BALLYBLACK SPEED was fastest in the heats of the Coral Sussex Cup at Hove on Saturday as locally-based runners made a solid start in the four-bend annual, as well as in the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency heats also on the card.

Concentrating on the four-bend showpiece here, the Richard Yeates-trained star, who ran in the Derby, made the most of his Hove knowledge to skip clear early in heat five of the £10,000-to-the-winner competition over 515m.

Leading at the first bend, the April 2020 son of Kinloch Brae and Droopys Amici was never headed thereafter, coming home three and a half lengths clear of the Seamus Cahill pair of Kilkenny Santy and Sporting Chile in 29.95sec (normal).

Next quickest, just two spots slower, was the Liz McNair-trained Warzone Tom, who helped initiate a good night for the Central Park handler when landing heat two. The kennel would later notch a double with Havana Bale Out also winning.

First up was Warzone Tom as, leading off the second bend after breaking well, the August 2019 son of Good News and Bogger Bonnie was never in danger, winning by two and a quarter lengths from Coppice Brewer (Kevin Hutton) and Lautaro (Patrick Janssens) in 29.97sec.

Havana Bale Out also impressed on the clock when completing the McNair double in heat six. Having her first race since May, the April 2020 daughter of Magical Bale and Comeout To Play made all to win by almost six lengths from Birdies Pet (Richard Rees) and Baby Bullet (Jason Gornall) in 29.98sec.

The other Sussex Cup heats were won by the John Mullins-trained pair of Derby Plate winner Chelms Switch (30.39sec) and Chelms Yes (30.23sec) and Seamus Cahill’s Derrinasafa Boss (30.14sec).

Jeff Piper, Hove’s deputy racing manager, said: “There were some great performances all round in the Sussex Cup.

“It’s always good to see the local runners impress and Ballyblack Speed did exactly that with a fastest-of-the-round run for Richard Yeates and he’ll be seeking to establish an early lead in his semi-final on Saturday. However, he faces stiff opposition in the form of one-time Derby favourite Lautaro and the Seamus Cahill pair of Make Noise and Derrinasafa Boss.

“In the second semi it’s difficult to get away from Havana Bale Out who, after the unfortunate withdrawal of Faughan Rebel from trap five, appears to have everything in her favour. Chelms Yes caught the eye with an early-paced victory in his heat and may provide the main opposition.

“The third semi is very competitive and Warzone Tom is sure to prove popular after his performance in the heats. Seamus Cahill’s Kilkenny Santy has the rails draw and will certainly go close if he leads.”

Form and trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals:-  https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Brighton-Hove/form-guides/Sat-23rd-July-Form-Adv.pdf