BROOKSIDE RICHIE initiated a heat double for Romford handler David Mullins when leading home market rival Antigua Storm (Mark Wallis) in a crunch clash as the Arena Racing Company Kent Derby kicked off in great style at Central Park on Sunday.

In a battle of 2021 GBGB Category One winners, it was the Juvenile Classic and Romford Puppy Cup hero who struck first from traps (3.19sec sectional) and was never headed as he crossed the line one and a half lengths clear of the East Anglian Derby champion, posting a fastest-of-the-night 28.94sec (-10) for the 480m trip.

The Mullins Kent Derby double – the kennel also scored with sprinter Shrewd Call on the supporting card – was completed by heat three winner Troy Firebird. The four-year-old was always handy before finishing well to deny longtime leader Magical William (Dan Brabon) in 29.55sec (-20), scoring by one and a quarter lengths.

Hilight Arkle bounced back from Birmingham Cup elimination when making all impressively in heat five for the Richard Rees kennel, showing the form which saw him win first and second round heats of the Derby at Towcester.

Racing to a 3.22sec sectional, the Hove raider was not for catching as he crossed the line three and a quarter lengths clear of Ballynabee Titan (Teresa Dornan) in 29.07sec (-20).

Earlier, Paul Burr’s Swift Cope produced a powerful back-straight-surge in heat two to collar Ragtime Storm (Dan Brabon) at the third bend before the Yarmouth raider went on to score by two and a quarter lengths in 29.25sec (-20).

Paul Donovan’s local hope Deadly Doughnut produced a strong-running effort in heat four, striking for home off the last bend to beat Ayle Blake (Norah McEllistrim) and Drumdoit Bomber (Paul Burr) by a length in 29.25sec.

Lenson Doolin grabbed gold in the sixth and final heat as Ricky Holloway’s two-year-old was always handy, leading down the back straight before crossing the line a length clear of favourite Ballynabee Lucky (Teresa Dornan) in 29.75sec (-20).

Rob Killingbeck, commentator and deputy racing manager at the Kent venue, said: “Overall it was a great night’s racing and the perfect way to begin a high-quality Kent Derby – and right from the start in that heat one the quality shone through.

“To be honest, Brookside Richie took my breath away with his superb early speed, but fair play to the runner-up Antigua Storm who was coming hard at him. That said, Richie was still in front round to the drop and looks the most likely outright winner for me.

“Swift Cope impressed down the back in his heat two and should make the final with draw in semis – Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr had a decent night – and, while it was a shock to see Surprising go out in a rather messy heat, fair play to one of our senior entries Troy Firebird who ran great. It was good to see one of the locals Magical William go through here, although I actually thought Pilgrim Hill was quite unlucky in behind for Jamie Kingsley but made the semis.

“Well done to Phil Donaldson in the RPGTV studio for napping Deadly Doughnut to win heat four. He’s tight rails and saves many lengths on the inside and ran a blinder to win – again we had happy local connections!

“Ayle Blake ran his normal honest race in this heat and tried to go trap-to-line and well done to the connections of Drumdoit Bomber. He actually only came in as a reserve having not made the original 36 but, of course, qualified!

“Fair play to Hilight Arkle in heat five. All the talk pre-event and at trials seem to revolve around Richard Rees’s raider and he definitely lived up to the hype, not letting his supporters down. He should get to the final and looks a big player on that run.

“The final heat was another messy one, but Lenson Doolin did just enough in front but slowed the race down hence the poor time. Last year’s third Ballynabee Lucky is the one to take out of race given he didn’t get the clearest of runs but made the semis.

“All in all, it’s good to see three locals through and Deadly Doughnut has the rails to help his cause again – although is up against Antigua Storm and Hilight Arkle in a cracker. Outright, though, I’m sticking with Brookside Richie to go all the way.”

Trap draw for Sunday’s semi-finals: https://www.centralparkstadium.co.uk/assets/uploaded/files/documents/semi-final-derby.pdf