The sponsor’s nightmare scenario was thwarted as 8-1 shot Roxholme Scolari (Droopys Scolari-Bellmore Ruby, Nov 13) ran the race of his career to defeat favourite Toolmakers Pal in the £25,000 William Hill Classic Final.
The pair broke on terms, but the favourite lacked his early zip as Hayley Keightley’s white jacketed runner fizzed to the first bend, shaving 21 spots off his semi final sectional. The favourite, who had clocked 26.74 and 26.79 in the two qualifiers, looked subdued and was already beaten when checking off the second bend. It as left to Elaine Parker’s Coolavanny Rebel to pick up the pieces though he was never closer than the length and three quarters at the winning line. Scolari triggered the beam after 26.75 seconds (TR 26.59).
The £15,000 Grand Prix decider, the first leg of a potentially expensive favourite double, went entirely the way of the punters as Pinpoint Boom (Shaneboy Lee-Newmarket Way, Jul 13) landed his second Cat 1. Kelly Macari’s (2-5f) Eclipse winner ran entirely to the script. As in the semis, he was narrowly led out but barged his way through on the rail and was never seen to struggle. He eventually came home three and a half clear of Mustang Golden in 39.27 for the 640m.
PINPOINT BOOM (t1) leads early on the way to William Hill Grand Prix victory. Photo: Steve Nash
PINPOINT BOOM.
William Hill Grand Prix winner, with L-R Alex Foreman, Kelly Macari and Paul Noble.
Sunderland 13th July 2016.
Photo: Steve Nash
On a night when the winners returned at 4-5f (dht), 5-2, 6-4f, 4-5f, 4-7f, 5-2, 4-7f, 2-5f, 5-4f, 1-1f, and 5-4jf, the only big odds winner was the 6-1 quoted Bubbly Bluebird (Droopys Sydney-Broadstrand Xola, Sep 14). Paul Young’s youngster spoiled the party for Jimmy Wright’s Droopys pair, Country and Trspeze, in the fastest time of the night, 26.72.
However the Wright kennel did have some consolation when Walshes Hill (4-7f) made amends for last year’s defeat by taking the William Hill Festival Flyer by a comfortable three and a half lengths in 15.59 for the 261m.
