ROXHOLME HAT roared into next week’s final of the Coral Golden Sprint with a brilliant success in the third semi-final of the 400m annual at Romford on Friday.

The 2017 GBGB Sprinter of the Year (pictured above) stepped up in trip to strike in last week’s heats and repeated the dose even more impressively given he raced in the toughest of the three qualifiers for the £10,000 prize.

Breaking smartly, Hayley Keightley’s star blasted to a 3.62sec split and raced away to win from Bramble Milburn (Steve Anderson) in 23.83sec (normal) – the fastest of the semi-finals – which delighted connections.

Mark Keightley, husband of the winning trainer, said: “On a night where the inside of the track looked where you needed to be – and he drifted in the market because of that – that was just typical of what’s he’s capable of!

“He timed his start as he can on occasions – although to be fair it’s something he did really improve on for the vast majority of 2018 – and it was plain to see he came on a bundle for the previous week’s run where he cramped on the run-in.

“He showed no signs of that last night during the race and went hard to the drop, but the job was done by then!”

On the draw in trap five for Friday’s £10,00 final, Keightley added: “There’s no doubt I’d have loved to be back in six, but we are where we are, and the team headed by ‘HK’ will do all they can to ensure his best running off, hopefully, a similar break next week.”

Kilmore Lemon reached his second Golden Sprint Final with another show of pace and power as he surged to the front approaching the third bend to catch leader Gislebertus (Belinda Green) before holding Prize Fighter (Kevin Hutton) by three-quarters of a length in 24.29sec.

The Feb 2016 son of Taylors Sky and Lemon Lucy now joins Roxholme Hat as an unbeaten finalist in an event he had to be withdrawn injured from after winning his semi-final at the London Road venue 12 months ago.

Winning trainer Patrick Janssens said: “He really is an amazing greyhound, making the final two years in a row and showing great determination again last night to win what was a tricky draw – but he showed his class down the back-straight to win.

“To win the final he has to start better than in the semis, but I think he can. He’s in good form this morning and I’m really happy with him. He’s unbeaten in the competition – so far, so good, let’s hope we can keep it that way.”

Union Jack was a well-supported winner of the opening semi-final as the local hope, trained by Jean Liles, railed into the lead rounding the first bend as favourite King Elvis (Liz McNair) was caught up in scrimmaging.

Racing clear down the far side, the three-year-old came home one and three-quarter lengths clear of Exiles Gift (John Mullins) in 24.24sec.

Form for Friday’s final: www.romfordgreyhoundstadium.co.uk/result/racecardform/2019/03/15racecardform1.pdf