Harry Crapper, whose kennel has twice lifted the Queen Mother Memorial, is hopeful that he has the right ammunition to make that three at Sheffield on Sunday writes John Forbes.
The local trainer had two runners in the second qualifier, Dinzeo and Worsboro Phantom, and they did him proud coming home 1-2 as Dinzeo took the honours by six and a quarter lengths in 38.89 for the 660 metres.
He says: “It would be nice to have the first and second again in Sunday’s final and I believe that they will both run well again.
“I was extremely pleased with Dinzeo’s performance. I have always considered him a very good dog and he seems to have settled down properly now. He has just lacked a bit of confidence in the past but that is there now.
“As for Worsboro Phantom, he was well beaten in the end on Tuesday, but he had been in a bit of trouble round the fourth bend and I honestly believe that if you put my two together in a trial there would not be a lot between them.”
It was Kevin Boon’s Kakantu that set the standard for the competition, however, the son of Ace Hi Rumble cashing in on a good start in the opening qualifier and staying on well to finish a length and threequarter clear of Lowgate Jasper in 38.83.
“I said when he went clear that he would run them into the ground and that’s just what he did,” commented Boon. “The time was great and if he gets out again on Sunday, he will take a lot of catching”
The third heat saw Touch Tackle back to something like his best after his winter lay-off. Having just his second race since December the dog finished really powerfully to defeat Coolboy Blitz by five and a quarter lengths in 38.98.
The meeting also featured three heats of the BresMed Puppy Sprint Cup and the stage looks set for a top class final after Geelo Van George and Tin Soldier both clocked 16.13 for the 280 metres in winning their heats and Slaneyside Driver posted 16.28.
The Stones Bitter Queen Mother Memorial Final: 1Touch Tackle; 2 Dinzeo; 3 Coolboy Blitz (m); 4 Kakantu (w); 5 Lowgate Jasper (w); 6 Worsboro Phantom (w).
The Bresmed Puppy Sprint Final: 1Tin Soldier; 2 Geelo Van George; 3 Old Joe Golden (m); 4 Slaneyside Diver (m); 5 Sky Dancer (m); 6 Glenpadden Wood (w).
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