KING ELVIS heads into Friday’s Coral Golden Sprint semi-finals at Romford as the fastest heat winner after setting the standard in the first round last week.

The 2017 Greyhound of the Year (pictured above), home-bred by Liz and Rab McNair, finished second to Roxholme Nidge in the Romford Puppy Cup during that hugely successful first season and has always run the London Road track well.

“He won his first two races at Romford so those along with his Puppy Cup runs gave us confidence the Golden Sprint was the correct first competition of the new year for him, but he’s still surprised us!” said Rab McNair.

Pacing up to lead at the bend in heat three, King Elvis was never headed as he stretched clear to win from the staying-on Swift Sabbath (Paul Burr) to post a fastest-of-the-night 23.83sec (normal) for the 400m – a run which was not entirely expected by connections.

“We’ve given him plenty of time, like all the dogs over winter, so he’d have needed the run but you know what Elvis is all about,” added McNair. “He’s got incredible speed and it’s a great start to what is always a brilliant event. Well done Coral.”

Roxholme Hat, winner of the Sprinter of the Year title at the GBGB Awards the same year as King Elvis’s success, also made a winning start to his 2019 season as the Hayley Keightley-trained flyer stepped up in distance to score in 24.19sec in heat two.

In leading home Prize Fighter (Kevin Hutton), the three-year-old delighted connections as he powered away and, according to trainer’s husband Mark, handled the switch from sprinting to a short four bends in great style – as had been hoped.

“You always hope for the best, but it was heart in mouth time when the hare’s running,” said Keightley. “It was his first race of the year, but his speed is incredible and given the pace seemed to come from those closest to the fence in the early races it was very pleasing.

“We think there’s plenty to build on. The ‘HK’ team have got a habit of teasing out more, but it so helps this dog is as gutsy as you like. He was led fairly and squarely from the boxes, so will need to improve again for the sighter but hopefully can.”

Patrick Janssens was thrilled with the performance of Kilmore Lemon in heat five as he came through a real test against Romford Puppy Cup winner Grays Cup Winner (Philip Simmonds) before winning in 24.09sec.

“He was so brave at the bend,” said Janssens. “He had good dogs on his inside and outside, but doesn’t check his stride and drives the bend so well. He’s been a star since we first got him and hopefully we’ll have more luck in this competition this year.”

Withdrawn from the final twelve months ago after winning his semi-final and set to start favourite in the final ultimately won by the Hutton-trained Forest Chunk, Kilmore Lemon takes on heat one winner Savana Class in Friday’s second semi-final.

The Graham Payne-trained Henlow raider landed a fully deserved 16-1 surprise in the opening heat as he struck in 24.08sec, while the other heats were won by two leading locals in Yvonne Gaskin’s Chopchop Hope (24.02sec) and Paul Young’s Bubbly Joe (23.97sec).

Form for Friday’s semi-finals: www.romfordgreyhoundstadium.co.uk/result/racecardform/2019/03/08racecardform1.pdf