LIZ MCNAIR is favourite with the sponsors to repeat last year’s success in the competition after both King Ezra and Havana Top Note won their semi-finals of the Bet365 Hunt Cup at Oxford to dominate the betting ahead of Friday’s £10,000 at the Cowley track.

The pair finished second and third respectively to Havana Lover 12 months ago for a McNair-trained 1-2-3 in the GBGB Category One competition and are back again bidding to grab gold – with Havana Top Note heading into the decider as the fastest semi-final winner as he bids to follow up December’s Bet365 Challenge Cup win.

Lining up in the second semi-final, the April 2021 son of Eden The Kid and Mean Beauty was soon in charge off the back of a slick exit and was never headed, posting a fastest-of-the-night 15.04sec split, on his way to a two and three-quarter lengths success over Lokis Deception (Matt Dartnall) in 39.43sec (-15) for the 650m trip.

Hot favourite here was Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue (Seamus Cahill), the ante-post favourite, who was crowded out of contention rounding the first two bends and had too much ground to make up, running on well but finishing back in fourth place.

Semi-final night had kicked off with victory for King Ezra as the January 2021 son of King Sheeran and King Danni was quickly away, a 15.09sec sectional setting up a two-length success over Golden Palace (Michelle Brown) in 39.71sec (-30).

Commenting on the victory of his two kennel stars, Rab McNair, husband of the winning trainer Liz, said: “What more can you say about these two? They’ve been brilliant for us for so long and we’re delighted to have two chances of winning the Hunt Cup again.

“They’ve got to have chances but will need to do it right. They’re both railers and Ezra’s got three and Top Note’s got five, but both can do it right at the boxes on their day and they’ll need to do so come the final. It’s just great to see them in with a chance.

“Top Note won the Challenge Cup and, while Ezra’s never won a major prize, he’s been in lots of finals and we love him at the kennels.

“People ask me who’ll be in our team for Hove (Trainers’ Judgement Night) and I’m not sure we made up our mind. Memphis is being prepared for the (Time Greyhound Nutrition) Juvenile, King Capaldi for the (Arc) Laurels and the bitches are going for the (Coral) Brighton Belle). We’ll decide after those.”

The final two places for Friday’s Bet365 Hunt Cup Final were secured in the third semi-final as Oxford handler Matt Dartnall ensured he will also be doubly handed in the decider as local star Fifty Nine landed a surprise but deserved 14-1 success.

The June 2020 son of Droopys Buick and Letter Peral was quickly into stride and landed a trap-to-line success, holding the running-on Tuona Bella (Paul Donovan) in 40.04sec (-15), and will line up as the oldest finalist in the £10,000-to-the-winner feature.

Trap draw for Friday’s Bet365 Hunt Cup Final: 1 Fifty Nine, 2 Tuono Bella, 3 King Ezra, 4 Golden Palace, 5 Havana Top Note, 6 Lokis Deception (m).