Diane Henry and Jimmy Wright will be four-handed between them following Thursday night’s exciting Ladbrokes Gold Cup semis at Monmore.
Both kennels came through unscathed in the race of the night as Droopys Buick (2-1) and Making Paper (4-1) took on 6-4f Hiya Butt. The alarm bells would have been ringing for punters when the blue jacketed jolly completely missed his cupboards. Instead it was Droopys Buick (Yeah Man-Droopys Hilda, Nov 13) who was in front after the first six strides and he crossed the sectional in 4.34 from Forest Bressie (T4 25-1) with Southfield Jock (T1 7-2) and the favourite accelerating behind them. Jock couldn’t handle the turn and veered into Hiya Butt who sideswiped Making Paper (T5) who lost at least three lengths. Jock moved into second along the backstraight but the game Making Paper showed great pace to challenge the Hove runner at the third bend and then set off in pursuit of the leader. It ended with two and a half lengths between the pair as Buick crossed the line in 28.12 (N).
The same two kennels dominated the third heat through Droopys Country (T6 6-4f) and Thirteen Bags (T1 10-1). Country trapped well and moved to middle along the straight with Thirteen Bags on his outside and short heading the 60 metre sectional in 4.37. Local runner Droopys Turin (T3) who had preferred a slot on the inside of Droopys Country was the worst first bend casualty as Roswell Iceman (T2 3-1) tried to sneak through on the rail only to see the gap closed down. Carlos Court was wiped out in the same incident. Iceman made another attempt on the outside at the third bend, but again the gap closed and the result was secure. Wright’s Droopys Country (Aero Majestic-Droopys Coast, Aug 14) looked to have the race in the bag but Thirteen Bags ran on like brother Making Paper to reduce the gap to half a length in 28.50.
The opening heat produced an early buckle between the two Wallis trained runners Clondoty Alex (T1 9-4) and California (T5 3-1) who were inseparable at the sectional (4.28). Laughing Gravy (T6 10-1) was well placed, as was Jaytee Spartacus (T4 9-2) who set off after the leaders along the backstraight. Going into the third turn, Clondoty Alex left a ‘Jaytee Spartacus sized’ gap and Jaytee Spartacus (Scolari Me Daddy-Sizzling Gina, Feb 14) took it. Favoruite Oscar Whisky (T2 7-4f) surely has a future over further and after coming off the last bend in fourth place, the Lister trained runner closed the gap on the leader to two lengths in a time of 28.15 (N).
Sponsor’s betting for next Thursday’s final: 13-8 Droopys Buick, 2-1 Jaytee Spartacus, 5-1 Droopys Country, 6-1 Making Paper, Oscar Whisky, 25-1 Thirteen Bags
