LENSON DOOLIN lines up as one of five Ricky Holloway-trained runners in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle Final after giving the track record a shake in the second semi-final of the Category One hurdles showpiece at Crayford.

Having also posted the quickest time in the heats, the reigning GBGB Hurdler of the Year repeated the dose in trap-to-line style, soon racing clear of his rivals before crossing the line five and three-quarter lengths clear of kennelmates Bennys Champ and Tullig Bee for a Holloway-trained one-two-three.

The winning time for the May 2019 son of Azza Azza Azza and The Other Tessa was 23.23sec (+10), just five spots off the 23.18sec best jointly held by two other Holloway-trained runners in Razldazl Raidio and Droopys Cruiser.

Ritzy Spirit had earlier initiated local trainer Holloway’s domination of the semi-finals with an all-the-way success in the first semi as an anticipated battle with defending Champion Hurdle champion Borna Rhythm failed to materialise after the latter missed his break.

To his credit, Tony Collett’s strong-running timber-topper battled back to qualify in third behind the 23.37sec (+10) winner, who crossed the line almost seven lengths clear of kennelmate Mustnt Touch It, with Borna Rhythm just edging out Southern Seattle (Barry O’Sullivan) by a short-head for third.

Winning trainer Holloway, delighted to have five of the six finalists in Saturday’s £10,000-to-the-winner decider which shares the stage with the Ladbrokes TV Trophy Final for a gala card, said: “The Champion Hurdle this year is one of diverse interests with dogs from all types of backgrounds getting to the final.

“Mustnt Touch It was A7 at Romford and just taught herself to jump, while Bennys Champ was a young pup disqualified in his second trial here but at 37 kilos is a gentle giant compared to the Mustnt Touch It at 25 kilos.

“Lenson Doolin is in outstanding form as he approaches his fourth birthday. A sizzling 23.23sec in the semis was just five spots off the clock and the Hurdler of the Year is showing why he’s still number one.

“Tullig Bee lines up in his third Cat One final over hurdles and continues to improve, while Ritzy Spirit is the up-and-coming hurdler and is number one at the moment over 540m at his home track Crayford, but is well capable of a fast break which would put the whole field under pressure.

“From a kennel point of view, l set the kennels up 17 years ago and to set an all-time Cat One record for any hurdles trainer since records began would be a lifetime achievement. To break Tommy Foster and Colin West’s record in the hurdling division would truly be an honour. I just hope Tony Collett doesn’t spoil the party!”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=395703&raceId=927724

Trap draw for Saturday’s Ladbrokes TV Trophy Final: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Crayford/form-guides/Crayford-Saturday-Morning-15th-April-Finals-Form.pdf