LENSON DOOLIN heads into the weekend’s semi-finals of the Champion Hurdle as the fastest heat winner after posting the quickest time in the now Ladbrokes-sponsored Category One event at Crayford on Saturday.

The first staging of the event at the Kent track saw a treble for Crayford-based trainer Ricky Holloway, with Lenson Doolin, the reigning GBGB Hurdler of the Year, setting the standard in heat four of the 380m competition in impressive trap-to-line style as he completed his trainer’s work on the day in the best possible style.

The May 2019 son of Azza Azza Azza and The Other Tessa was quickly into stride and was never headed thereafter as he crossed the line three and a quarter lengths clear of Grand National champion Bobbing Gnavatar (Barry O’Sullivan) and another Holloway-trained runner Tullig Bee. The winning time was 23.44sec (normal).

Like Lenson Doolin, Holloway’s Ritzy Spirit had also won his Champion Hurdle heat at Central Park last year – in the fastest time, incidentally – and repeated the dose for connections in heat one when also making all to come home clear of his field in 23.56sec (normal).

Well away, the January 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Kilara Jessie led his rivals into the turn and was never headed thereafter as he crossed the line three and a half lengths clear from kennelmates Bennys Champ and Magical Oscar who will join him as one of seven Holloway-trained semi-finalists on Saturday.

The Holloway treble also included a debut hurdles victory for Lenson On Ice as he made the successful transition from classy sprinter to jumps winner as he ran amok in heat three, racing away for a seven-length triumph over Southern Seattle (Barry O’Sullivan) and Longvale Prince (Julie Luckhurst) in 23.84sec (normal).

Borna Rhythm had earlier landed a popular success in heat two as the defending champion justified odds-on favouritism in typical strong-running style.

The Tony Collett-trained January 2019 son of Cloran Paddy and Borna Gem overcame a bump at the bend before hitting the front down the back to score by three and three-quarter lengths from Mustnt Touch It (Ricky Holloway) and North Man Nuke (Barry O’Sullivan). The winning time was 23.71sec (normal).

Danny Rayment, Crayford racing manager, said: “I thought it was a really good first round with lots of quality on show – and those you expected to shine did so. Ricky Holloway’s hat-trick takes the plaudits with Lenson Doolin notching another Crayford success in a fast time, too. He’s been prolific here.

“Then again, it was also great to see the defending champion Borna Rhythm win his heat and also see Grand National winner Bobbing Gnavatar get through behind Doolin. These three were the three nominations for GBGB Hurdler of the Year, won by Doolin, and could clash in the final if getting through the semis.

“They’re the older guard, if you like, but you’ve also got new stars coming through – not least Lenson On Ice. He’s a fast dog on the flat and has adapted to hurdles really well and impressed on Saturday. There’s probably more to come, too.

“Overall, we’re pleased to be staging both the Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle and Ladbrokes Grand National over 540m later in the year and hopefully with the reintroduction of the Coral Springbok at Hove we can rejuvenate the hurdles scene.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=395523&raceId=926235

Trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Crayford/form-guides/Crayford-Saturday-Opens-8th-April-Trap-Draws-Form.pdf