BURGESS ELITE roared back to winning form when making all in the first semi-final of the Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup at Towcester on Sunday.

Trained by John Mullins for the Badabing Syndicate – Lee Calcutt, Howard Berlin, Paul Hooper, Jason McCague, Chris Waters, James Watson and Tom Purcell – the March 2019 son of Kinloch Brae and Borna Elite had run well in the recent 1st Containers Marathon Trophy at the Northamptonshire venue, so when trapping in front and pacing up to lead over the 712m distance he was always going to take some reeling in.

Posting a slick 15.93sec sectional, Burgess Elite was never headed, although Salacres Pippy (Peter Harnden) kept on really well to finish just a length behind the 43.17sec (normal) winner, with Champion Stakes winner Night Time Danny also running on well to claim the qualifying position a further two lengths away.

Burgess Elite’s victory delighted part-owner Lee Calcutt, who explained: “The Badabing Syndicate is named after the dog himself who won the British Breeders Stakes at Nottingham for few of us in kennel a few years ago – and you know John loves The Sopranos!

“I’d been in contact with a good friend JJ Fennelly in Ireland and been following Burgess Elite – ‘Billy Elliot’ to us – for a while. After Billy finished third in the Corn Cuchulainn final a deal was done for the lads in the kennel to buy him.”

Making his debut for the Mullins camp in the Trainers’ Judgement Night at Nottingham, the two-year-old made the semi-finals of the St Leger at Perry Barr before edging Aayamza Dream in a crackerjack finish on final night. Then it was on to Towcester for the marathon.

Calcutt added: “We wouldn’t say he’s the most clever or bravest dog in the world, but when he hits the lids he’s a different dog off the front. We were confident he’d break from the six-box in the Hunt Cup semis and he duly did the business trap-to-line – and when he traps he does very fast times. It then takes a good one to pick him up.

“Having a crack at the marathon (1st Containers Marathon Trophy) was John’s suggestion. John’s been in the game far longer than us and fancied having a go and it’s to John and the dog’s great credit he got to the final, only losing out in the last few strides in a blanket finish.

“In my opinion his ideal trip is 660m to 750m, but he’s very jealous and a fast dog on the bunny.

“Looking at the make-up of the final, we probably didn’t want Troy Suzieeq drawn next to us in five, but she’s likely be heading inwards and we’ll keep a middle position. Pippy has a good draw in one, with slower away types outside. But if Billy traps it’ll take a very good run from one of the others to pick him up.”

The first Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup semi-final produced a fantastic finish and more heartbreak for backers of Troy Suzieeq after the David Mullins-trained bitch again raced into a long lead off the back to a fast 15.85sec sectional.

Picked up by Antigua Lava in the heats, it was another Mark Wallis-trained runner in Aayazma Dream who would up a strong challenge off the last bend to grab Troy Suzieeq in the shadow of the post to win by a head in 43.54sec. Bubbly Cristal (Paul Young) held off Antigua Lava for the qualifying position.

Trap draw for Sunday’s £12,500 final: 1 Salacres Pippy, 2 Bubbly Cristal, 3 Night Time Danny, 4 Aayazma Dream, 5 Troy Suzieeq, 6 Burgess Elite (m).

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=379167&raceId=789356