NATHAN HUNT took the training honours in Friday’s heats of the Romford Puppy Cup as Zoomey Saoirse and Donishall Brae landed a double for the local handler. However, it was Brookside Richie for David Mullins who set the standard in the six heats of the youngster’s 400m annual.

Lining up against chief rival in the ante-post market Bubbly Apache (Paul Young) – Towcester’s Juvenile Classic winner against Nottingham’s Puppy Classic winner – it was the Mullins runner who struck the first blow as he paced up well to lead at the bend and always held the advantage thereafter.

Bubbly Apache kept on well and challenged down the back but Brookside Richie was not for passing and crossed the line two lengths clear of his trackmate, posting 23.77sec (normal) for the one lap. The pair go head-to-head again in Friday’s semis.

Zoomey Saoirse initiated the Nathan Hunt double in heat three when causing somewhat of a surprise at odds of 14-1. Leading at the bend, he won by almost two lengths from Itsur Best Mate (Paul Young), before kennelmate Donishall Brae delighted the trainer when making all in heat six, winning well from Aero Activate in 24.42sec.

Hunt said: Zoomey Saoirse was recommended to me by Wayne Murphy after she recorded some nice times at Cork in trials. I mentioned her to owners Rob Howe and Patrick Huckle who have supported me massively since taking over from Phil (Simmonds). They were very keen to get a team for the Puppy Cup being local boys.

“Prior to that they’d purchased Donishall Brae, too, after a promising run on debut in Enniscorthy. A couple of other owners in the kennel bought a few shares off them when he came over, but after a couple of trials at Central Park he came down with the kennel cough and was very poorly with it.

“It actually went right through the young dogs and Zoomey Saoirse was also one who picked it up. It meant both dogs were well back in their preparation, but as always the owners let me take my time with them and we’ve brought them forward slowly and now both dogs seem to be running into form at the right time.

“Brae was bought with a stiffer four bends in mind in the future and was tanking into the pick-up on Friday so I’m sure when stepped back up again he’ll be a much stronger dog to the one we saw at Nottingham in the Puppy Classic.

“Saoirse is from a very well thought of litter and her two brothers have made a great start to their careers. Twoinarow won a final at Waterford at the weekend and has landed all his three races now.

“Hopefully both our dogs come forward next week, although the draw hasn’t been too kind to them. Saoirse has easily the hardest heat, but we’ll take our chance. I’m just pleased for the boys involved in both dogs and they deserve nights like Friday given their continued support to the kennel.”

The event kicked off with victory for the Gemma Evans-trained Sam Starr making all in 24.21sec, while the other heats were won by Carol Weatherall’s electric-starting Mon Amie and Patrick Browne’s Newinn Tik Tok – both recording identical 24.08sec times.

Trap draw and form for Friday’s semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Romford/form-guides/15-FRIDAY-PROOF_2021-09-10-205430.pdf