It is the ‘Night of the Year’ at Yarmouth as they celebrate their 77th East Anglian Derby Final (sponsored by Click Competitions) plus 11 supporting opens including the traditional Derby Purse and Sprint (sponsored by the MWD Partnership).
Colin Finch can kick the meeting off with a win for youngster Johnnie Three. The veteran handler has always has a ‘handy’ dog and with 11 races on his card and the most course knowledge of the sextet, he should be good enough providing he breaks in the first three. 5-2-6
A really competitive event which should see most of the field supported in the betting. The ‘coin flip’ selection is Swift Loves who has plenty sub-27.60 form, which is what it will probably take to win this. In terms of punting though, possibly a 1-3-5 allways trio might be a better bet. 3-1-5
In events where early paced middle distanced dogs are taking on genuine sprinters, it is the latter who ususally come out in front. On that basis, Merlins Mate gets the nod, just, from Adamant Lucy. 5-4-2
A few in here who have been running in top class company, though not necessarily with great success, or recently. Course and distance knowledge might just be the edge that Roxholme Duchess needs. 2-4-5
Alberts Legacy has a brilliant strike rate and looks ideally suited to the black jacket in here. One for the locals 4-5-6
It looks only a matter of time before Bombay On Fire wins his first staying open and tonight could be the night. Probably needs to come away though. 3-5-2
Five locals in here and it is a case of picking the one whose form suggests they are ready to step up from graded. Of those, Puckane Sydney looks the most likely. 2-4-6
Signet Goofy – absolutely different class 6-1-2
Locally bred track record holder Quagos Jack has 11 wins from his last 13 races over course and distance. Oppose at your peril. 3-2-6
Not only expecting Aayamza Sydney to win this – expecting a very fast time too. Ideally drawn and can make all with four looking a forecast saver for the sponsors. He too looks a great prospect. 1-4-3
If Coolavanny Shado – traps – he wins.
If he doesn’t, he might just wipe out those on his outside as he scorches into the turn and keeps going towards Caister. The Janssens trained black started at 1-4f in last year’s decider but made a hash of the start, showed tremendous middle pace, but was spent by the run-in and couldn’t hold off Hopes Paddington.
A year on, he looks an older, wiser, stronger, and a more consistent performer with four wins in his last five outings. He already holds track records at Oxford (450) and Perry Barr (480), and on a fast track he could add Yarmouth to his CV. The obvious danger in a race of five railers is the dog drawn on the inside, Watch The Limo, with Oxford Gold Cup winner Swift Iconic having enough class to be in the shake-up 2-1-5
Here is a reminder of how the semi finals went. Coolavanny Shado Flickofacoin
And the second round: Swift Iconic Brown Eyed Boy Coolavanny Shado Signet Goofy
Not easy to call or even assess who will start favourite. Think the six bend run might benefit Drumdoit Jack 3-2-5
