Pall Mall victor Ballymac Ace gets the nod for the good thing in heat two of the Blanchford Oxfordshire Gold Cup at Oxford Stadium tonight.

Holder Jolly Poacher will put up a bold bid to defend his crown and claim the £1,000 first prize.

Last year Poacher, trained by Richard Yeates, cleaned up in all three big local opens.

Now with Nick Colton, he showed his form being just beaten by a neck at Belle Vue on Tuesday.

However, the opposition looks a bit hotter this time around, judging by the sub-27-second trials of Sittingbourne pair, Blonde Button and Blonde Gunner.

Ballymac Ace and Swindon raider Razldazl Dazl, who has a 26.68 posting round at Ox-ford, will make things tough.

New Oxford trainer Richard Bakers enters Everlast Rocket with other local hopes resting on Adamant Yankee, Patterdale Claud, Matties Machine (Yeates), Carribean Bill, Blazeaway Apache, (Peterson), Magical Rio (Massey) and Farloe Hustler (Curtin).

TONIGHT’S RUNNERS.

7.35: Dalcash Rewind, Smooth Henry, SIERRA LOBO, Droopys Finch, Toms My Boy, Roller Girl.

7.50: SPECIAL IMAGE, Killishin Kudos, Ardmayle Hawk, Blue Risky, Sniper Sammy, Ballyhoe Bertie.

8.05: Blonde Button, CHAPELANE HARRY, Everlast Rocket, Mays Rocknroller, Droopys Tajmahal, Adamant Yankee.

8.20: Twiglish Whitty, Lolos Honcho, Agent Shearer, Frisky Geezer, ON OFFER, Hector Pascal.

8.35: FARLOE ELLIE, Melodys Comet, Bluejay Risky, Tommys Girl, Shelbourne Lucy, Fathers Dream 3.

8.50: BALLYMAC ACE (nap), Brickfield Class, Farloe Hustler, Matties Machine, Blazeaway Apache, Patterdale Claud.

9.05: Nicelittleearner, Pennys Bollinger, Kisskissbangdang, Sparta Doughnuts, GREENFIELD MAJOR, Ballydine Butch.

9.20: Bargain Keys, Aldergrove Ceol, Breagain Jack, Mitcheltown Blue, Loughlea Ripple, LOLOS MAJESTIC.

9.35: JOLLY POACHER, Caribbean Bill, Magical Rio, Razldazl Dazl, Blonde Gunner, Greenacre Josh.

9.50: Romily Flash, Hondos Saga, Guss Step, Metric Whizz, JO JO GO, Farmer Giles.

10.05: Hi Yella Wacker, Milton Bradley, Rathmullen Billy, GORTKELLY NANI, Solid Kuyt, Meenala Shamrock.

10.20: Farloe Cyclone, Larkhill Boy, Aherlow Shaw, Sudden Decision, ARDMAYLE FRISBY, Lady Larnach.

Duak Derby winner Rapid Ranger, successful in 2000-1 and trained by Charlie Lister, has died.