EAGLES RESPECT heads into Sunday’s final of the bet365 Challenge Cup at Oxford as the fastest semi-final winner after another impressive show of early pace and front-running at the weekend as he eyes a second Category One success.

Already a big-race winner having won the Produce Stakes at Swindon in September, Angie Kibble’s British-bred July 2023 son of Tommy Shelby and A Little Respect raced to the front on the run to the bend in the second semi-final of the £10,000-to-the-winner event on Sunday and was never headed thereafter.

Racing away, Eagles Respect crossed the line three and three-quarter lengths clear of Ballymac Madgie (Shaun Gresham) and Newinn Cloud (Mark Wallis) and stopped the hand-timed clock in 39.53sec (-60) for the 650m trip at the Cowley track – and continues to delight owner Jonathan Miles.

Miles said: “We’re all absolutely thrilled with the way Fin (Eagles Respect) is running and has improved over the last few months.

“Winning the Produce Stakes was amazing and the fact he’s home-bred means so much more – to us all. Heather Dimmock bred the litter and helped me out massively whelping them down, while Damian McCann reared them and also did a great job.

“And, as ever, Angie (Kibble) and the team have been different class.

“It’s a very competitive final with several chances. The key is trapping and leading up Romeo Empire then hoping we can hold off Vhagar. She’s not put a foot wrong since coming to Oxford.

“I reckon Fin could stay an even stiffer six bends, say up to 700m, from the front – and that’s where I hope he can be on Sunday. Either way, I’m wishing everybody good luck.”

Vhagar had earlier produced a game effort to grab market rival Romeo Empire (Patrick Janssens) close home in a thrilling first semi-final.

Mark Wallis’s bitch now also eyes a second Category One title having won the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore in August.

Romeo Empire led at the first bend, grabbing the fast-starting Vhagar at the turn, but could never really shake of the odds-on favourite who checked her stride when challenging approaching the fourth bend before coming again and swooping close home.

Joining Vhagar on the line, the 1-3 favourite landed the spoils by a short-head in 39.59sec (-60), with Kevin Hutton’s Resonate (Kevin Hutton) crossing the line in third and making it through to Sunday’s six-bend decider.

Trap draw for Sunday’s bet365 Challenge Cup Final: 1 Ballymac Madgie, 2 Romeo Empire, 3 Eagles Respect, 4 Newinn Cloud (m), 5 Vhagar (m), 6 Resonate (w).