Sullivan, victory proved something of a tonic given he has spent the last week in hospital in Poole – only returning on Tuesday – after being hit by a van while out walking in Bournemouth and is lucky to be alive, he says.

“You’ve got to take the positives and clearly that’s one!” said O’Sullivan. “My leg was smashed to bits really and I’ve got screws in there now. The doctors have said I’ll be out of action for at least another five or six weeks, so my daughter Rose is very much in charge at home and has done great getting Penny to the final.

“I’ve managed to keep in touch with things on the phone and watched the heats and then the semi-finals in my hospital bed – and I nearly fell out the bed on Sunday watching the semis! She ran great to win, but has always been a pacey bitch.

“Tom Levers owns her with Terry Partridge so it’s great for them – and us, of course – to get to another Champion Hurdle final. We also schooled Lemming Shoni so that’s great for Jim (Daly) and the team to also qualify.

“Penny will battle away and you never know. She’ll come again given the chance and, while there are faster dogs in the final, if the race is run like it was in the semis she might do it again! I’ll be watching, but it’ll be a while before I’m back at the track.”

Trap draw for Sunday’s final: https://www.centralparkstadium.co.uk/assets/uploaded/files/documents/sunday-19th-champion-hurdle-final.pdf

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=380199&raceId=798137