All three Coral Regency semi final favourites were beaten, two were eliminated, while Mark Wallis goes double handed into next Wednesday’s £10,000 Hove decider.
The first semi final saw Kentish Fame (T2 6-4f) heading the market, though he was perhaps fortunate to reach the decider. The race was dominated by Trap Dragi (Head Bound-Varra Lark, Mar 14) who soon led from T6. He was hotly pursued by Newlawn Simon (T3 9-4) though the Romford runner seemed to be suffering late in the race and the favourite came through from second, nearly three lengths behind Jason Heath’s 41.90 winner.
Worse was to follow for the jollys with the first two in the market about to be eliminated. Karlow Turbo went to the white box as the 5-4f with Droopys Dart (3-1) drawn in five. The favourite did everything right at the boxes but was unable to clear first bend trouble where Slick Straus (T2 4-1) took up the running. He was pursued by the black jacketed 9-2 shot Fearsome Phantom (Westmead Hawk-Hesley Hawaii, May 14). Pat Rosney’s runner was given plenty of room to make his move after a circuit and pulled away to win by a lengths and a quarter in 41.95.
The third semi was by far the toughest, and only marginally weakened by the withdrawal of Huarache Madison. It nevertheless featured Jaytee Patriot (T6 4-7f) the Irish flying machine who has thus far flattered to deceive after good showings in early rounds. In a messy race from the boxes, his ill-fortune would strike again as the blue jacket of Rubys Rascal (Razldazl George-Swift Eva, Jul 14) took full advantage of the extra space to emerge on the rail. The 4-1 chance – his biggest SP since last year’s Leger final – was pursued by kennelmate Aayamza Breeze (T3 5-2) who loomed into a striking position at the fifth bend where she was forced to check. She nevertheless plugged away and was under a length behind the fastest semi winner in 41.54.
Draw for the final: 1) Slick Strauss, 2) Kentish Fame, 3) Fearsome Phantom, 4) Rubys Rascal, 5) Aaramza Breeze, 6) Tyrap Dragi (M)
