SIGNET ACE successfully returned to the scene of his biggest success in February’s Winter Derby when dominating heat three of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore on Saturday – clocking the night’s fastest 480m time in the process.

On an evening when the Gold Cup heats shared the stage with the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic, the September 2018 son of Laughil Blake and Forest Natalee was smartly away on his way to a quickest 4.28sec sectional before holding the sustained challenge of Hardy Rebel (Angela Harrison) by three-quarters of a length in 28.11sec (normal).

The victory delighted winning trainer Hutton, who also saw Forest Gold qualify behind Mark Wallis’s strong-running Antigua Storm (28.22sec), the Sussex Cup runner-up, in heat one.

He said: “We know he (Signet Ace) runs Monmore well having showed that in the Winter Derby and, given we used to be based at the track and are still regular visitors, he’s had lots of experience there. The track plays to his strengths.

“We thought he’d run well against the fence and the time shows what he’s capable of – he’s top class when given the chance. He’s got to break well from the middle in the semis but all being well can still make the bend in front.

“Forest Gold is a cracking dog, always giving his level best, and again goes well at Monmore. Mark’s dog was always going to be tough to hold where he turned. Forest Gold is also in the middle in the semis, which looks tough, but he’s still a player if timing it right.

“I was also delighted to see Kingsbrook Glyn run so well in the stayers. We’d mapped this race out for him for a while as a defending champ and, to be fair, he’s been running really well. It’s a red-hot semi-final against the top two in the betting, but he’s got his draw.”

Jason Heath’s Seomra Razl upset the odds on two-time Category One winner Jaguar Macie (Graham Rankin) when making all in heat three of the Gold Cup in 28.53sec, the Hove raider crossing the line three-quarters of a length in front of the Monmore Puppy Derby champion.

The other heats were won by Newcastle trainer Tom Heilbron’s Northern Flat Champion Pacemaker Ted (28.23sec), who made all in heat four, as did trackmate Minglers Popeye (28.31sec) in heat five for Stuart Tighe. Heat six was also won in impressive all-the-way style by Dualla Prince (28.21sec) for soon-to-retire Doncaster handler June McCombe.

Tony Williamson, Monmore’s assistant racing manager, said: “I thought the racing in both competitions was top notch.

“Signet Ace set the standard in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup, showing the form which won him the Winter Derby here – he clocked a fast sectional in the process. I thought Pacemaker Ted was pretty impressive, too, as the fastest wide seed winner, although in defeat behind Signet Ace you’d say Hardy Rebel ran well, posted a good clock, and will improve.

“You’d also expect Jaguar Macie to come forward, too. She ran well from a poor draw and I reckon the Puppy Derby will do much better from three in her semi-final.

“As for the Summer Stayers Classic, Warzone Tom, Fatboyz Exile and Ivy Hill Skyhigh all won very well in good times, although topping the pile was Blueberry Bullet. She was brilliant I thought.

“It was also great to see Monmore trainer Chris Fereday strike with Guiri Steve, who beat Kingsbrook Glyn, coming from well off the pace to win close home.”

Form and trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Monmore/form-guides/Saturday-14th-Aug-Gold-Cup-Summers-Stayers-Semi-Finals.pdf