HOVE racing manager Rob Abrey hailed a “great training performance” after Garfiney Blaze made an impressive return to the track in heat one of the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial at Hove on Saturday.

Abrey, looking forward to Saturday’s semi-finals of the 740m annual which shares the stage with the heats of the Coral Olympic for a brilliant Category One double-header at the Sussex venue, was reacting after Mark Wallis’s Arc Cesarewitch champion posted the fastest time of the six heats at the weekend.

“He’s not a 14-time champion trainer for nothing!” said Abrey after the September 21 son of Ballymac Anton made a successful comeback after some four months on the sidelines, breaking smartly in the opening qualifier before coming home a length clear of Alright Gordy (David Lewis) in 44.49sec (+15).

“Garfiney Blaze winning like that certainly kicked off the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial in the best possible style. It was especially impressive given that it was his first competitive race since June – and he looked like he’d never been away.

“Other heat winners such as Move Over Ogie, Droopys Flotilla and Beach Babe went well in victory which means Garfiney Blaze might not have things his own way going forward.

“I’m just delighted we let all 30 entries have a crack at an event such as the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial. Fairness is key at Hove, so we were definitely justified in allowing all in and running five-runner heats than condensing it to 24.”

Next quickest behind Garfiney Blaze was Beach Babe who saved the best for the last in the 740m heats with a pillar-to-post success in heat six, the Tom Levers-trained marathon star breaking smartly outside and making all for a near three-length victory over Coffee Time Guys (Heather Dimmock) in 44.79sec (normal).

The Nathan Hunt-trained Droopys Flotilla was next in on the clock in heat five, bossing proceedings early before stretching on for a two and a half lengths success over the staying-on Ower Smasher (June Harvey) in 44.92sec (normal).

Patrick Janssens continued his kennel’s good form with victory for Breton Molly in heat two, the daughter of Ballymac Kingdom coming through a cracking head-to-head with St Leger finalist Tuono Bella (Paul Donovan) to win by three-quarters of a length from the local hope in 45.01sec (normal).

Minstrels Six landed a surprise but deserved 16-1 success in heat three, a fast start setting up a trap-to-line two-and-a-quarter length success over Alright Patricia (David Lewis) in 45.17sec (normal).

Matt Dartnall’s in-form Move Over Ogie quickly reeled in fast-starting Hopiehopiehopie (Kevin Hutton) before going on for a three and three-quarter length success over that rallying rival and marathon star in 44.94sec (normal).

Trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Brighton-Hove/form-guides/Sat-7th-Dec-Form-Adv.pdf