“If Patrick’s bitch leads, you would need to be challenging her with a circuit to go or you would never get past her” said Mark Wallis last week in anticipation of the 2020 Ladbrokes Golden Jacket Final in which he had 5-4f Antigua Fire. He wasn’t and he couldn’t.
As it was, Patrick Janssen’s Skilful Sandie held a three and a half length advantage after 380 metres for which she produced a flying 23.11 sectional (pictured right) . The 7-2 chance recorded 44.87 when completing the full course with Antigua Fire some length and a half back in second.
The winner had found 84 spots since beaten by Fire in the first round. But the favourite, and dual runner-up, still managed to break 45.00 despite having to overcome significant bumping and crowding.
SKILFUL SANDIE sports her Golden Jacket.
Crayford 22nd February 2020
Photo: © Steve Nash
