Liz and Rab McNair will send three Kings to next Saturday’s Coral Olympic Final hoping to round off the best ever year with the last Cat 1 decider of 2019.
Kings Sheeran, Dylan and Lennon made it through, though Rab is the first to acknowledge the challenge facing them from Winter Derby fourth Volcanic Reef who went quickest in Saturday night’s semi finals. (The final will actually feature four British bred including Produce Stakes runner-up Shoot The Bolt).
(See results and videos below)
Rab said: “That Volcanic Reef is a good dog and will clearly take some beating. But he is desperate for the inside and will turn to his left out of the trap. It is then a case of will he tangle with our two.
“To be honest, we thought Dylan and Lennon ran a bit flat last night. They have been running twice a week and thriving on it. They had a week off and neither ran as well as they have been. Funnily enough they are flying around this morning despite a tough race on very slow going. But I was absolutely delighted with Sheeran. I could not believe that he could possibly come from behind Dylan if Dylan led, but his pace down the backstraight was incredible.
“We won the race with Turbo last year and we are delighted to get three through. I realise that the favourite (Bockos Doomie) was withdrawn but there are is still plenty of quality in the final.”
Next Saturday may see the end of the 2019 campaign for the KSS backed range in what has been a memorable year.
Rab said: “It depends on what happens at Central Park tonight, we have some dogs in competitions that may get through to the final. But whatever happens, we have had our best ever year. We have won more races and prize money and scored more points than ever before. What’s more, we have so many exciting young pups either due to start racing, or litters to be born in the new year.”
Trainer Patrick Janssens, who is represented in the Olympic Final by Desperado Dan, has far stronger claims in the Ballyragan Bon Memorial Final where he sends out half the finalists, headed by his home bred Affleck Lady. (Draw below)
