LIZ MCNAIR landed both semi-finals of the RPGTV Cowley Puppy Collar at Oxford on Friday as the Kent-based handler’s fine run continued.

 

McNair struck with both Havana Allablaze and Fromposttopillar in the Category One feature so will be doubly represented in Friday’s £10,000 decider, the first major event at the track since its reopening.

 

First up was Havana Allablaze as the May 2021 daughter of Grangeview Ten and Havana Lottie repeated her second-round success with a first-bend lead setting up a neck success over the keeping-on Romford Puppy Cup runner-up Romeo Mission (David Mullins) and Lively Lauren (Matt Dartnall).

 

The winning time for the 450m trip was 27.18sec (normal).

 

Fromposttopillar maintained his unbeaten record in the event in the second semi-final as the new track record holder overcame a slower start to lead off the second bend before going on score impressively by five lengths in 26.93sec (normal).

 

In landing the spoils, the November 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Rafa Babys Baby made it four wins from five in the UK. Crayford raider Jasmine Lily (Tom Levers) chased home the winner, with Newcastle’s Moanteen Lennox (Angela Harrison) securing a place in Friday’s final in third.

 

A delighted Rab McNair, who’s trainer wife Liz was at Romford overseeing the success of the kennel’s Warzone Tom in the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes, said: “Both pups have run great tonight and we couldn’t be happier – we’ve two in the final and both are running well.

 

“Fromposttopillar is probably not absolutely suited to Oxford – I think in time he’ll go better over a more galloping track – but he’s showed he doesn’t need to lead to win his races. He’s still maturing and learning the game but this dog has so much potential, he looks like a proper dog, and perhaps one of the best we’ve had at this stage.

 

“With more experience he could be anything and, I’ll be truthful, he’s surprised us at Oxford. We didn’t think he’d be forward enough for this competition but it fitted into his schedule and we knew he’d learn from it. The first time he saw Oxford he ran okay, but the next time better and so on.

 

“We’ve big hopes for him but the final is not going to be easy, of course. And fair play to the bitch (Havana Allablaze), too. She’s actually a lot younger than the other lad but is more mature and has learned quickly. She was squeezed up in the heats, but wasn’t going to have that again in the second round and improved.

 

“We actually thought she was quite unlucky in the Romford Puppy Cup. We put her in that for her first race and she was in a good position into the bend but got crowded out, but again has learnt from that experience. Hopefully both get a chance to show their form in the final. Again it’s fingers crossed!”

 

Trap draw for Friday’s final: 1 Lively Lauren, 2 Moanteen Lennox (m), 3 Havana Allablaze (m), 4 Fromposttopillar (m), 5 Romeo Mission (w), 6 Jasmine Lily (w).

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=390233&raceId=882398