Liz McNair’s RPGTV Cowley Puppy Collar winner, rested since that triumph at Oxford in October, lined up a warm order to win heat three of the 515m annual and, while just moderately away, the November 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Rafa Babys Baby showed real class thereafter.

Pacing up to shade Derrinasafa Boss (Seamus Cahill) at the bend, Fromposttopillar quickly had the race in safe keeping and, while the runner-up kept on really well, the eventual winner crossed the line a length and quarter clear in 30.01sec (-20), with Droopys Mural (Ricshard Rees) qualifying in third.

Next quickest was Hopes Paddington as the Mark Wallis-trained BresBet East Anglian Derby champion produced a textbook display in heat six.

Well away, the strong-running April 2020 son of Good News and Charity Anna, off the track since the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby Final in October, never looked in danger as he powered clear of his field to win by almost four lengths from Lautaro (Patrick Janssens) and Feora Noel (Liz McNair) in 30.03sec (-20).

Six heats of the Coral Olympic shared the stage with four heats of the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial in a fantastic GBGB Category One double-header at the Sussex venue, and it was the Paul Foster-trained Goldies Perryman who kicked off the open-race action in heat one of the Coral Olympic.

The strong-running October 2019 son of Droopys Sydney and Paper Doll always looked likely to justify favouritism once leading into the turn and kept on well to lead home the Seamus Cahill-trained pair of Make Noise and Swithins Tiger in 30.58sec (-20).

The victory delighted Simon Gilson, who heads the owning FOB Racing syndicate, which is connected to the stables of leading National Hunt trainer Fergal O’Brien.

He said: “We’re all absolutely delighted with ‘Steve’. He seems to have become a stronger stayer recently so we thought the Olympic trip would be ideal. Our thanks once again to Paul (Foster) and his team and it’s now fingers crossed for the semi-finals.

“Either way, it’s great to be involved in a fantastic competition and you can be sure Steve will have plenty of support. He’s definitely become something of a social media star!”

Bonjour Bullet (30.38sec -20) continued her fine run by striking for local trainer Belinda Green in heat two from Global Vision (Seamus Cahill) and favourite Havana Bale Out (Liz McNair), while Seamus Cahill’s Thunder Black (30.25sec -20) made all in heat five to lead home Chasing Tommytee (Paul Marchant) and Candolim Monsoon (Derek Knight).

Heat four was voided when the hare was stopped in the interests of safety following a traps malfuction. However, Deelish Frankie (Patrick Janssens), Mystical Tig (Tony Taylor) and Candy Man (Carol Weatherall) head into the semi-finals.

Explaining the situation, the Hove racing office released the following statement: “Due to the voiding of this race and, in accordance with GBGB rules, the six participants were due to go into a draw to determine who goes in the main draw for the semi-finals. Ninja Kerry, trained by Belinda Green, has been withdrawn lame. Trainer Nathan Hunt, on the grounds of sporting fairness, has withdrawn his two runners as they were behind at the time of the hare stopping. This leaves Deelish Frankie, Mystical Tig and Candy Man to go into the main draw.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=391709&raceId=894499