QUEEN CILLA set the standard as part of a Liz McNair double on the night as the BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup kicked off with six heats at Oxford – and continues this Saturday with a trio of semi-finals.

Won last year by the David Mullins-trained Romeo Cypher from Phil Milner’s littermate duo of Keefill Maverick and Keefill Goose, Queen Cilla raced well away from her rivals in heat four to post the fastest time of the session.

Eight and three-quarter lengths clear of Lego (David Mullins) at the line, the April 2023 daughter of Magical Bale and Queen Beyonce posted 26.67sec for the 450m trip.

The winner’s home-bred litter brother King Jackson had earlier initiated a double for the McNairs and the KSS Syndicate in heat three.

Quickly into stride, the English Puppy Derby finalist was also soon well in front and had stretched a superb nine lengths of her nearest rival Izzys Tenpin (David Mullins) in 26.87sec.

The event began with Pin Point landing the first leg of a littermate heat double for Romford trainer Mullins – and a heat one-two for the handler in the process.

The April 2023 son of Tenpin and Wastehouse Izzy grabbed kennelmate Swabys Roman approaching the third bend before coming home two lengths clear in 27.58sec. The winner’s litter brother Pin Position later wrapped up heat six by four and a quarter lengths from Walter Jezabelle in 27.47sec for the Mullins brace.

Kevin Hutton matched Mullins’ earlier feat with a one-two in heat two as Signet Morgan, an April 2023 daughter of Signet Denver and Not Too Late, produced a strong-running performance to cross the line four and a half lengths clear of the running-on Coppice Wanda in a slick 26.78sec.

Patrick Janssens sent out Romeo Torres to make all in heat five, the February 2023 son of Fernando Bale and Fabulous Mila also racing four and a half lengths clear of Eagles Gizmo (Angie Kibble) in 27.00sec.

Paul Johnson, joint racing manager at Oxford, said: “I think first off it’s worth mentioning we got a decent number of entries – and fair play to the British breeders in that respect.

“Well done to Liz McNair and David Mullins for their doubles in the heats and clearly Liz and Rab have some pretty fast youngsters going through their hands again!

“They’ve enjoyed some real success at Oxford since the track reopened and timewise their pups look to have the edge for them again. However, David (Mullins) won last year’s event and he’s got a strong team himself and started the event really well.

“David actually has six of the semi-finalists so it’s a good start also for them, but there’s a long way to go and pups can always be difficult to weigh up – some lack consistency at that age and others can suddenly come forward at a rate of knots.

“It means there’s plenty of racing to come before we crown the British Bred Puppy Cup winner and we can look forward to three decent semi-finals at the weekend.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals: https://oxford-stadium.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BGBF-PUPPY-CUP-SEMI-FINAL-DRAW-ADVANCED-CARD.pdf