Swift Hoffman remains on course for a third major event of the year after landing the fastest semi final of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore.
Pat Rosney’s Scottish Derby and Select winner broke mid division but showed great early pace to lead into the first bend with daylight between him and the rest of the field. He swooped the bend and avoided trouble that destroyed the chances of half the field. Hoffman was pursued by Farloe Nutter with Vatican Gurkha in third. But the latter showed great pace along the backstraight to seize second place. Hoffman crossed the field with four lengths to spare over his kennemate in 27.83.
Timaru Surprise was equally impressive when winning his qualifier in 27.88. Martin White’s black showed great early pace to lead My Real Mutley and Droopys Turin at the first bend. Turin was soon struggling to maintain his place but the runner-up was never going to catch the leader who got home by four lengths.
Starshinedifice clocked the fastest sectional of the event when landing the other qualifier for Paul Sallis. After flying up in 4.24, the black took a wide course at the bend and looked dominant until the run-in when El Lema put in a strong finish to be beaten half a length in 28.04.
Elwick Glory was quickest (37.65) of the sextet in the Festival 630 semi finals though all six are separated by just over four lengths. The other heat winners were Millwards Teddy (37.82) and Oleg (37.99).
The veteran Cape Impact continued to defy Father Time with the fastest time in the Festival 416 (24.27), while at the other extreme, Hayleigh Keightley’s Nov ’13 whelp Roxholme Barkley clocked a stunning 27.90 in the heats of the 480m puppy competition.
