6-1, 6-1, 12-1, 33-1, 50-1, 50-1 – the starting prices of the six qualifiers from Thursday’s Chelsea Glass Grand National semis in an outstanding Sittingbourne evening for Tony Taylor but utter carnage for punters.
The shocks started in the opening semi where favourite Bubbly Ninja went to traps at 4-5. He was bumped on the run up but soon assumed third place behind the Tony Taylor trained duo Castlelyons Cofi (6-1) and Affane Duke. As they approached the third bend, the favourite made his move on the rail and was blocked off. Affane Duke (50-1) pegged away in front, as, to the consternation of his followers, the Paul Young trained favourite back-pedalled and was run out of the qualifying place by another 50-1 chance, Duke’s kennelmate Bizarro.
The win was only the third in 20 attempts over the sticks for a dog marked ‘awkward’ both on the flat and over the obstacles and the £1 Taylorcast paid £1,361.
The kennel was represented by 33-1 chance Julius George in the second qualifier and a remarkable double looked likely as he led at the first turn pursued by John Mullins’ Soviet Jackson. The Mullins runner took up the running at the third bend and went on to win by a length and a half in 29.81 with Mos Bullet running on for third.
Draw for the final: 1) Julius George, 2) Bizarro, 3) Affane Duke -m, 4) Mos Bullet -m 5) Castlelyons Cofi -w, 6) Soviet Jackson -w.
To rub salt into the wounds, all three favourites were turned over in the semis of the John Smiths Kent Derby.
East Anglian Derby winner Do It For Twiggy was the market leader in the opener which was led to the third bend by Badmoonrising before Moanteen Merlin took up the running for local handler Dave Brabon. The 6-1 chance crossed the winning line in 29.20 with the favourite running on for second and beaten just under two lengths.
Local favourite Lenson Tiggy (10-11f) was the next to carry the burden of punter cash but never got a run and finished last. The race went to Puppy Classic winner Crossfield Cesar who won with more ease than most 3-1 chances in 29.19, three lengths faster than Across The Way.
Paul Young had the favourite for the last qualifier in Bubbly Gold (6-4) but the race went to kennelmate Swabys Millward in the fastest time of the night, 28.94 (all -.15). The trap to line winner beat his travel companion by a length
Draw for the final: 1) Bubbly Gold, 2) Do It For Twiggy, 3) Across The Way -m, 4) Swabys Millward -m 5) Crossfield Cesar -w, 6) Moanteen Merlin -w.
