FROMPOSTTOPILLAR spearheaded a Liz McNair-trained double as the GBGB Newcomer of the Year set the fastest time in four first-round heats of the Arena Racing Company Kent Plate at Central Park on Sunday.

A brand new event in the GBGB Calendar, staged over 500m at the Sittingbourne venue, Fromposttopillar lined up a hot favourite to win heat two in his first start of 2023 having won both the RPGTV Cowley Puppy Collar at Oxford and Coral Olympic titles at Hove last year to cement a growing reputation.

Moderately away and led from the boxes by fast-starting Kent Derby champion Arkady, the November 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Rafa Babys Baby nevertheless quickly moved into contention and was in full flight off the second bend before hitting the front down the back and settling the issue in a matter of strides.

Drawing clear, Fromposttopillar crossed the line five and a quarter lengths clear of the staying-on Droopys Google (Nathan Hunt) in 30.35sec (-70) with third-placed Arkady (David Mullins) also securing his place in Sunday’s semi-finals.

The three-round event, worth £12,500 to the winner, kicked off with victory for Hopes Paddington in heat one as Mark Wallis’s April 2020 son of Good News and Charity Anna overcame a slow start and crowding on the run-up to score by a neck from staying-on Cochise (Richard Rees) and early leader Lostrigg Ajay (Tony Collett) in 30.72sec (-70).

Last year’s Coral Sussex Cup winner Ninja Kerry made a successful return to the track in heat three as the Belinda Green-trained November 2019 son of Droopys Jet and Ninja Penny led at the first bend on his way to a five-and-a-quarter length victory over Boherna Vic (Dan Brabon) and King Ezra (Liz McNair) in 30.82sec (-70).

Warzone Tom then landed a heat double for Central Park handler Liz McNair in heat four as the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes and Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic winner produced a typically strong-running performance to lead approaching the penultimate turn for a length and a quarter victory over running-on Clairekeith Remy (Carl Gardiner) and Loco Sharky (Alfie Herbert) in 30.44sec (-70).

Daniel Rankin, racing executive at Central Park, was delighted with the quality of the 24-runner competition and is looking forward to Sunday’s semi-finals.

He said: “We had four superb heats with the first three going through to two semi-finals – and you had to be impressed by the overall quality.

“Hopes Paddington was a massive eye-catcher in the first heat when winning after a slow start and crowding. Managing to back-run the (Arena Racing Company) Cesarewitch winner Cochise was some effort, although fair play to Cochise for coming back for more.

“Fromposttopillar was a good winner of the second heat and did the fastest run of the competition. That was his first run of the year so I’d say connections would be very happy with him, although I still thought Arkady ran a good race and will come on a lot for the run and hopefully faster going this coming Sunday. He won the (Premier Greyhound Racing) Kent Derby here last year.

“It was also good to see the (Coral) Sussex Cup winner Ninja Kerry win well in heat three on his first run back from a long lay-off. He’ll also come on for the run, while heat four winner Warzone Tom and runner-up Clairekeith Remy, who was second in the Kent Derby, both ran well in good times to fill the places in heat four.

“You’d say the first semi-final looks the toughest on paper and would make a good final, albeit Fromposttopillar could be tough to beat, while in the second semi I fancy Arkady to win but with Droopys Google to run a good race.”

Trap draw for Sunday’s semi-finals: https://www.centralparkstadium.co.uk/assets/uploaded/files/documents/sunday-19th-march-advanced-card.pdf

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=394803&raceId=920972