LINKS MAVERICK proved the star turn in the heats of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup which shared the stage with the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic for a bumper meeting at Monmore on Saturday.

The Tom Heilbron-trained Pall Mall champion was foot-perfect from lid-rise in heat three and his trademark burst of early pace (4.22sec sectional) took him clear of his field, with only Churchfield Syd (Richard Rees) able to keep the leader in sight. However, the Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby third was not for stopping as he crossed the line five lengths clear in 27.99sec (-10).

Next quickest was Laurels champion Hawkfield Ozark as Patrick Janssens’ speedster raced to a 4.26sec split and establish a decent lead, albeit Stevie Knows (Barrie Draper) gradually reduced the deficit and got within a neck of the 28.11sec (-10) winner at the line.

Training honours in the first round went to Nathan Hunt as the Monmore and Romford handler landed a double courtesy of Whitings New Era and Kilara Coco.

Whitings New Era kicked off the event with a show of all-round pace in heat one as the three-year-old edged out Ballybough Mags (Harry Burton) and Pomba Jake, a kennelmate of the winner, in 28.70sec (-10) for the 480m trip.

Hunt’s Kilara Coco, winner of a 575m competition at Romford last month, was not for catching in heat five once a slick exit (4.29sec sectional) set up a runaway five and a half lengths success over Derby Plate winner Whyaye Man (Mark Wallis) in 28.34sec.

March On Larry struck for Newcastle trainer Harry Burton in heat two. Quickly away and soon in charge, the three-year-old made all, albeit runner-up Droopys Rooster (Carl Gardiner) kept on well to finish just a half a length behind in 28.69sec (-10), with Aero Roland (Richie Taberner) a close-up third.

The remaining Gold Cup heat went to Jason Heath’s Hopes Rhino as the Hove raider was always in the vanguard, riding a bump at the turn, before going on to score by two and a half lengths from Untold Yen (Carol Weatherall) and Droopys Ambush (Matt Dartnall) in 28.66sec (-10).

Monmore racing manager Tony Williamson said: “I suppose first off the weather was kinder to the Gold Cup and Summer Stayers Classic this year. If you remember 12 months ago we had a heatwave and had to hold over the heats until the Tuesday.

“All was good on Saturday and we were treated to some top-class racing across both events. The track was running well and we saw some exceptional times recorded – and some serious early pace on show from Links Maverick, in particular.

“Tom Heilbron’s dog was fastest of the night in the Gold Cup to lead home last week’s impressive winner Churchfield Syd but the latter lost nothing in defeat and remains one of the leading contenders as we now look ahead of Saturday’s three cracking semis.”