MY LENNIE heads into Saturday’s semi-finals of the Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver at Central Park as the fastest heat winner after impressing once again for Coventry-based trainer and owner Adam Sear at the weekend.

Lining up in heat four of the longstanding sprint Category One competition over 277m, the lightly-raced June 2022 son of Newinn Taylor and Keplar Fourteen upset the odds on Magical Bluebear (William Russell) in all-the-way style to score by a length and a half in 16.29sec (normal), with Droopys Standard (David Mullins) qualifying in third.

Victory for My Lennie, whose granddam Coolavanny Pearl has thrown the likes of Clona Duke, Newinn Session and Doolin Duke as well as the winner’s own dam Keplar Fourteen, was a fourth in eight starts, with wins also at Swindon and twice at Oxford.

Pat Buckley clearly has his sights set on defending the Kent Silver Salver title after Hopes Hurricane brilliantly recovered from a bump at the bend to catch local hope Killuran Bella (Dan Brabon) on the run for the line in heat six, scoring by three-quarters of a length in 16.58sec (normal). Romeo Cypher (David Mullins) was third here.

Flashing Willow landed the spoils for Irish trainer Buckley 12 months ago and Hopes Hurricane, an August 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Tammy, bounced back from Derby disappointment by announcing himself a huge player for outright honours.

Emers Sammy is Central Park’s top sprinter and landed the odds in heat five, soon handy and racing away from his rivals off the last bend to score by a length and three-quarters from Guzzler (Belinda Green) and Salthill Sniper in 16.48sec (normal).

An April 2021 son of Malachi and Emers Baby, the prolific-scoring Paul Donovan-trained Emers Sammy had been fancied for last year’s Silver Salver until a missed break in the heats proved costly but has since prove very tough to beat in two-bend contests at the Kent track.

The event kicked off with success for Dan Brabon’s Merrymeeting Lil, an October 2021 daughter of Ballymac Best and Annual Review, who made all in 16.37sec (normal) and crossed the line half a length clear of the keeping-on Time To Talk (Ricky Holloway) and Two Slip Jigs (Jason Bloomfield) – the pair securing places in Saturday’s semis behind the winner.

Ballyard Shawny made the final of the Kent Silver Salver last year and the October 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Distant Lucy kicked off his 2024 campaign in the best possible way in heat two. Now with Jason Bloomfield, a smart burst of early pace secured a first bend lead and two-length victory over Romeo Crusade (David Mullins) and Droopys Rarity (Maxine Locke). The winning time was 16.38sec (normal).

The remaining heat three saw a 33-1 upset as Mick Mavrias’s local Broadway World, a March 2020 son of Pat C Sabbath and Killeen Princess, escaped crowding at the bend before going on for a three and a half length success over Without Justice (Barry O’Sullivan) and Cappaneale Rocky (John Lambe) in 16.62sec.

Central Park racing manager Rob Killingbeck said: “It was an excellent night’s racing with so many talking points.

“There’s no question Hopes Hurricane was most impressive to the eye after he looked in trouble at the bend. Towcester loss is definitely Central Park’s gain there because he’s giving Pat Buckley a big chance of winning the trophy again after Flashing Willow lit the place up here 12 months ago.

“Having said that, My Lennie was quickest on the clock and is still improving clearly for Adam Sear, while our best hope remains Emers Sammy. He’s just a champion here at Central Park – Saturday’s win was his 15th sprint win here – and Paul Donovan will have been delighted to get the heats over with after last year’s disappointment.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=411463&raceId=1042120