TRAINING honours were split between Liz McNair and Mark Wallis as a qualifying round for the Bet365 Hunt Cup set up this Friday’s four heats of the former Reading and Towcester six-bend showcase.

Revived at Towcester in 2021, the now 650m competition was brought back on to the schedule by promoter Kevin Boothby who has switched the event to sister track Oxford with a £10,000 final scheduled for Saturday, April 22.

Fastest of Friday’s qualifying round winners was Mark Wallis’s Meenamoynamona in heat two as the October 2020 daughter of Ballymac Matt and Ballymac Meena made all to win by almost three lengths from Wota Swell Party (Kevin Hutton) in 39.95sec (normal).

The Wallis double was later completed by Sweet Talker in heat five as the August 2020 son of Ballymac Anton and Ballymac Minton was always in the vanguard before holding the finish of Night Time Danny (Stephen Rayner) by a short-head in 40.50sec (normal).

The GBGB Category One event kicked off with victory for the Carol Weatherall-trained Untold Rupee in heat one who landed an upset after St Leger champion Havana Lover was crowded early before staying on to finish fourth, albeit still qualify.

The fast-starting winner, an October 2020 daughter of Vulturi and Abbylea Marta, made all the running for a length success over the always-prominent Lively Lauren (Matt Dartnall), the track record holder after her 39.68sec win the previous week, in 39.98sec (normal).

Liz McNair, trainer of Havana Lover, landed back-to-back wins in heats two and three with Havana Top Note and King Ezra respectively.

Havana Top Note, an April 2021 son of Eden The Kid and Mean Beauty, showed good early pace off a moderate exit in heat two to lead at the bend to score by a length and a quarter from Crokers Brandy (Paul Sallis) in 40.29sec (normal).

British-bred King Ezra came again to land heat three for the McNair camp in what proved the race of the round as the eventual winner trapped in front before Barley Locket (Matt Dartnall) took up the running, only for King Ezra to rally and cross the line three-quarters of a length clear of the fast-finishing Bombardier (Mark Wallis) in 40.19sec (normal).

Looking ahead to Friday’s first round, Oxford’s deputy racing manager Paul Johnson said: “The competition looks very competitive with a host of contenders, albeit Lively Lauren seems to have a great chance. She’s the track record holder and ran well in the qualifying round.

“The first heat looks trappy but might be a good chance for Havana Lover to start the competition well. She had no luck in the qualifying round but stayed on well, although if Crokers Brandy turns up with his trapping boots it could be race-on.

“Lover’s kennelmate Havana Top Note has taken to the track well with two wins and his clash with Minnie Bullet in heat two looks a good one, while heat three just looks too tough to call!

“Lively Lauren catches the eye in heat four, although Meenamoynamona has taken to the track well being the fastest on Friday.”

Trap draw and form for Friday’s heats: https://oxford-stadium.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BET365HUNTCUPPROOFRACES3579.pdf

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=395550&raceId=926473