HAVANA LOVER continued her fine run of form with a fourth straight success for last year’s St Leger champion in the second semi-final of the Bet365 Challenge Cup at Oxford – helping to set up a superb pre-Xmas final at the track this Friday.

With less than a length separating Liz McNair’s bitch and Matt Dartnall’s first semi-final winner Lively Lauren, the destination of the £10,000 is very much in the balance.

Lively Lauren kicked off the semi-finals with an impressive win, quickly into stride on her way to a 15.00sec sectional and a three-and-a-quarter length success over Mad For Sterling (Mark Wallis) and track record holder Havana Top Note (Liz McNair).

The winning time was 39.53sec (normal) for the 650m trip and, in winning, the February 2021 daughter of Ballymac Anton and Art Of Illusion landed a four-timer herself to secure her a place in a fourth Category One final.

Havana Lover went marginally quicker in the second semi-final as the Aug 2020 daughter of Laughil Blake and Love Honey continued her love affair with Oxford, having also won April’s Bet365 Hunt Cup over C&D, with another impressive success.

Pacing up well, Havana Lover was soon in command outside and, winning the early battle with Minnie Bullet, went on approaching the winning line first time on her way to a runaway seven lengths-plus win from the staying Gutsy Jet (Kevin Boon) and Minnie Bullet in 39.48sec (normal), just five spots quicker than Lively Lauren.

Simon Pearson, Oxford racing manager, is looking forward to Friday’s GBGB Category One final on RPGTV and is hopeful of another big crowd at the Cowley venue this week.

“We had a really good Christmas crowd in for the semis and let’s hope the last Friday before the holiday period sees people come out for a cracking night at the dogs! And they’ve got a great final to look forward to with big-name greyhounds and trainers.

“Well done to both Liz McNair and Mark Wallis for getting two runners through apiece – Havana Top Note is the track record holder and Havana Lover is a Classic winner so you’d say they have a very strong hand.

“Having said that, Mark’s Minnie Bullet is top notch and is a great competition pitch, as is Lively Lauren of Matt Dartnall’s. She won her semi-final really well and is just coming to the boil at the right time after a spell off – and Matt’s team will be looking to do what they did with Long Fellow in the (RPGTV) Puppy Collar.

“It’s great to see Kevin Boon with a finalist. He takes his runners everywhere and you can see Gutsy Jet appreciates a real test of stamina and conditions might suit him.

“Good luck to connections of all the runners and Merry Xmas to everyone and here’s to another good year ahead here at Oxford – which kicks off on New Year’s Day for what will be a brilliant all-open race card. We had a great crowd here on New Year’s Day this year and there’s a real gala feel to the meeting.

“Entries for these races will close at noon on Thursday, December 28, and we’ve got races over all distances and greyhounds – from pups to seniors – and there’s even a 1,047m maxi-marathon, as well as an 847m standard marathon race.”

Trap draw for Friday’s final: https://oxford-stadium.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FRI-22ND-DEC-BET-365-CHALLENGE-CUP-ADVANCED-CARD.pdf