Tony Collett's Sittingbourne flyer Lenson Joker (pictured) made light of his 2-5 odds when slamming his field to come home seven-and-half lengths clear of his rivals when the William Hill Cesarewitch got under way on Thursday.

But it was not a good start for bookmaker Richard Dunne, who failed to take a bet on the race.

Manners Slaney (3-1), won a closely contested heat two from Shelbourne Rich, with Oxford runner swift Stirling reaching the semi-finals.

Collett got a second dog through after Sherries Boy (6-4) posted 39.64 in beating 11-10 favourite Vatican Fyne (11-10) in heat three.

Heat four went to runaway winner Directors Chair (7-4) in 39.43, who saw off Primitive Way (11-10) and Swift Maybole.

TUESDAY'S SEMI-FINAL DRAW Heat 1: Shelbourne Rich, Minted Euro, Coolanga Flyer, Vatican Fyne, Swift Stirling, Manners Slaney.

Heat 2: Sherriers Boy, Swift Dougal, Swift Maybole, Prinitive Way, Directors Chair, Lernson Joker.

There were two winning tickets on the jackpot, each paying £14,757.

Meanwhile, the race, one of the oldest on the calendar, is proving hard to fill with class greyhounds such is the lack of top stayers in the country.

Normally, a race such as this would attract 50-60 top entries, but the race is now down to 24 runners.

There would be excess of applicants 20 years ago. The TV Trophy would have attracted more than 100 entries in its heyday.

It may be time now to move the 645 metre trip to 595 metres.