CRAYFORD staged a double-header of events on Tuesday as part of its £50,000 Summer Festival of Racing – and it was two-nil to the bookmakers as hot favourites in each of the finals of the Ladbrokes Kent National Hurdle and Ladbrokes Kent Cesarewitch were turned over.

The Jason Heath-trained Sporting Ranger jumped to success in the Ladbrokes Kent National Hurdle, pacing up well to lead early and thereafter taking full advantage as favourite Swift Asbolos was crowded out. The Hove raider raced away to a comfortable success.

Winning by three and a quarter lengths, the son of Derby champion Taylors Sky completed a fine recovery from injury suffered in the Springbok earlier this year. In winning in 23.51sec for the 380m, Sporting Ranger landed the £5,000 prize for Hove trainer Heath and owner Reg Bird.

The James Turner-trained Maysdreamcatcher broke the heart of longtime leader Indian Beauty (Peter Witchell) in taking the Ladbrokes Kent Cesarewitch, the Perry Barr bitch owned by the Hazard Syndicate swooping off the last bend to grab the £3,000-to-the-winner decider.

The favourite here was Maireads Ivy, the defending champion of Derek Knight’s, who went off a 1-4F but had no luck in running over the 874m trip, being crowded out of contention before staying on to finish a close-up third behind the 56.58sec winner and runner-up.

“Things didn’t go for Maireads Ivy, but you cannot take anything away from Maysdreamcatcher,” said Crayford racing manager Danny Rayment. “She won the Dorando Marathon at Towcester on Derby Final night, so is a really classy winner.

“She’s a litter sister of Slippy Maska of Hazel Kemp’s, who’s got a good record here at Crayford herself, so it’s definitely a lucky track for the family – and well done to James (Turner). He brought her here for a maiden 714m event, and she stayed on well. The longer trip suited!”

Rayment also congratulated Jason Heath after Sporting Ranger’s Kent National Hurdle success, the August 2015 whelp also showing the value of experience of Crayford where he had run in a 540m hurdles race, as well as a heat of the Gold Collar on the flat.

“He knows his way round Crayford, for sure,” added Rayment. “It was a gutsy run and credit to Jason who’s brought him back from injury in great style. Things didn’t go for Swift Asbolos, although he remains the fastest here this year after his 23.22sec in the heats.”

Rayment is now looking to continue the Summer Festival of Racing with next month’s Ladbrokes Guys & Dolls – the next major competition at the Kent track in what is a lucrative series of events and includes September’s Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger.

“Both are Category One events and each has a first prize of £7,500. Entries for the Guys & Dolls close next Thursday (August 2) and we’re running some trial stakes next Tuesday. We’re hoping for a decent entry for both events – our open races continue to prove very popular.”

Rayment also confirmed that Thursday’s planned meeting at the track had been cancelled.

“The decision has been taken in consultation with our vet and trainers. It’s due to travelling concerns if trainers get caught in traffic – remember, most of our trainers have to use the Dartford Bridge and/or the M25.

“There is also the potential for greyhounds to overheat after their races and cause a general rise in the kennels’ temperature. The track would have been absolutely fine for racing,” confirmed Rayment, who said a decision on Friday’s meeting would be taken in due course.