SPACE JET was at the imperious best at Hove on Saturday as Matt Dartnall’s superstar once again dominated the semi-finals of the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial.

Lining up in the first semi, this year’s Coral TV Trophy and Original Foods Dorando Marathon champion was slowly away but, after pacing up well, again raced more handily as Savana Regera (Diane Henry) set the tempo inside.

Grabbing the leader off the fourth bend, the February 2019 daughter of Droopys Jet and Volcano quickly settled the issue and went clear for the spoils.

No stopping the marathon star thereafter, Space Jet crossed the line six and a half lengths from her running-on half-sister Savana Volcano (Confident Rankin-Volcano, May 2018), the Ladbrokes Cesarewitch winner, in 44.00sec (+15).

The latter’s kennelmate Savana Regera qualified in third here to give Diane Henry two runners in Saturday’s £10,000-to-the-winner GBGB Category One.

Clongeel Ozzie scored a popular local victory in the second semi-final as the Jason Heath-trained April 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Rossroe Lady raced away early and was never headed to score in 44.36sec (+15) for the 740m trip.

Reeled in by Droopys Senorita (Carl Gardiner) late on in the heats seven days previously, this time the Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup runner-up held on from his trackmate, winning by a head. Defending champion Antigua Lava qualified in third.

Clongeel Ozzie’s trainer Jason Heath said: “I couldn’t be happier with him. We had to find a track and trip that suits him and the 740m at Hove is perfect with the long run to the bend. Obviously he’s holding on at the end but I’d rather have a dog off the front than having to hope for a clear run from off the pace.

“We’re all looking forward to what is a great final and, for obvious reasons, I’m particularly pleased for Carl Gardiner reaching another final – especially at Hove.”

Jeff Piper, deputy racing manager at Hove, said: “First off I’d like to say thanks to the trackstaff who did a fantastic job to get racing on given the temperatures. Safety is always paramount and the condition of the track was superb – so much so it ran normal initially before quickening up just slightly.

“It always looked a great card with places in next week’s finals up for grabs. In addition to the finals of the Coral Olympic and George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial, we have the finals of the Coral Bitch Dual Distance Trophy and Coral Standard Trophy – and with Xmas bookings in the restaurant it promises to be a great night here.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=391939&raceId=896226 

Trap draw for Saturday’s finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Brighton-Hove/form-guides/Sat-17th-Dec-Form-Adv.pdf