The Richard Rees-trained runner had been beaten in a trial stakes seven days previously when crowded at the bend, but this time dominated into the turn and onwards off the back of a slick 4.34sec sectional on his way to a seven and three-quarter lengths success over Gunboat Wichita (Nathan Hunt) and Marinas Joker (Garry Hamilton). The winning time for the May 2019 son of Laughil Blake and Blackstone Angie was 28.29sec (normal).

The victory delighted connections, with Charlie Rees, son and assistant to his father Richard, said: “That was more like it on Saturday after the week before. We know what he can do off the front at Monmore and he definitely needs more of the same in the semis. He’s up against Coolavanny Shado and will need to get first run on him because we know he’ll be flying to third bend.

“Hopefully Mick can take a flyer and be gone as we don’t want a battle with Shado but he’s very well and loves the track. It’s some race but our boy is in great order.”

Fastest of the Ladbrokes Winter Derby heat winners was Hesoneofourown, who landed an impressive UK debut win for Hove handler Belinda Green in the sixth and final heat.

The March 2021 son of Tommy Brislane and Kuma Mary Lou, boasting some decent Irish lines, was soon in a dominant position after trapping well and drew right away to win by six lengths from Longacres Queen (Pat Doocey) and Carols Legacy (Seamus Cahill) in 28.25sec, the best of the session.

The victory completed a cracking heat double on the night for Belinda Green who had earlier scored with Betsys Bullet as the June 2020 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Razzler made all to score by two and a quarter lengths from Droopys Google (Nathan Hunt) and Winterfield Duke (Chris Jones) in 28.48sec.

The event kicked off with victory for Mark Wallis’s recent Stadium Bookmakers Blue Riband winner Hopes Paddington who came through a mouthwatering clash with Coolavanny Shado (Patrick Janssens) in good style.

Racing to a best-of-night 4.27sec sectional, the April 2020 son of Good News and Charity Anna was always in charge, albeit after a missed break the runner-up closed down the back before Hopes Paddington stretched on to score by a length and three-quarters in 28.32sec. Third here was Beatties Diva (Kim Billingham).

Hawkfield Ozark (Patrick Janssens) was an impressive winner in heat three after a slick exit put the Irish Sprint Cup winner soon in charge. Never in danger thereafter, the January 2020 son of Laughil Blake and Brownstown Tango scored by three and a half lengths from Aero Squeak (Richie Taberner) and Hitthelids Mylo (Chris Fereday) in 28.31sec.

Local star Across The Field, a winner for Kim Billingham over both two and four bends at the Wolverhampton venue, used his sprint prowess to seal the early advantage in heat before before crossing the line a length and a quarter ahead of Twolengthstoogud (Kevin Hutton) and Smokey Frank (Vicki Lea) in 28.54sec.

*Trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Monmore/race-advances/Saturday-25-February-2023-Ladbrokes-Winter-Derby-Semi-Finals_2023-02-20-114422.pdf