ECC Timber Oaks continues at Belle Vue on Friday, the draw is MondayTyrur Caroline sets the ECC Oaks standard By Jim Cremin of the Racing Post TYRUR CAROLINE looked the part when fastest in the ECC Timber Oaks, which saw the opening round at Belle Vue on Saturday. Heat five’s market leaders being first and second as Charlie Lister’s bitch went up impressively fast and pulled clear at the bend (27.98sec on the slow running track), keeping rails to middle throughout. Roxholme Hottie took second, with rank outsider Droopys Orange third.
Also eye-catching was Hayley Keightley’s Forest Twilight (11-8F, odds-on in the morning betting), who made it nine in a row when taking heat three. Having her first run since seasonal rest after romping Towcester’s Lowther, she drifted in the market but after a slow start her class and determination got her safely home, kicking clear out of the second turn (28.23sec).
Jaytee Texas ran on for second, having been crowded on the first and third turns, with Saffrons Anna a qualifier for Mark Wallis.
Kim Billingham’s Chaotic Lynda took the opening heat (28.29sec) in an 8-1 surprise, which turned into a bunched affair as Rosewell Flo Jo crowded with her from the third turn after the latter had walked out, before showing good speed to get on terms, then going down by a short head with Forest Sara close-up third.
There was a Mark Wallis forecast in heat two where Evanta Evita, the Open Check headline tip and a finalist last year, popped out ahead and made all in 28.06sec, with kennelmate Domino Storm two lengths second and Bromwich Sue, the 2014 runner-up, plugging on for third.
Jaytee Dakota had been struck into at the second turn by Graigues Diva, the pair ending up on the deck.
Newinn This Way (28.28sec) showed plenty of guts to force her way to the front in heat four, Carla Hendy’s bitch kicking well ahead out of the second after Mollys Diamond had blazed a trail.
In a bunched finish for the qualifying spots, Battyford Tracey and Mollys Diamond squeezed through with Marmaldy and Bockos Beauty unluckily missing out.
Heat six saw Swift Champagne show determination to hold her position going into the bend, then Elaine Parker’s raider pulled clear of her rivals. 12-1 chance Patjennaholly was second, and Jaytee Osprey, another finalist last year, through in third. Coolavanny Lass fell at the final bend when clipping the heels of Jaytee Osprey, then hampering Elwick Glory.
10-1 surprise Jaytee Vegas (28.44sec) prevailed for Paul Young in heat seven where Alma Chic, yet another 2014 finalist, bunched with Golden Apple on the run in, but the pair went through.
Aero Babooshka (28.08sec) made it a double for Wallis (and four through for the kennel that won it last year with subsequently retired Cashen Maureen), when taking the last heat. Fabulous Expert and Crewe Bay Ace were the other qualifiers after Jaytee Firefly had led up but moved off to cause bunching.
*The draw for Friday’s second round will be made by the GBGB on Monday. Trainers do have the option of asking to change seedings before that draw as this was a 48-runner stake. Seedings then remain final for the remainder of the event.
The ECC Timber Laurels heats supports the RPGTV action on Friday. Those six heats close to entries on Tuesday. Lister’s Tyrur Supermac was fastest in pre-racing trials with 27.94sec
*Doncaster brought forward its later races on Saturday due to poor weather conditions. The 10.08pm race went off six minutes early.
*The 9.26 and 9.42 races at Towcester were declared void. The remainder of the meeting was abandoned.