Ace sets Pall Mall Standard but don't rule out Empire & Whitesox

Defending Pall Mall champion Ballymac Ace set the standard in the heats of the Betfair Pall Mall over 450m at Oxford Thursday night, showing all his old sparkle when blasting clear from the boxes for a comfortable four and a half lengths win in 26.55.

I’m particularly pleased for his owner, Ted Megaw. He’s one of our most loyal and long standing supporters, but hasn’t been at all well, and I know this will be right fillip for him. Ballymac Ace has had a virus and shoulder problem, and was given a good rest to  bring him back fresh for this. He loves at Oxford, who I'm equally pleased with Brittons Empire (26.68 in heat two). Empire doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Sneaking through some what unnoticed was Fifis Whitesox who ran a cracking debut for us. Trap 6 will suit in the Semi Final.

Draw for Thursday's semis (first two to live on Sky final Tues June 28) 1^st semi 1 Buzz Doc 2 Spencers Lad 3 Jolly Poacher 4 Zodiac Zeus (m)5 Slick Signature (m) 6  Dromana Max (w)

2^nd semi 1 Brittons Empire 2 Little Sensation 3 Hello Dino 4 Romeo Reason 5  Aherlow  Shaw (m) 6 Fifis Whitesox (w)

3^rd semi 1 Ballymac Ace 2 Manilla Flash 3 Adams Honour 4 Perilous Guide 5 Pams Tomjo (m) 6 Slick Stone (w)