WATCHHALL SID heads into Sunday’s BresBet Gymcrack semi-finals as the fastest heat winner after setting the standard in the opening round of the puppies-only GBGB Category One event, which has made a welcome return to the schedules.

The 462m competition, inaugurated at Hall Green before switching to Kinsley when the Birmingham track was closed, was last competed for in 2018 when the Matt Dartnall-trained Brinkleys Poet struck gold, setting a new track record in the decider.

Lining up in heat four, the Carl Jackson-trained Watchall Sid was quickly away on his way to a 5.21sec sectional and was never headed as he crossed the line three and a quarter lengths clear of Trewmount Star (James Gaskin) and Slick Saratoga (Patrick Janssens). The winning time for January’s BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup winner was 27.53sec (normal).

The event kicked off with victory for the Bev Heaton-trained Betsys Minnie who gave her rivals a start and a beating in heat one, finishing strongly to lead home Savana Yax (Diane Henry) and Ians Warrior (John Mullins) in 28.34sec (normal).

The latter’s trainer landed a 10-1 victory in heat two as You Two was foot-perfect early on his way to an all-the-way two-length success over Ballymac Frisky (Bev Heaton) and Savana Shay (Diane Henry) in 27.98sec (normal).

Like Watchhall Sid in the following heat, Romeo Expo landed a British-bred success for Laurence Tuffin in heat three as a first-bend lead set up a runaway five and three-quarter length success over Wrighty (John Mullins) and Ballymac Wynett (Bev Heaton) in 27.95sec (normal).

Kinsley trainer Bev Heaton then landed a Gymcrack heat double with Ballymac Pria landing the spoils in heat five as a show of early pace set up an impressive three and three-quarter lengths victory over Final Blast (John Lambe) and Ambervale Duke (George Stark). The winning time was 28.18sec (normal).

The Michael Hurst-trained Stormy News then took the sixth and final heat in impressive style, racing to a fastest-of-the-round 5.11sec sectional on his way to a one-and-a-quarter-length success over Droopys Buzzer (Mark Wallis) and Onthegravytrain (Laurence Tuffin) in 28.12sec (normal).

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=396389&raceId=932785

Trap draw for Sunday’s semi-finals: https://cdn.kinsleydogs.co.uk/cards/2023/races/07230042023.pdf