TWELVE months ago Druids Say Go set the standard in the heats of the Coral Golden Sprint at Romford – and what a year she ended up having.

Time will tell whether Friday’s heat winners can match her feats, but there was certainly plenty of class on show as some of the fastest runners in the UK hit the traps for six heats of the £10,000-to-the-winner Category One event.

Narrowly fastest was a British-bred in the shape of the Kevin Hutton-trained Union Rebel who followed up his recent track record-breaking run for 450m at Oxford with a fluent and fastest-of-the-night success over 400m in heat six of the one-lap annual.

Pacing up into the bend, the Produce Stakes runner-up and Steel City Cup finalist was never headed as he raced away for a five and a half lengths win over Fire And Ice, the Romford Puppy Cup hero, and Unanimous Leon (Tom Heilbron) in 23.67sec (normal).

Next quickest was Cooliogold as the Maxine Locke-trained local got the better of  Pavilion Team (Mark Wallis) in heat three, stopping the clock in a 23.71 (normal) as he crossed the line a length and a half clear of that rival and Bombay Zero (Paul Young).

Newcastle trainer Tom Heilbron had a mixed night as, while Unanimous Leon made it through to the semi-finals and his Madabout Peck (23.74sec) won heat four in impressive style by almost seven lengths, his kennel star Links Maverick bowed out.

Lining up in heat two, a missed break proved costly for Links Maverick as Liz McNair’s Queen Sinead made the most of the inside line to make all from the keeping-on Crossfield Enzo (Richard Rees) and Roanna Mamba (Michelle Brown) in 24.04sec (normal).

The other heats were won by Monmore handler Ellie Field’s Kilara Berb, also making the most of the red box to land heat five by two and a half lengths in 23.73sec (normal), and local hope Piemans Goalie who struck for David Mullins in heat one in 24.30sec (normal).

Romford racing manager Mark Arkell said: “Overall it was a great night’s racing and, obviously, the best news of the lot was that David’s (Mullins) Brindle Bully seemed none the worse after his tumble in heat six.

“There was really nothing between four of the six winners, with Union Rebel fastest but three other heat winners Cooliogold, Madabout Peck and Kilara Berb all within a length of him – which underlines just how wide open this year’s event is.

“It was great to see the defending champion Front Alice also through to the semi-finals. She took her chance well to qualify for Kevin (Proctor) behind Madabout Peck in what was a good heat, especially when you think Stonework Hoffa was also in there.

“Another major Romford champion Fire And Ice is also back here for the semi-finals. He caught Union Rebel in full flow in their heat, but I’m sure Nathan (Hunt) is just delighted to have got through – and that’s really the name of the game just now.

“We’ll have another good Friday night card here next week and look forward to the team from Gone To The Dogs – Live! Being here for final night on Friday, March 21.”