KING SHEERAN has his sights set on another British-bred triumph after clocking easily the fastest time in Monday’s heats of the BGBF/Nottingham British Breeders Stakes at Nottingham.

The Liz McNair-trained Produce Stakes winner clocked 29.62sec in easily winning the opening heat by 12 lengths from Saving Sonic (John Mullins) and Eastie Beastie (Jill Llewellin) and has been rewarded by a trap six draw in Monday’s semi-finals at the Colwick Park venue.

“We know he likes Nottingham,” said Rab McNair. “He reached the Derby semis and but for a slight muscle strain might have gone even further. He showed his class at Swindon and was back to his best there and at Nottingham. He just seems to run too wide at Monmore and Newcastle, but Nottingham and Swindon suit his style.”

King Sheeran initiated a treble on the night for the McNairs and owners Brendan Keogh and the KSS Syndicate who also struck with reigning British Bred Greyhound of the Year King Turbo (30.31sec) and King Lennon (29.84sec), the latter reversing Newcastle form with BGBF Northern Plate winner Witton Derecho (Jill Sutherst).

“Lennon’s win delighted us. He had no luck at Central Park in the Kent Derby when taking a tumble, but he was none the worse and has been running well. He was in two comps at the same time – and it might just have been the making of him. Sheeran was quicker but Lennon wasn’t far behind him.

“To be truthful Turbo made hard work of it, but we’ve always said Nottingham really isn’t his track, but this is a British-bred competition and is why we support them as we do. Usually we’d have had the team out at Central Park on Sunday night, but preparing for Nottingham was priority once Lennon had missed out.”

The other BGBF/Nottingham British Breeders Stakes heats went to the Peter Harnden-trained Salacres Barley (30.30sec), who led at the first bend on his way to winning heat two, while two of last year’s finalists were on the scoresheet with victories for Heather Dimmock’s Down To The Felt (30.40sec) in heat three and runner-up Carn Brea (30.31sec), who struck for owner-trainer Alan Newitt in heat four.

Nottingham director Nathan Corden said: “I thought it was a good night’s racing and thanks must go to Liz Mort and her team at the BGBF for their fantastic support of British breeding and sponsorship of the British Breeders Stakes. The competition always attracts the best of British from both the north, south and central region.

“Just about all the big guns have made it through to the semi-finals so they promise to be cracking races here on Monday. The McNairs seem to be particularly strong-handed producing three of the six heat winners – with King Sheeran and King Lennon certainly catching the eye on the clock.”

Form for Monday’s semi-finals: www.bagsracing.com/assets/14-october—nottingham-adv.pdf