BOCKOS DOOMIE vindicated his position at the head of the ante-post market when setting the standard with a fastest clock in the heats of the Coral Greyhound Olympic at Hove on Saturday.

The Patrick Janssens-trained runner paced up well to lead inside and drew away to win by three and a half lengths from dual British Bred Derby and Essex Vase finalist King Lennon (Liz McNair) in 29.80sec (-30) for the 515m. Back in third was his narrow Kent Derby conqueror Forest Alan (Seamus Cahill).

The Olympic is the last major four-bend GBGB Category One race of the year and, already winner of two competitions – the Sussex Festival Puppies Trophy at Hove and Henlow’s Puppy Derby – as well as finishing runner-up at Central Park, the exciting September 2017 son of Droopys Jet and Dalcash Kalade is hoping to complete a fine year.

“He’s run another solid race and we’re delighted with him,” said Janssens. “That’s 13 wins for him this year and he’s come out of the race well. In fact, he came back from Shelbourne in good enough order. He had no sort of run then, but has won twice back at Hove now. He’s got trap one again in the semis and we’ll certainly take that.”

The Olympic kicked off with gold for the June Harvey-trained Shoot The Bolt in heat one as a fast start paved the way for a four-and-a-half lengths success over Brynoffa Ben (Matt Dartnall) in 30.38sec. General James, a kennelmate of the winner, qualified in third here – and the heat delighted connections.

“Bolt is running great,” said Harvey’s son Matt Redman. “I think that’s his 11th open-race win this year which, added to two A1 wins, makes it a very good good return. He’s been a model of consistency since arriving at ours.

“Hove has become a good stomping ground for him. He stays the 515 trip very easily when we know it can be a struggle for many. Saturday’s race was perfect, possibly his best break yet, and he held his pitch into the bend and was never going to be caught.

“We also had General James in the race who I think is a very fast dog but the 515m is just too far for him, so it was a decent effort to qualify after not turning the bend in front.

“Thankfully our pair have avoided each other in the semis so we have two shots at making another Cat One final at Hove. Both seem to have good draws on paper so we look forward to next week. Once again we would like to thank Hove and Coral for their continued support.”

Heat two saw victory for Perry Barr handler Gerry Ballentine as Drahbeg Dash showed cracking all-round speed as he led early to run out a comfortable six and a half lengths winner over Kentish Prince (Kevin Hutton) and Cheeky Bob (Belinda Green). The winning time was 30.55sec.

Hannah Prince, kennelhand of the winning trainer, said: “He seems to like the boxes at Hove and has been coming out much better. He’s a dog that needs a few looks at a track which is why we gave him two prep races. He showed good pace to the bend on his first run and then got a little lost after that, but has run the track better both times since.

“Trap four for the semis wouldn’t be ideal but if he continues to come out like he’s been he should see himself up there early on and we know he’s stays six bends, so could be a difficult dog to peg back.”

Heather Dimmock’s in-form Hove specialist Volcanic Reef (30.09sec – 30) struck in all-the-way style in heat three, while the Liz McNair-trained Essex Vase runner-up King Dylan produced a typically gutsy performance as he came through late to strike in a messy heat four in 31.09sec (-30).

The McNair double was completed by success for British Bred Derby champion King Sheeran (30.44sec) in heat six. Crowded early, he matched his brother King Dylan’s last-gasp victory as he edged out Desperado Dan (Patrick Janssens) and longtime leader Dinner Richnalan (Seamus Cahill).

Trap draw and form for Saturday’s semi-finals: www.brightonandhovegreyhoundstadium.co.uk/result/racecardform/2019/12/21racecardform1.pdf