KEVIN HUTTON was delighted with the performance of Ollie The Ox who preserved his unbeaten record in the event heading into next weekend’s final with a strong-running performance to win the second semi-final of the KAB Puppy Collar at Oxford on Sunday.

The fastest heat winner, the strapping February 2024 son of King Elvis and Antigua Princess was always handy behind leader Jacktavern Don (Maxine Locke) and, forced to check when challenging for the lead at the third bend, came again on the run for home for a head success over the Romford raider in 26.85sec (-10) for the 450m trip.

Reflecting on the success and a decent enough weekend for the Burford-based handler, Hutton said of Ollie The Ox: “He’s some dog – and there’s a lot of him!”

Hutton added: “Ollie’s a 39-kilo dog and well-bred, too. People tend to forget his dam Antigua Princess was an Oaks champion as Ballymac Trend, so we’re talking the best of Liam’s (Dowling) breeding, coupled with King Elvis, who could also run! 

“Sunday was only his fifth run and fourth win, so it’s been a pretty good start. What impressed me was how he was stopped in his tracks at the third bend before rallying well and finishing strongly to still win. And it’s great to be in the final.”

Hutton had been at Dunstall Park on Friday where his Jazzy George and Rioja Oisin, last year’s champion and, like Ollie The Ox, owned by Paul Woodburn, had finished a close-up second and third behind Shadow Storm in the Arc Scurry Gold Cup Final.

“Both of ours ran really well and fair play to the winner,” he said.

“However, we did get a winner on the night with Droopys Doris, who we think a lot of. It was also nice for her owner Andy Weller, who went close in the Scurry with Jazzy George. I also thought Oisin gave it a great go in trying to win the race again for Paul and Sarah (Woodburn) and Jackie (Brown).

“It’s still some achievement two years running to win it once and finish third a year later.”

Fastest of the KAB Puppy Collar semi-final winners was the Richie Taberner-trained Aero Najem who led home a littermate one-two in the third semi-final.

Quickly away, the January 2024 daughter of Grangeview Ten and Scooby Duchess was soon in command as the Coral Romford Puppy Cup finalist kept up the gallop to the line to score by two and a quarter lengths from her litter sister and Romford conqueror Scooby Diamond (Nathan Hunt) in 26.63sec (-10).

Outa The Clouds struck in the first semi-final as Mike Burton’s March 2024 son of Droopys Flytline and Droopys Winifred quickly raced to the front and was never headed thereafter as he crossed the line by a length and three-quarters from Bluey Bullet (Paul Young) in 26.72sec (-10).