PATRICK JANSSENS landed a littermate double as the 79th Two-Year-Old British Bred Produce Stakes kicked off at Swindon on Saturday.

It is the last staging of the British breeding showpiece at the Blunsdon venue and the Derby-winning trainer and leading breeder Dave Firmager are both keen to sign off at Swindon with victory – and dual Category One winner Romeo Alliance and his brother Romeo Ability, who broke the 480m track record at Nottingham last week, headed the entry going into the weekend’s six heats.

Both duly won their first round heats, albeit in contrasting styles, with Romeo Ability setting the fastest time of the afternoon session as he ran amok in heat three to justify odds of 2-15.

Never headed off a fast start, the October 2023 son of Romeo Magico and Fabulous Mila raced away for an eight-length win over She’s One Eighty (Patrick Browne) in 27.98sec (normal), comfortably the fastest of the afternoon.

His brother Romeo Alliance then also justified odds of 2-15, albeit had to come from off the pace after being crowded early when moving off. However, getting back on an even keel, the JR Racing Juvenile Classic and Arc Puppy Classic winner powered down the back-straight to catch leader Dreaming Ringo (Claire Conley) for a three and a quarter lengths win in 28.61sec (normal).

Earlier, Kevin Hutton’s Signet Nayla bounced back from defeat in the recent BGBF British Bred Oaks Final at Oxford in some style in heat two.

Posting a rapid-fire 3.99sec split on her way to a runaway all-the-way win in 28.28sec (normal), the April 2023 daughter of Signet Denver and Not Too Late crossed the line seven and three-quarter lengths clear of Coppice Freedom (Nathan Hunt) to secure her place in Saturday’s second round.

The event kicked off with local success for Angie Kibble’s Eagles Respect (1-4F) as the July 2023 son of Tommy Shelby and A Little Respect made all for a comfortable eight-length win over trackmate Signet Lyssa (Dalton Smith) in a slick 28.06sec (normal).

Hove raider Coppice Esme came through well to win heat five as the February 2023 daughter of Tommy Shelby and Coppice Mary grabbed leader Maggies Dream (Rachel Hill) down the back before holding local hope Malcolm Bosh (Angie Kibble) by half a length in 28.94sec (normal).

The sixth and final heat went to the David Mullins-trained home-bred Pin Position as the April 2023 son of Tenpin and Wastehouse Izzy led off the second turn for a victory over Coppice Esme’s littermate Coppice Arthur in 29.06sec (normal).

Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum (BGBF), said: “This year’s Produce Stakes was always going to special in terms of it being the last at Swindon – and don’t worry we’re already thinking about next year!

“It was good to see Romeo Ability follow up what he did so brilliantly at Nottingham when breaking the track record and I suppose he’s grabbed the spotlight from Alliance, although we know he’s a classy sort also and will come on for the heats anyway.

“It was nice to see five different trainers win the six heats and there’s some cracking litters on show.

“I’d like to pay special credit to Kevin Hutton. He’s won two of the last three Produce Stakes and is back again with another serious challenger with the very quick Signet Nayla – and good to see the Coppice prefix of Tony and Mary Brealey well represented in the second round draw.

“Good luck to all the runners on Saturday seeking places in the semi-finals a week later.”