NIGHT TIME DANNY has his sights firmly on another major GBGB title after setting the standard in the heats of the Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket over 714m at Crayford on Saturday.

The event, formerly the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, kicked off at the Kent track on a card including the heats of the Peter Bussey Memorial Trophy, and it was the Champion Stakes winner who impressed most over eight bends as Stephen Rayner’s dog sparkled in the very first heat.

Crowded early but still turning in a pitch, the November 2018 son of Sh Avatar and Nom De Plume showed superb middle speed to catch leader Ragtime Storm (Daniel Brabon) before pulling clear to cross the line five and a quarter lengths clear of the staying-on Antigua Lava (Mark Wallis) in 45.22sec (normal).

Ante-post favourite Warzone Tom began his bid to land another major Crayford competition in the best possible fashion with a faultless effort in heat four as he paced up early with fast-trapping Blackrose Pippa before hitting the front off the second bend on his way to a superb 23.09sec sectional and a comfortable win.

Never headed thereafter, Liz McNair’s Gold Collar champion raced to a four-length win over the keeping-on Burgess Hannah (Tony Gifkins) in 45.58sec, with Blackrose Pippa (Patrick Janssens) qualifying for Saturday’s semi-finals in third.

Derek Knight has won the Golden Jacket five times and the Hove handler was delighted to see Piercestown Dove impress in heat six as this powerful son of Ballymac Eske raced away from his rivals once hitting the front off the sixth turn to win by ten and a half lengths from Moaning Sabbath (Darren Whitton) and Aayamza Dream (Mark Wallis) in 45.45sec.

Mark Wallis has two Golden Jacket victories on his CV and has another powerful team for the competition. He sent out Blueberry Bullet for a narrow neck victory over Droopys Senorita (Claude Gardiner) in heat two with Burgess Elite (John Mullins) qualifying in third. Her winning time for the 714m was 46.18sec.

Local hope Burgess Bruno took the honours for Julie Luckhurst in heat three as the son of  Droopys Nidge underlined the promise of a solid trial stakes second seven days previously with a strong-running and runaway victory. Leading off the third bend, the three-year-old raced away for a near-11 lengths victory over Night Time Baby (Stephen Rayner) and Kilwest Lady (Jason Bloomfield) in 45.94sec.

Making the longest journey south from their north-east base were Jimmy Fenwick and Bellmore Sally as the Newcastle trainer sent out the daughter of Droopys Sydney to overcome early crowding to lead at the seventh bend before leading home Blue Tick Delia (Jim Daly) and Antigua Getaway (Mark Wallis) in 46.15sec.

Danny Rayment, Crayford racing manager, said: “Overall I thought it was an excellent morning’s racing.

“I actually tipped up Night Time Danny ante-post on RPGTV and his performance was spectacular to clock the fastest time in the first heat despite being crowded at the first turn. His winning time of 45.22sec would have been fast enough to win most Jacket finals and he’ll take a lot of holding in the competition at a track which plays to his strengths.

“Mark Wallis is no stranger to success in the Jacket and Blueberry Bullet will be fancied by many to enhance that record, while it was great to see local success in the shape of Burgess Bruno. Julie Luckhurst’s lightly raced sort has impressed in his first two Crayford starts and sauntered home by almost 11 lengths – he was my other ante-post tip!

“Gold Collar champion Warzone Tom was all class as expected in his heat and improved his immaculate Crayford record to six from six, clocking easily the fastest sectional. With his early and middle speed he will be difficult to lead on the opening lap and few would bet against the McNairs’ charge setting the target for stronger types to chase on February 19!

“Tony and Lee Gifkins’ local Burgess Hannah stayed on well for second here and they will hope to go one better after sending out Redzer Renae to finish second last year. Fair play also to Jimmy and Melanie Fenwick for putting the miles in before sending out Bellmore Sally to win. It will have made the journey home more enjoyable!

“Derek Knight is the most successful trainer in Golden Jacket history and his Piercestown Dove won the final heat in good style, but well done here to local hope Moaning Sabbath for Darren Whitton. She reached the finals of the Kent St Leger and Cesarewitch at the track last year when known as Mays Sabbath.

“The semi-finals on Saturday – of both the Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket and Peter Bussey Memorial Trophy – promise more drama and intrigue. We’re all looking forward to them.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=381905&raceId=813402

Form and trap draw for Saturday’s semis: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Crayford/form-guides/Crayford-Saturday-Morning-12th-February-2022-Opens-Form.pdf