FROMPOSTTOPILLAR added another major trophy to his burgeoning CV when powering through to land the rescheduled Arena Racing Company Kent Plate Final at Central Park last week.

Trained by Liz McNair for the KSS Syndicate, the November 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Rafa Babys Baby had returned to the Sittingbourne venue along with the other finalists four days after the original date for the £12,500 final, given heavy rain had led to a waterlogged track and cancellation of the meeting.

However, ultimately the 500m decider still produced a humdinger of a contest as fast-starting Arkady (David Mullins) and Hopes Paddington (Mark Wallis) duelled for the lead for much of the way before a coming together between the pair paved the way for Fromposttopillar to strike for glory in the Category One contest.

Making huge headway down the far side behind the leaders, the reigning GBGB Newcomer of the Year swooped round the outside between the third and fourth turns and raced away emphatically to win by eight and a half lengths from the rallying Hopes Paddington and Cochise (Richard Rees) in 30.03sec (-30).

The victory delighted Rab McNair, husband of winning trainer Liz, who paid tribute to the hugely exciting two-year-old, already winner of the Coral Olympic at Hove and RPGTV Cowley Puppy Collar at Oxford, and his owners Brendan Keogh, Simon Senyk and Ian Openshaw, who make up the KSS Syndicate.

McNair said: “I’m delighted for the lads because, like us, they think the world of him. He’s exciting to watch, has great gears, and you just hope he gets a run. He did on Wednesday and has been able to show his class and we couldn’t ask anymore of him.

“We thought about the RPGTV Juvenile but it just didn’t work for us, but Towcester is very much on our minds,” said McNair of the ante-post favourite for the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby. “He’ll be up there for a trial later this month and it’ll be interesting to see how he handles it. You’d think the track will suit him.

“Well done to Central Park and to Arc. The track was in excellent condition come the Wednesday – they were just unlucky with the weather on Sunday – but getting this event on the Calendar in the first place is brilliant and the prize-money is great. We seem to be getting these events out there now which is what we want.

“Also, making the Kent Plate over 500m means it’s different to the Kent Derby (480m) and provides another test which suited Postie – and he delivered again!”

Rob Killingbeck, the Central Park racing manager, said: “Well done to connections of Fromposttopillar – what an exciting greyhound he is and great he’s the inaugural winner of the Arena Racing Company Kent Plate. He’s the favourite for the Derby after all, which just underlines the stamp of the race itself which was top quality.

“We had an issue with the weather, having to delay the final a few days, but fair play to the trainers who were very accommodating. I know it meant a busier few days for some, but it all worked out well in the end!”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=395507&raceId=926049