Express a real Trend setter in Prestige Final

Action from Hall Green

“The first race of the year and I’m a champion,” beamed a delirious Rab McNair after witnessing his bitch Express Trend land the Local Parking Security Prestige Final.

The charismatic Scottish trainer couldn’t have wished for a better start to 2012 as his and wife Liz’s dog defied a poor draw in trap six to upset the well-backed favourite Fleeting Image.

Breaking smartly from the striped jacket the Irish bred hound was only fourth turning the bend but showed great guts on the outside to first, ride a hefty bump, and secondly shoot clear round the outside as Ballymac William caused interference to the odds-on favourite.

Her snappy turn of foot kicked into gear and as they raced past the third bend she was six lengths clear. The bitch kept tight against the rail, and went on to score by four and a half lengths in front of Fleeting Image in a good time of 39.83secs.

“She’s a bang railer but sometimes when drawn in trap six these railers get out and she has run brilliant,” Rab McNair told Sky Sports.

“That’s a great field she has run against and she has come out of the boxes and hats off to the girl. We’re hoping she can go right to the top, sometimes you hope too much for these things but we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

Crayford Golden Jacket will be the next stop for the potentially top-class stayer.

The night got off to the perfect possible start for newly honoured Charlie Lister OBE as Taylors Cruise landed the opener in fine style.

The Bettor.com Scottish Derby champ was using this race as a starting point to kick-start a new year which should include a campaign at defending his Shawfield crown. As soon as the traps open it was clear that Lister had his pacey dog spot on for the race and he established an early lead by the opening turn.

From there he has developed a bit of a reputation of being a dog that will not be passed and this was the case again. He held off Forest Dot by one and quarter lengths in a snappy time of 28.60secs. If he’s in this mood then he’s a force to reckon with when Shawfield comes around in April.

Jamaican Man ran out a winner of the hurdles event in what was arguably the most exciting race of the night. The Jason Foster-trained hurdler looked beat as Romeo Miami stole a two-length march on his rival at the third bend but seemed to wander out in front and let Foster’s recent Romford runner back in. The two looked to hit the line together but the judge deemed that the red jacket had got up in a time of 29.69secs.

Lil Riksy saw off a determined effort from Findlay’s Ministry Mayhem in the sprint while Powerfast Pigeon was really impressive when winning the marathon in a very quick time of 56.01secs.

Lewis Jones

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