FIRE AND ICE consolidated his position as ante-post favourite by impressing once again over C&D in heat six of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup at Romford on Friday.

A runaway and fast 23.64sec winner of his prep race seven days previously, the Matt Dartnall-trained youngster used a 3.76sec sectional to set up a first-bend lead and two-length victory over Fabulous Livia (Laurence Tuffin) and Droopys Fiadh (Paul Young) to clock 23.98sec (normal) in the final heat of the Category One event.

One of three heat winners to dip under the 24 seconds barrier, the other two are trained by Michelle Brown who enjoyed a fantastic double to take training honours on the night.

First up was Roanna Mamba in heat two who struck for the kennel in all-the-way style, flashing to a slick 3.72sec spit on his way to a two-and-a-quarter length success over Newinn Souly (Kim Billingham) in 23.92sec (normal), with favourite Untold Rufiyaa (Tom Heilbron) overcoming second-bend crowding to qualify in third.

The Brown double was completed by Golden Bullet in heat four as another fast start set up a repeat of his prep race victory seven days previously, racing away for a runaway six-length success over Rapido Ali (Patrick Browne) and Vixons Promise (Nathan Hunt) in 23.97sec (normal) for the 400m trip.

The three-round youngsters’ annual kicked off with victory for Nathan Hunt’s On The Banks who took up the running from fast-starting Swift United (Tony Collett) in heat one.

The latter posted the Puppy Cup’s fastest 3.71sec split on his way to an early advantage but had no answer to On The Banks’ surge to the front off the second bend and the local hope streaked clear for a two and three-quarter lengths success from Swift United and 11-10 favourite Droopys Maybe (Paul Young) in 24.06sec (normal).

Swift United’s litter brother Swift Underwater kicked off a busy – and successful – weekend for Perry Barr trainer John Lambe in heat two with an impressive effort.

Railing into the lead rounding the first bend, Swift Underwater – a kennelmate of St Leger semi-final Hurry Up Jordan for Birmingham Cup sponsor Lambe – soon had the race in safe keeping thereafter before crossing the line a length and three-quarters clear of Droopys Dreamy (Paul Young) and Amys Gem (Jason Gornall) in 24.36sec (normal).

Heat four went to Patrick Browne’s Gingers Prince who paced up well and rode a bump before slipping his field off the second bend for a length and a half success over Ritz To Rubble (Roy Peckham) and Fabulous Aria (Laurence Tuffin) in 24.27sec (normal).

Romford racing manager Mark Arkell said: “Puppy races are always difficult to predict but you’d say most of those through to Friday’s semi-finals were expected, albeit some of the youngsters definitely raised their game but again that’s expected with natural improvement from pups. They are still learning their grade as such.

“Either way we have three solid Puppy Cup semi-finals to look forward to and definitely a new name on the Puppy Cup roll of honour given David (Mullins) incredibly has won the last four runnings but was out of luck on Friday. We’ll also have some (Premier Greyhound Racing) Champion Stakes Trial Stakes on the card, so there’s plenty happening here.”

Trap draw for Friday’s Coral Romford Puppy Cup semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Romford/form-guides/FRIDAY-PROOF_2024-09-13-211309.pdf