DOROTAS WILDCAT and Droopys Verve, first and second in this year’s Derby, produced the exhibition performances the betting expected of them when dominating their respective heats of the MSCM Eclipse over 500m at Nottingham on Monday.

The six heats at the Colwick Park venue saw a raft of solid efforts, not least by the greyhounds trained by Kevin Hutton and Angela Harrison who dominated the ante-post market – and still do heading into next week’s semi-finals.

Dorotas Wildcat, last year’s Eclipse runner-up, led at the bend on his way to winning heat four in a fastest-of-the-night 29.38sec (+20), while recent All England Cup champion Droopys Verve led off the second bend to score in heat three in 29.44sec (+20).

However, the Paul Shore-trained Funk Factor also produced an outstanding effort as he stopped the clock in winning heat two in 29.43sec (+20) as the Steel City Cup semi-finalist returned from a short break to run amok when winning his qualifier by seven lengths.

(Paul Shore’s Funk Factor en route to winning Heat 2 by a decisive 7 lengths)

The other heats were won by Adrian McPherson’s Honour Turbo (29.90sec +20), Lynn Cook’s Swift Taxman (29.89sec +20) and the Pat Rosney-trained Northern Puppy Derby champion Droopys Trawler (29.70 +20).

Kevin Hutton, trainer of Dorotas Wildcat, expressed himself more than happy with his champion’s first-round effort, commenting: “We’re delighted really. He looks back to his old self, those Swindon runs have really brought him on.

“Once he hits his stride his early pace is breathtaking, and from bends two-to-three he stretched away nicely. He’s returned safe and sound, and we’ll prepare for him for next week’s semis now.

“He ran a great race in this competition last year – beaten fair and square on the night after coming back after a spell off – and also won the Select Stakes the same year, too, so Nottingham is a track he likes. Fingers crossed for next week now.”

Jimmy Wright, partner and assistant of trainer Angela Harrison, said of Droopys Verve’s victory: “He’s run well, and showed great pace which we known he has. Down the back straight is where I thought he really impressed.

“We won the Eclipse with Droopys Buick two years back and Droopys Expert made the final last year, so we’ll now hope for the best in the semis. Hopefully he’ll come on, too, given he had ten days off after the All England Cup.”

Adrian McPherson was also thrilled after Honour Turbo’s success in his qualifier, commenting: “I’m really pleased, especially because he needs the rails really. He’d won out of trap four before, but prefers being inside.

“He always gallops to the wire so I was always hopeful once he led. He’s done us proud again and it’s always extra special given we’ve got both his sire and dam, so it’s very much a home-bred situation which is great.”

Nathan Corden, Nottingham director, was thrilled with the way the first round panned out and once again thanked sponsor Mark Lowther for supporting the Eclipse through his MSCM company.

“Mark sponsored a very successful Lowther Stakes here, and we’re once again very grateful for his sponsorship of the Eclipse. He’s been rewarded with one of the best and classiest competitions of the year which generally the Eclipse has always proved.

“It will have a major say in how the market is formed for next year’s Derby, and it’s great to see Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Verve, the first and second from this year’s Derby, head the field. They ran well tonight, but so did plenty of others. We can’t wait for next Monday.”

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