His four-year-old race ace Aguero had the edge in the closely run 8.30 sprint race finishing with a .75 of a length lead on the line.
Putting on a strong challenge was favourite Envoy, a four-year-old dog from Willie Hyslop’s Kilmarnock kennels.
Next Hopper victory came over the same distance in the 9.15 race when two-year-old dog Diamond Charlie took the honours in another nailbiter.
He eased ahead on the inside to take the honours by .5 of length from runner-up, Dexter Clark’s three-year-old Kirkbride dog Tic Tac.
There will be a two-week New Year break from racing at Gretna with the next scheduled Halcrow Stadium evening meeting on Friday January 13, 2017.
RESULTS and STARTING PRICES
1st race (7.30) – 1, Fat Man, trap 4, price 6/4; 2, Lochar Jet, 5, 7/4; distance 5 lengths; winning time 17.71 seconds.
2nd race (7.45) – 1, Nee Luking, 1, 4/6 fav.; 2, Lying Rascal, 2, 6/4; a neck; 17.51.
3rd (8.00) – 1, Big Rascal, 2, 4/6 fav.; 2, Macca Black, 1, 6/4; 3.75; 17.67.
4th (8.15) – 1, Torpid, 3, 6/4; 2, Wiggy’s Black, 1, 7/4; .5; 17.51.
5th (8.30) – 1, Aguero, 4, 5/4; 2, Envoy, 6, evens/fav.; .75; 17.45.
6th (8.45) – 1, Honey Suckle, 5, 5/2; 2, Condor, 2, 7/4; 1.25; 17.60.
7th (9.00) – 1, Slump, 1, 2/1; 2, Macca Moose, 3, 3/1; a neck; 17.29.
8th (9.15) – 1, Diamond Charlie, 2, evens. fav.; 2, Tic Tac, 3, 3/1; .5; 17.37.
9th (9.30) – 1, Kyle’s Alpha, 4, 5/2; 2, Mollie, 1, 5/4; 2.25; 29.65.
10th (9.45) – 1, Rachel’s Storm, 1, 2/1; 2, Whack, 6, 6/4; 1.5; 29.43.
SPORTSDESK: 01461-202417
