CRAYFORD racing manager Danny Rayment admitted to being “blown away” once again by the performance of Bellmore Sally as the Newcastle superstar continued her love affair with the Kent track on Saturday in the heats of the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger.

The Jimmy Fenwick-trained dual Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket and Ladbrokes TV Trophy champion set the standard in the opening round of her latest GBGB Category One campaign at the venue – in which the December 2019 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Bellmore Lucy attempts to go one better in 2023.

Runner-up to the Jim Reynolds-trained Rising Coco in the same event 12 months ago, victory for Bellmore Sally in the £10,000 competition would complete the set of eight and ten-bend events at Crayford and enhance her already legendary status at the track in the eyes of RM Rayment, who marvelled at her latest success there.

He said: “I was just blown away by Bellmore Sally really. To start as slowly as she did, then to ride a bump at the second turn, but then still win by over a second was a spectacular effort. It really was. We know greyhound racing is not straightforward and there’s no guarantees, but she is clearly the one to beat here again.

“And her winning return here added to a good morning for connections as we were also able to present the TV Trophy itself, fully engraved, to Jimmy and Melanie Fenwick on behalf of owner Neil McGregor. It was all smiles at the presentation then and Bellmore Sally’s supporters will be happy at how she’s started in this year’s Kent St Leger.

“Then again, so will a few other connections and supporters – especially those backing and behind Low Pressure. He deserves special mention in the way he won on Saturday, like Bellmore Sally franking the Golden Jacket form having won his heat then in great style, too. We know he’ll be a tough nut to crack if making the final and getting loose early.

“A few others upheld the Jacket form too. Runner-up Roll On Sydney finished second in his heat, as did another finalist in Olga. It’s great to see these quality greyhounds back at Crayford and we’re all looking forward to Saturday’s semi-finals.”

She Loves You, a precocious staying talent of Michelle Brown’s, kicked off this year’s Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger with a fine victory as the July 2021 daughter of Ballymac Anton and Slippy Maggie led at the first bend on her way to a length and three-quarters success in heat one over Roll On Sydney (Paul Young).

The winning time for the 714m trip was 45.32sec (+30), with local hope Kilshannig Marie (Julie Luckhurst) making the semi-finals in third here.

As expected given her SP of 2-9, heat two went to Bellmore Sally as the three-year-old powered to victory after a slow start and a second-bend bump to hit the front just before halfway and race away for an astonishing 13-and-a-half lengths success over Homestead Anna (Michelle Brown) and Untold Rupee (Carol Weatherall) in 45.23sec (normal).

Muxton Lottie struck for new trainer Jason Bloomfield in heat three as the

May 2020 daughter of Eden The Kid and Swift Paradox caught longtime leader Olga (Pat Curtin) on the run for home to score by a length from her Monmore-based rival and third-placed local Shanbally Mags (James Turner) in 46.16sec (normal).

The fourth and final heat saw Low Pressure make a successful return to the fray as Belinda Green’s superb front runner outgunned market rival Minnie Bullet from the boxes before making all to score by three lengths from staying-on youngster Capel Rose (Tony Gifkins) and Luna Jezabelle (Keith Robins) in a fast 45.31sec (normal).

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=397062&raceId=937777

Trap draw for Saturday’s Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Crayford/form-guides/Jay-Kay-Coach-Tours-Kent-St-Leger-Semi-Finals-Form.pdf