ALASKAN DAWN continued his superb run of form for trainer Heather Dimmock and owners The Jabber Crew when winning heat two of the 2021 Ladbrokes Cesarewitch at Crayford on Saturday.

Winner of a dual distance event at the Kent venue before this GBGB Category One annual, Alaskan Dawn again starred over the 874m distance when making all from the inside box. The son of Confident Rankin and Volcano raced to a 33.30sec sectional and was never headed, crossing the line a length and a half clear of Peter Harnden’s Hunt Cup winner Salacres Pippy in 56.15sec (+40). Nightingale Don (John Mullins) qualified in third.

A delighted winning trainer Heather Dimmock said: “He’s loving his time at Crayford and much prefers this tighter track than, say, Towcester. It’s a great final on Saturday but he has to have his trapping boots on and be clear at the bend – otherwise there be crowding. With strong-running types in the race he’ll need to be in front. He’s in good form after winning the dual distance and it’s good to be in another major Crayford final.”

Blueberry Bullet also underlined her solid recent form with a runaway victory in heat one for trainer Mark Wallis and owners The Bruiser Boyz as the Mitch Millward Marathon winner set her sights on another notable victory.

Pacing up to lead, the August 19 daughter of Confident Rankin and Cabra Twister posted a 33.60sec one-lap split and never looked in danger as she crossed the line eight and a quarter lengths clear of kennelmate Antigua Lava and Mays Sabbath (Patrick Janssens), recording 56.27sec (+40) for the Kent track’s ten bends – delighting Billy Boyle, a member of the owning syndicate who have enjoyed a superb year.

Boyle said: “This is our ninth Category One finalist as The Bruiser Boyz and a fourth for Twister (Blueberry Bullet) with Bo Shine Bullet also reaching five and winning the Kent St Leger at Crayford, so it’s great to be back.

“Blueberry Bullet won the Mitch Millward Marathon at Romford, which was great, and she also made the finals of the Juvenile Classic (Towcester), Summer Classic (Monmore) and St Leger (Perry Barr) – so it’d be nice for her to win a Cat One.

“From day one we’ve always held Twister in the highest regard, right from when she ran Bo Shine to a length in a 500m trial as a once-raced puppy – and she’s never looked back.

“I’ve always seen her as a real galloping type with a nice blend of early pace and stamina which is why I asked Mark to enter her for a trial with the Cesarewitch in mind. I wasn’t sure Crayford would entirely suit but I felt the trip would give her the ideal opportunity to get to the front early, which is all-important, especially round a sharp circuit like Crayford. What she does is gallop and stay.

“It’s a great final and superb sponsorship from Ladbrokes which is much appreciated and with the likes of Lava, Pippy and Dawn in opposition we’ve one helluva of a final!

“I’m pleased with our draw inside the other two early paced types and, off a level break, I expect Twister to hold her pitch and lead round – to win she’ll have to!

“Mark was really pleased with her run in the heats and we feel she’s also come on for that. We’re looking forward to Saturday and, should we not win, I’d love our friends Nic and Amanda (Jeal) to lift the trophy with Lava – and for Team Wallis, too.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=379515&raceId=792123

Form and trap draw for Saturday’s finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Crayford/form-guides/Crayford-Saturday-Morning-27th-November-Competition-Finals-Form.pdf