Reigning Pall Mall champion Ballymac Ace blasted out a warning to his rivals on Thursday night – blowing away the others in the opening heats of this year’s renewal.

The black dog, trained by Christie Allsopp at Monmore, destroyed the opposition, including last year’s Derby runner-up Lyreen Mover, to post the fastest time of the night of 26.55secs.

That included an electric 3.65 sectional split in heat three.

The black dog came home four and a half lengths clear of Adams Honour, with Slick Stone also qualifying in third spot.

Meanwhile, Jolly Poacher took his record to ten wins from 12 starts at Sandy Lane when collaring early leader Dromana Ace in heat four.

The latter led early, but going very wide at the final bend gave Poacher a sniff, and he was through like a flash to win by a length in 26.71.

More success came Oxford’s way when the Angie Kibble-trained Trafalgar Cup victor Spencers Lad overcame a crowded start to win the opening heat in 26.92.

Richard Yeates’s Aherlow Shaw found Hove raider Pams Tomjo too good in heat five, but still progressed.

Brittons Empire’s won heat two, beating Paddy Curtin’s Hello Dino, while Perilous Guide took heat six in 26.65.

thursday’s semi-final draw Heat 1: Buzz Doc, Spencers Lad, Jolly Poacher, Zodiac Zeus, Slick Signature, Dromana Max.

Heat 2: Brittons Empire, Little Sensation, Hello Dino, Romeo Reason, Aherlow Shaw, Fifis White- sox.

Heat 3: Ballymac Ace, Manilla Flash, Adams Honour, Perilous Guide, Pams Tomjo, Slick Stone.

DINERS are in for a treat on the Betfred Pall Mall finals night where there is a two-for-one deal in the Grandstand Restaurant. Early booking is crucial.