First and third in ante post betting eliminated

Shotgun Bullet on target for a second Cat 1 of the year

Poole’s Mrs Roo quickest on the clock

The first round of the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket lived up to expectations with shocks and fast performances in equal measure.

Heat 1 looked the trickiest heat on the card but Coronation Cup hero Shotgun Bullet (Kinloch Brae-Winning Impact, Oct 15) became the only runner in the top nine of the ante post list to win a heat. Going for his ninth win in his last 11 races, Derek Knight’s runner (7-1 ante post) always led to record the fastest sectional of the night and hold off Roswell Romanov by a consistent couple of lengths. Jaytee Patriot (14-1 ante post) was never seen with a chance.

SHOTGUN BULLET leads into the first bend on his way to setting a fastest sectional of 23.15. Photo: © Steve Nash

Heat 2 appeared to be at the mercy of the other big Romford winner from January, Goldies Hotspur, but the honours went to Derek Ogden’s Yorkshire St.Leger finalist Dinington Lady (Pinpoint Maxi-Lady Script, Jun 15). The 28 kilo Geordie bred skipped clear at the third bend and was just 11 spots slower the opening heat winner.

DINNINGTON LADY wins heat 2. Photo: © Steve Nash

Heat 3 Kentish Power (Elite State-Paradise Geneva, Apr 15) came into the race unbeaten in six staying races and extended that to seven for Central Park’s Tony Collett. In a messy race, the 20-1 ante post fancy eventually cleared Romeo Mandate and was unchallenged in 45.73, on slightly slower going than the previous qualifiers.

KENTISH POWER wins heat 3. Photo: © Steve Nash

Heat 4 saw Mark Keightley’s ante post tip Mrs Roo (Ballymac Eske-Blitz Baby, Aug 15) continue her impressive form for Simon Harmes. A winner of only two of her 21 races in Ireland, the fawn (20-1 ante post) dominated from the front and clocked the fastest time of the night.

Heat 5 featured the ante post favourite Huarache Madison but the kennel’s fear of early traffic problems proved prophetic. But the merited winner was Piemans Jet (Romeo Recruit-Allowdale Nokia, Mar 15). Defeated in 18 consecutive races between June and January, the 31 kilo black female completed a fine hat-trick for a kennel in flying form.

Heat 6 saw two Mark Wallis trained runners attempting to join four kennelmates in the semis – Garryglass Champ (Kinloch Brae-Pennys Lady, Nov 14) obliged, Safffrons Bonnie didn’t. The early part of the race was dominated by the second favourite in the ante post betting – Jackeen Flyer. But Mark Keightley’s foresight that hampered preparation would cost her proved prophetic and she was eliminated.

GARRYGLASS CHAMP wins heat 6. Photo: © Steve Nash

Semi final form and outright betting

10/3 Shotgun Bullet, 6-1 Mrs Roo, Roswell Romanov, 8-1 Goldies Hotspur, 10-1 Rubys Rascal, Russelena Reggie, 12-1 Kentish Power, 14-1 Dinnington Lady, 16/1 Bubbly Firebird, 20-1 Garryglass Champ, 25-1 Bubbly Diamond, Heroic Miss, 33-1 Kiltrea Mike, Piemans Jet, Shreyas Solitair, 50-1 Meadow, Pointless Pearl, 66-1 Cincinatti