RICKY HOLLOWAY will have all six runners in Sunday’s second semi-final of the Ladbrokes Grand National at Crayford as he remains firmly on course to land a record-extending sixth victory as a trainer – seventh as an owner – in the jumpers’ Classic.

Having won three of the four heats of the 380m event on Sunday Holloway has no less than eight of the 12 semi-finalists in the £10,000 hurdles showpiece – but Crayford racing manager Danny Rayment believes there is still work to do for the local handler to add his name to the famous roll of honour given the make-up of the semis.

“I suppose it means Ricky can’t have all the finalists, but he’ll have the majority,” said Rayment, “and his team remain the one to beat. Ricky has a great record in the Grand National and no doubt wants to win it again!

“It’s just great we’re able to run a Grand National again. There’d been some doubt whether it was going to be back here again, and whether we’d run it over 380m or 540m as last year, but we’ve long supported hurdles racing and actually the entry was definitely better this year than last – and Ricky does have some opposition!

“And maybe it was right that Traceys Sydney prevented Ricky winning all four heats, especially in the week in which the O’Sullivan family lost Terry – and remember Barry has already won the (Ladbrokes) Champion Hurdle this year with Nunhead Shiv.”

The £10,000-to-the-winner event kicked off with victory for Ricky Holloway’s Harlequin Ernie as the Champion Hurdle runner-up rode a bump before his early pace took him clear into the bend on his way to a three-and-a-half length success over kennelmate Dazl Hermes and Jaxx Hells Angel (Barry O’Sullivan) in 23.58sec (+10).

Signet Harper, among the leading contenders for outright honours, soon dominated in heat two as he led home a one-two-three for Ricky Holloway in heat two, crossing the line one and a quarter lengths clear of Mickys Tribute and Droopys Finn, also in 23.58sec (+10).

Patterdale Zorro made all in heat three to complete the Holloway hat-trick, his fastest-of-the-session 3.52sec sectional setting up a one and three-quarter length win over Chippy Brady (Barrie Backhurst) and Cloheena Rodney (Ricky Holloway) in a time of 23.51sec (+20), the fastest Grand National heat success on the night.

Barry O’Sullivan’s Traceys Sydney denied the Holloway four-timer in heat four as the Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle semi-finalist – he was odds-on for that contest before being crowded out – was always in front as he raced away for a comfortable seven and a half length success over Magical Oscar (Ricky Holloway) and Burning Bullet (Jim Reynolds) in 23.55sec (+20) – meaning remarkably less than a length covered all four heat winners.

Trap draw for Sunday’s semi-finals of the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Gold Collar: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Crayford/form-guides/Crayford-Sunday-17th-November-2024-Category-1-Semi-Finals-Form.pdf