OLLIE THE OX posted the fastest time in the heats of the KAB Puppy Collar at Oxford on Sunday as the 450m event made a return to the GBGB Calendar this year.

Last run in 2023 when a brilliant final saw Matt Dartnall’s Long Fellow edge out Liz McNair’s King Memphis, six heats of the Category One competition were completed at the Cowley venue on Sunday – albeit after a delay to the meeting due to a hare issue.

“It happened before the Puppy Collar heats and the trackstaff did a great job fixing it and the rest of the meeting went without a hitch and they caught up time through the afternoon,” said Paul Johnson, Oxford’s joint-racing manager who is also currently interim racing manager at Towcester.

“I missed Sunday’s heats due to working on the Towcester cards but have caught up since with the action and will be at Oxford this weekend for this semis. We look to have a really nice crop of youngsters and, when you think less than a length separated five of the six winners, there’s clearly all to play for.

“It’s shaping up as a really good competition and we’re delighted to have it back on the schedule this year – and the next two Sundays especially should see some excellent racing here.

“We’d like to remind owners and trainers that we have a full book of supporting open races on both semi-final Sunday on October 26 and for final day on Sunday, November 2.

“And the carvery will be open on both Sundays!”

Lining up in heat two on just his fourth start, the Kevin Hutton-trained youngster was quickly away and never headed for a length and a quarter success over Bowmers Sheeran (Paul Young) and Droopys Trigger (Savva Roberts) in 26.80sec (normal).

Recent Coral Romford Puppy Cup winner Scooby Diamond kicked off his bid for a second Category One title with an impressive pillar-to-post winner in heat five.

Nathan Hunt’s runner was soon bossing proceedings and never looked in danger as he crossed the line a length and a half clear of Kick On Archie (Patrick Browne) and Jazzy Soul (Kevin Hutton) in 26.84sec (normal), just a half a length off Ollie The Ox’s time.

Maxine Locke enjoyed a fruitful afternoon with a brace of heat winners, with Jacktavern Don posting a fastest-of-day 3.89sec sectional on his way to a runaway six-and-a-half length win over Feeling The Love (Paul Young) and Catchem Boyo (Kim Billingham-Hine), also in 26.84sec (normal).

Locke later landed a heat double with success with Newinn Jolie (26.86sec) in heat four, while other heats went to Richard Taberner’s Romford Puppy Cup finalist Aero Najem (27.04sec), a litter sister of fellow heat winner Scooby Diamond, and the David Mullins-trained Zenith Jimbombom (26.87sec).