Seamus Cahill’s August 2021 son of Out Of Range ASB and Droopys Natalia, back after a short break, was soon handy in heat five behind pace-setting Havana Top Note. The latter was third in the event last year behind kennelmate Havana Lover and King Ezra, providing Liz McNair with the first three in the £10,000 feature, and set a decent gallop up top.

However, Droopys Clue was never far away and challenged and passed the leader rounding the last two bends for a two-length win over Havana Top Note in 39.62sec (-40).

Next quickest was Savana Top Cat as the locals struck courtesy of Chris Hamblin’s British-bred January 2021 son of Dorotas Wildcat and Drive On Betsy who was quickly away and never headed as he crossed the line a length clear of his rivals, headed by last year’s runner-up King Ezra. The winning time was 39.71sec (-40).

The event kicked off with victory for Paul Donovan’s Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket finalist Tuono Bella who produced a strong-running to win heat one.

Led up by Carols Hero (Matt Dartnall), who posted a fastest-of-event 15.09sec split, a surge of pace from the eventual winner took the Central Park raider to the front approaching the penultimate bend for a length victory over the running-on Hurry Up Jordan (John Lambe) in 40.04sec (-60) for the Cowley track’s six-bend trip.

The remaining heats were won by Mark Wallis’s fast-finishing Ballymac Diana in 39.90sec (-40), Michelle Brown’s impressive Golden Palace (39.96sec -40) and Kevin Hutton’s regular winner Droopys Creative (39.93sec -40).

Paul Johnson, Oxford deputy racing manager, said: “It’s shaping up as a cracking Bet365 Hunt Cup, although it’s safe to say Liz and Rab McNair might not have things all their own way this year – as compared to last year when they had the first three home!

“Two of the those runners, Havana Top Note and King Ezra, are back for more this year and ran well in the heats, but Droopys Clue is the one to beat – certainly with the sponsors!

“When we heard Seamus (Cahill) was thinking of the Hunt Cup for him we were delighted and he was hardly disgraced behind Lively Lauren in a trial stakes. It was obviously disappointing when he didn’t make another trial stakes the next week, but that seems to have been a minor issue and he trialled back well at Hove and then was back here.

“It’s always good to have a strong local challenge and both Kevin (Hutton) and Chris (Hamblin) would have been delighted with their winners.”

Trap draw and form for Friday’s semi-finals:-

First semi: 1 King Ezra 2 Beatties Electra, 3 Golden Palace, 4 Ballymac Diana (m), 5 Silverspring Ria (m), 6 Senahel Pikachu (w).

Second semi: 1 Droopys Clue, 2 Havana Top Note, 3 Carols Hero, 4 Dubai Kid (m), 5 Lokis Deception (m), 6 Hurry Up Jordan (w).

Third semi: 1 Tuono Bella, 2 Fifty Nine, 3 Savana Top Cat, 4 Move Over Ogie (m), 5 Coppice Dylan (m), 6 Droopys Creative (w).