LENSON WILSON aims to become the first greyhound to successfully defend his Champion Hurdle title when he lines up in the final of the RPGTV-sponsored jumps showpiece at Central Park on Sunday – the first running of the event at the Kent venue.

The Ricky Holloway-trained runner, who made all in 29.18sec, helped the local handler to both semi-finals of the £8,000-to-the-winner annual – with Turnhouse Jet (29.38sec) completing the set. The pair now line up in a fantastic renewal of the 480mH renewal.

Lenson Wilson, also last year’s Springbok champion, will cross swords with the Seamus Cahill-trained Grand National winner Caislean Fifi and kennelmate Droopys Trawler, the Springbok-runner-up for the Hove handler behind Holloway’s Burgess Brandy.

“It’s a great race – the best hurdles race of the year – and a truly fitting field for a Category One prize, which is kindly sponsored by RPGTV I should add. It’s exciting to be a part of and we’re looking forward to Sunday immensely.”

Holloway, a hurdles fanatic but also successful trainer of timber-toppers, is looking to land a fourth one-two in a Champion Hurdle and a fourth success in the competition overall after Soviet Military (2013), Razldazl Raidio (2016) and Lenson Wilson last year.

However, he feels the draw could have worked out better for his pair, commenting: “I think my two dogs are drawn the wrong way round – and draws do win races. However Lenson Wilson went faster than all the flat opens on the night so is certainly back in form following a rest.

“Turnhouse Jet was always behind my other Springbok dogs at the turn of the year, but he’s now starting to look the finished article over hurdles. Either way, he and Wilson will have to be at their best given the final has the best dogs in it and will be hard to win.”

Peter Miller, Central Park’s racing manager, said: “Ricky says Lenson Wilson is back to his best and you’d have to say that’s correct judged on his victory in the first semi with some superb jumping, but I did think Droopy Trawler did well to keep the winning margin down.

“Turnhouse Jet was equally impressive in the second semi-final. The novice Forest Capri (Jason Heath) did exceptionally well to qualify here.

“Looking at the draw for the final, it looks tricky for Lenson Wilson with Turnhouse Jet on his left. There’s also plenty of pace inside with Piemans Bullet (David Mullins) – might they set the race up nicely for Droopys Trawler?

“And don’t forget the Grand National winner Caislean Fifi is in there too. It’s a great Champion Hurdle and we’re proud to host it at Central Park for the first time. We are the home of hurdling.”

Trap draw for Sunday’s finals: https://www.centralparkstadium.co.uk/assets/uploaded/files/documents/sunday-21st-finals.pdf