The four-year-old dog, owned and trained by Stephen Hornby of Portpatrick, Stranraer made a successful return to 280 metres trips after a lacklustre spell in 470 metres races.
He led from the first bend to comfortably win the opening heat finishing 2.75 lengths in front of the other qualifier Aguero, a three-year-old Cumbrian dog, from Tony Hopper at Workington.
In the next heat the winner was 6/4 shot Fanta, a four-year-old owned and trained by Kelvin Brown of Wishaw, which qualifies for this Friday’s final along with runner-up Moth, based at the Hillen kennels at Kilmarnock.
Winner of the third heat was Little Fire, owned locally by Anne and Keith Townsley but trained by Jim Henderson at Dalkeith.
The two-year-old goes through to the final with second placed Rosemary, a two-year-old entered by veteran Halcrow Stadium trainer Dexter Clark.
RESULTS and STARTING PRICES
First race (7.30) – 1, Zig Zag, trap 1, price 5/2; 2, Billy Blister, 4, 2/1; distance, a neck; winning time 17.29 seconds.
Second (7.45) – 1, Ballydoyle, 4, 5/2; 2, Ross, 2, 5/2; 3; 17.25.
Third (8.00) – 1, Whack, 6, 7/4; 2, Dottie, 2, 5/2; 3.5; 17.39.
Fourth (8.15) – 1, Jazz, 2, 5/2; 2, Push It, 3, 6/4; 3; 17.30.
Fifth (8.30) – 1, Horny Edgar, 1, 5/2; 2, Aguero, 4, 5/2; 2.75; 17.15.
Sixth (8.45) – 1, Fanta, 5, 6/4; 2, Moth, 4, 7/4; .75; 17.23.
Seventh (9.00) – 1, Little Fire, 1, 5/2; 2, Rosemary, 4, 6/4; 2; 17.32.
Eighth (9.15) – Blue, 2, 2/1; 2, Orange, 5, evens fav.; short head; 29.07.
Ninth (9.30) – 1, Pip, 2, 6/4; 2, Magic Dream, 3, 5/2; 1; 29.41.
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