KILMORE LEMON retains favouritism for the Ladbrokes Guys & Dolls ahead of next week’s final at Crayford after improving his career strike-rate still further in winning the ‘Guys’ semi at the Kent venue on Tuesday.

In clocking 23.14sec (+20), Kilmore Lemon was remarkably recording an identical time to his joint-fastest mark in the heats, although again had to ride a bump at the bend as Madabout Finn paced up well this time to challenge.

The pair crowded, but the momentum was with the eventual winner who, despite being forced sideways, straightened up into the lead – an advantage he was not to relinquish as he crossed the line two and a three-quarter lengths clear of his field.

A finalist in the Golden Sprint at Romford earlier this year – albeit withdrawn from the decider after suffering a toe injury in the semis – trainer Patrick Janssens reported the Feb 2016 son of Taylors Son and Lemon Lucy to have come out of Tuesday’s race well.

“He’s in great form, let’s just hope we have a good week now,” said Janssens. “I thought he ran brilliantly last night after the bump at the first bend and he just proved himself a real winner again – that’s ten wins from 13 starts this year.”

Qualifying behind Kilmore Lemon in their semi was Barry O’Sullivan’s duo of Art Of Magic and Teddybear Pops, which delighted the Crayford trainer who is in the process of transferring his racing strength to Central Park – his first runner won on Wednesday!

O’Sullivan said: “It’d be great to win a competition at Crayford as we say goodbye as such – although we will be back open-racing there! But the move to Central Park is going well. The dogs are qualifying and our first runner Springwood Ozil won the first race today!”

Of Teddybear Pops, O’Sullivan said: “He’s a nice dog – and jumps a bit too! He’s being schooled at the moment, so it’s the Springbok long-term, but hopefully he goes well on Tuesday. I prefer him off the fence, so the draw in the semis wasn’t a good one.

“He’s done well to qualify, but then is a good competition dog really – he made the Silver Salver final at Central Park earlier this year behind Roxholme Hat which is pretty decent form.

“Art Of Magic has won some nice races for us since coming here – he’s won opens and A1s and has generally done well since coming from Central Park. He’s going back there now with us, but I’m sure there’ll be other Crayford races for him – starting Tuesday!”

Special Story, trained at Crayford by Dave Lee, followed up her heat success in winning the ‘Dolls’ semi-final as she stayed on to lead close home and beat fellow qualifiers Courts Ad Lee (Philip Simmonds) and Sleepy Genie (Gemma Davidson) in 23.24 (+20).

The March 2015 daughter of Cashen Legend and Special Release was, like Kilmore Lemon, continuing her own fantastic 2018 with a fourth win in her last five starts having scored A1 success at Crayford since switching from Harlow, as well as beating Brinkleys Poet in May.

Trap draw for Tuesday’s Ladbrokes Guys & Dolls final:- 1 Special Story, 2 Teddybear Pops, 3 Art Of Magic, 4 Courts Ad Lee, 5 Kilmore Lemon (m), 6 Slippy Genie (w).