BOCKOS JON JO produced a superb exhibition of pace and bend-running to plunder back-to-back Coral Golden Sprint titles for the Patrick Janssens kennel at Romford on Friday.

Following on from the now-retired Goldies Hoddle’s victory 12 months ago, Bockos Jo Jo landed the odds in the £10,000-to-the-winner GBGB Category One decider for owners Bev Lochead and Graham Box in a competition both they and the champion trainer have a good record in.

As well as Goldies Hoddle’s success, both Kilmore Lemon and Bockos Alfie – for Lochhead and Box – made recent Golden Sprint finals so the brilliantly fast August 2018 son of Droopys Jet and Moanteen Beauty was always fancied to go well in the competition, especially with an inside draw in the final.

Pacing up into contention as fast-starting Geelo Gold Dust (Carl Perry) set a furious pace from lids-rise, Bockos Jon Jo railed superbly rounding the first two bends and challenged the Sheffield flyer at the top of the back straight where his middle pace shot him clear on the way to a one-and-a-half lengths win in 23.77sec (+10).

Geelo Gold Dust finished second, ahead of third-placed Adeles Duke (Lee Field) – but Bockos Jon Jo made it a fifth trap one winner of the Golden Sprint in a row, following Goldies Hoddle last year and, before him, Union Jack (2019), Forest Chunk (2018) and Clondoty Alex (2017).

“We always knew he had a major chance once he drew trap one – he’s desperate for it really,” said a delighted winning trainer Janssens. “But he was fantastic on the night and just has great pace and runs the bends so well once he gets the rails. He deserved to win the competition but had to be at his best.

“Carl’s bitch (Perry, Geelo Gold Dust) is a cracker and it was definitely race-on from the boxes once she broke so well. Thankfully Jon Jo was there to challenge and his back-straight pace his second to none. We’re delighted to win it again and thank-you to all the staff plus Ron Mills, of course.

“I’m so happy for Bev and Graham. They, like us, had a tough start to the year with Bockos Doomie on the track, so victories like this for one of their runners helps put the smile back on their face. They love Jon Jo, as we do. He’s such a good-natured dog in the kennels, a real favourite of ours.”

Janssens is considering a crack at the next week’s TRC Health And Hygiene Northamptonshire Sprint at Towcester, with longer-term the Yarmouth Derby a likely target. A crack at the Star Sports Greyhound Derby over 500m has been ruled out.

The Janssens camp enjoyed success on the supporting card at Romford on Friday with kennel flag-bearer Desperado Dan winning the Stuart Roberts Quicksilver Final, on a night when the Essex venue also staged the Steve Simmons Sprint and Tony Byerley Mercury deciders for another high-quality Friday card.

“We love our Friday night open-racing here and last week’s was certainly one of the best with four finals and some tremendous efforts on the track,” said Romford’s stadium manager Karen McMillan.

“Well done to Belinda Green for her success with Frainey Forever in the Steve Simmons Sprint, who’s proving a real win-machine for them, and also to Paul Young with Bubbly Cristal who was so game in the Tony Byerley Mercury – and we all wish Redzer Renae a speedy recovery, of course.

“But well done, especially, to Patrick (Janssens) and his team. It was great to see Desperado Dan roll back the years when winning the Stuart Roberts Quicksilver Final – once he popped out you knew he’d be tough to beat. He’s such a popular dog here, so well done to all the team.

“Then Bockos Jon Jo produced incredible pace to win the Golden Sprint. Patrick said what a competitive final it was in the build-up because we had six very talented finalists, so only his best was likely to do – and it did! Congratulations to his owner Bev Lochead, who with Graham (Box) are just great supporters of greyhound racing.

“We look forward to welcoming both back here at Romford soon, as we do all owners and customers in general.”

Results: www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=371791&raceId=723631