Fastest first round winner Image Shuttle crashed out of the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby over 480 metres at Monmore this afternoon.
Chris Allsopp’s runner missed his break and eventually finished third. The race went to well-drawn Teejays Panther, who led from the turn and went on to hold the strong Honest John by a head in 28.34sc.
Richard Devenish’s Romany Rouge clocked the fastest time of the round when coming through his field in the second eliminator to catch long-time leader Glenpadden Rock close home and score by half a length in 28.18sec.
Pat Rosney’s Vatican Ballotelli was soon clear in the third qualifier and went on to beat Patchys Kerry, who denied Bubbly King for second place, by seven lengths in 28.20sec.
The favourite Southfield Jock ended up on the floor after missing the kick and then getting hampered when moving up on the opening turn.
Draw for Friday’s final:
1 Glenpadden Rock
2 Vatican Baloteli
3 Teejays Panther
4 Patchys Kerry
5 Honest John (m)
6 Romany Rouge (w)
Oaks Winner Cashen Maureen completed a five-timer in the heats of the Ladbrokes Spring Festival Bitches heats over 480 metres. June McCombe’s runner took up the running at the third turn and went on to beat the pace-making Chaotic Linda by three quarters of a length in 28.23sec (-10).
The other heat went to Paul Young’s 2013 Puppy Derby winner Bubbly Beauty, who got the better of a battle with Mark Wallis’s Evanta Evita by three quarters of a length in 28.39sec.
Bitches final:
1 Chaotic Lynda
2 Evanta Evita
3 Aero Babooshka
4 Cashen Maureen (m)
5 Bubbly Beauty (m)
6 European Queen (w)
Fivestar Clipper, without the benefit of a trial went quickest in the Ladbrokes Spring Festival 630 heats.
Derek Knight’s runner pulled clear from the opening turn and went on to slam Miss Lane Sue by four lengths in 38.02sec. He was rewarded with trap six in the final.
Local runner Cremartin Lark saw off the ante-post favourite Billy Bullet in the second heat.
Chevy Blazer got off to a flyer while the favourite missed the kick. Paul Sallis’s Cremartin Lark slipstreamed the leader until hitting the front off the last turn and went on to hold the running on jolly by just over two lengths in 38.04sec.
Spring Festival 630 final:
1 Supreme Turbo
2 Billys Bullet
3 Chevy Blazer
4 Cremartin Lark (m)
5 Moss Lane Sue (w)
6 Fivestar Clipper (w)
Swift Keith faces a poor five draw in the final of the Ladbrokes Spring Festival Dogs over 480 metres after his brilliant effort in the heats.
John Mullins’ runner was soon in the driving seat and went on to beat La Cuchilla by just over two lengths in 28.08sec (-20), the fastest time of the day.
Dundalk International winner Metro Jack won his first race for new connections in the opening heat. June McCombe’s runner passed the leader Express Master at the third turn and held his renewed challenge by three quarters of a length in 28.43sec.
Seamus Cahill’s Ballygibbon King caught long-time leader Bog Brae in heat three to score by a neck in 28.52sec.
Dogs Final:
1 La Cuchilla
2 Express Master
3 Metro Jack
4 Bog Brae
5 Swift Keith
6 Ballygibbon King (m)
