SPACE JET laid down a marker for another major title when setting the standard in the heats of the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial at Hove on Saturday.

The Matt Dartnall-trained superstar, winner of the Coral TV Trophy at the Sussex venue in April as well as being last year’s St Leger champion, topped the list of entries for the 740m event, upgraded to GBGB Category One status this year, and did not disappoint her huge band of supporters.

Always in the mix in heat one once breaking in front, the powerful February 2019 daughter of Droopys Jet and Volcano was again led by Shanbally Chris (David Mullins) but, as was the case seven days previously in a trial stakes on her first run back following a break, ultimately proved too strong.

Powering through to lead at the fifth bend, Space Jet raced away to win by five and a quarter lengths from Shanbally Chris and Romeo Riot (Laurence Tuffin) in 44.85sec (-30).

Heat two went to the Carl Gardiner-trained Droopys Senorita after the home-trained bitch, wore down longtime leader Clongeel Ozzie (Jason Heath) for a three-quarters of a length success in 45.19sec (-30). Baggios Champ (Frank Bryce) finished third here for a place in Saturday’s semi-finals.

Defending champion Antigua Lava enjoyed her return to Hove in heat three with a crowd-pleasing victory as Mark Wallis’s favourite grabbed gold late on.

Led for much of the six-bend contest by the fast-starting Savana Regera (Diane Henry), the February 2019 daughter of Droopys Jet and Volcano – a litter sister of Space Jet – gradually wore her rival down to hit the front close home to win by three-quarters of a length in 45.38sec (-30). Spartadash (Richard Rees) was third here.

Savana Volcano, the St Leger runner-up, rolled back the years once again with victory in the fourth and final heat as Diane Henry’s bitch played her part in another thrilling finish.

Always handy after breaking well, the evergreen May 2018 daughter of Confident Rankin and Volcano, a half-sister of fellow heat winners Space Jet and Antigua Lava, had Milton Pepe (Ian Langford) in her sights for much of the way before striking close home for a last-gasp short-head success in 45.54sec (-30).

Jeff Piper, Hove’s deputy racing manager, said: “Congratulations to all our winners in both the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial and Coral Olympic heats.

“Unfortunately we did have an issue in terms of qualification for the voided heat four of the Olympic and our thanks to Nathan Hunt for his sportsmanship. We also wish Ninja Kerry a speedy recovery, but it has meant the three greyhounds in front when the race was stopped in the interest of safety will now head for the semi-finals.

“I thought the heats of the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial were fantastic, producing some brilliant finishes – even after 740m. Space Jet clearly improved for her run last week and is a worthy favourite but still might not have things all her own way with the quality left in the competition.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=391709&raceId=894499