AFFLECK LADY led home a famous Patrick Janssens-trained one-two-three in the Ballyregan Bob Memorial Trophy Final at Hove on Saturday.

The two-round competition supported the final of the Coral Olympic and, on a superb night’s racing, home-bred Affleck Lady edged out evergreen kennelmate Goldies Hotspur and favourite Skilful Sandie to complete the Janssens domination of the event.

Quickly away, Affleck Lady was soon in charge to lift the £1,750 prize in a race named in honour of the all-time great, who set a world record of 32 consecutive wins at the same Sussex circuit in 1986.

She crossed the line a half a length clear of Goldies Hotspur, posting 42.02sec (-50) for the 695m trip.

“I’m delighted for Affleck Lady. Cheryl (assistant and wife) bred home for myself and John Porter (part-owner) and she comes from a terrific litter who’ve won plenty of races. She’s probably been in the shadow of one of her brothers Affleck Bolt, but has always been a top-class bitch although with one or two injuries along the way.

“She started her career at Towcester with us and has won a good few races, but really goes well at Hove. There and Central Park seem to play to her strengths, but I’m also delighted the way Goldies Hotspur ran again. She’s not getting any younger but is still loving the game and will run until she breaks in season.

“Things didn’t quite go for Skilful Sandie but she’s an exciting bitch to look forward to in 2020 – and we start off again pretty quickly. Desperado Dan ran a great third in the Olympic final the same night and is a really consistent dog who might have gone even better had he got trap one instead of trap four.

“But he goes next to Romford and will defend his Coronation Cup crown. We’ll also send Desperado Rocco there – and who knows? We won it last year and it kick-started a really good year for us, our best year. We won plenty of major races and, without one or two injuries, might have pushed Mark (Wallis, champion trainer) for even longer!

“We lost Kilmore Lemon to injury – he’s now at stud – and then also Seaglass Tiger. He’ll be back soon, however, and hopefully can get back to winning races. I’d say of all of our successes in 2019 his win in the Monmore Gold Cup was the high point. That was an exceptional field he beat that day

“Thanks to Cheryl and Ria (daughter) for their hard work and to Ron Mills also. We have a small but great team and hopefully can enjoy another good year ahead of us.”