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THE first night of the UK Festival at Sunderland last Saturday provided a little of everything, although there is no doubt that star-of-the-show was Lyreen Mover who was quite brilliant as he raced to the fastest time of the round in the williamhill.com Classic heats.

Trained by Hungarian Gabor Tenczel for Italian Max Picinelli, Lyreen Mover had been chalked up as big as 9-2 for the contest after a less-than-stellar trial, but was backed all the way down to 2-1 favourite prior to a six lengths plus demolition job and he clearly is the one to beat in the £25,000 event.

In hindsight, the Derby runner-up’s renowned ‘jealousy’ was always likely to see him perform better in company than a one-dog workout, although the race might as well have been a solo trial for all that he actually saw of the opposition after the parade.

A lesson: be as ruthless as the Hungarian dog

Lyreen Mover though was everything you might have expected. 9-2 in a place early on the basis of a modest solo, he was backed down to 2-1 favouritism and rocketed clear to a fastest of the night 26.83sec.

He is a ruthless dog who takes no prisoners – and of course is better in company than solos. I had gone into the shop expecting him to do exactly what he did, the only question afterwards is what stopped me investing my cash?

Part of the issue is simply getting the time – there is so much happening that we punters need to be as ruthless as the Hungarian dog in taking every opportunity, and ignoring the distractions . . . Mandy helped put me away!

LYREEN MOVER, who went so close to landing the williamhill.com Derby at Wimbledon, got off to the perfect start in his bid to go one better in the same firm's £25,000 Classic at Sunderland. Running in heat two of the 450m competition, Gabor Tenczel's Hungarian raider was a joy to behold as he stormed home more than six lengths to the good of Droopys Noel in 26.83sec.