06th to 14th February 2006

Heat 1 Ballymac Rooster recorded a 4.89 sectional to go clear in the opening Heat for Carly Philpott and although his lead was dramatically reduced in the latter stages he was able to hold on by a rapidly diminishing 2 1/2 lengths and 3 lengths from the Seamus Cahill duo of Lenson Treasure and Get On Blackie. Ballymac Rooster recorded 29.04.

Heat 2 Greenlough Power made all in 29.12 to deny Ninja Blue by a length. Paul Garland's Denwood Star qualified for round 2 in third but Spoofy Doo for Mark Wallis lost all chance after suffering trouble at the first and is out.

Heat 3. Milldean Billy gave Seamus Cahill his third qualifier of the night when eventually getting the better of the front-running Blonde Trooper to score by 1/2 length in 29.14. Kindred Rebel qualified in 3rd for Mick Puzey.

Heat 4. Paul Garland will be mightily relieved to see his Vancouver Sparky safely through after his leading contender stumbled coming out of the boxes. Vancouver Sparky did well to turn second to Velvet Rebel and that's the way it stayed throughout. Garland's runner was 2 3/4 lengths adrift at the line but still recorded 29.06 for the 475m trip.

Heat 5. Carly Philpott recorded a double when Ballymac Magnet showed great back straight pace to take up the running and beat the Mark Wallis trained Special Deal by 4 1/4 lengths in 29.06. Seomra Rock (5/2f) and Thats The Bullet (3/1) both failed to qualify.

Heat 6. Fear Myjames disappointed last time out in Maiden Open company but Mark Wallis's dog confirmed the immense promise he had already shown when winning on his debut by taking this fiercely competitive race. With trouble galore at the first, Fear Myjames did extremely well to turn in front and looked good when coming home 2 1/2  lengths clear of Droopys Best Man with Erinaceous Star (7/4f) a further length away in 3rd.

Heat 7. Brave Falcon was down on his nose coming out of the traps but he still showed excellent early pace to lead the field and hold on by the narrowest of margins to beat Glinconor Glen. Moscow Sandy was another qualifier for Mark Wallis in third.

Heat 8. Ante-post favourite Mahers Boy recorded a trap to line success in the Final Heat and was impressive when coming home 3 3/4 lengths clear of Gee Vee in the second quickest time of the night (28.91). Mick Puzey's Clonbrin Owl is through to Saturday's second round after taking 3rd.

The opening Heats were incredibly competitive with several leading contenders for outright honours suffering defeats. Blackmagic Guy (7/4) for Mark Wallis and Greenacre Lin (7/4) for Brian Clemenson were both 3rd but are safely through. Greenacre Lin's Heat was the race of the night with only a neck and 3/4 of a length separating the first three home, with Caloona Striker getting up on the line to deny Solid Money who tried to make all. Clemenson won Heat 3 with Shebas Magic (46.48), a race that saw Romford Car Two eliminated when finishing last at 7/4. 

Jim Reynolds, who has sent out several winners at Romford in recent weeks took Heat 5 with Paradiso who scooted clear and had enough in reserves to hold off the running-on odds-on shot Fabulous Sophie by 1 1/4 lengths in 46.12. Other Heat winners were Borna Circle (45.80) and Bepe Black (46.34).

There will be a small move in the ante-post market for this year's Derby after the race as Coventry Bees is available at 50/1 whilst Bubbly Tojo is a 33/1 shot with Hills. Tuesday also sees the start of the Ladbrokes.com Arc and you can watch all the first round Heats live on Channel 425.