First and third in ante post betting eliminated
Shotgun Bullet on target for a second Cat 1 of the year
Poole’s Mrs Roo quickest on the clock
The first round of the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket lived up to expectations with shocks and fast performances in equal measure.
Heat 1 looked the trickiest heat on the card but Coronation Cup hero Shotgun Bullet (Kinloch Brae-Winning Impact, Oct 15) became the only runner in the top nine of the ante post list to win a heat. Going for his ninth win in his last 11 races, Derek Knight’s runner (7-1 ante post) always led to record the fastest sectional of the night and hold off Roswell Romanov by a consistent couple of lengths. Jaytee Patriot (14-1 ante post) was never seen with a chance.
Heat 2 appeared to be at the mercy of the other big Romford winner from January, Goldies Hotspur, but the honours went to Derek Ogden’s Yorkshire St.Leger finalist Dinington Lady (Pinpoint Maxi-Lady Script, Jun 15). The 28 kilo Geordie bred skipped clear at the third bend and was just 11 spots slower the opening heat winner.
Heat 3 Kentish Power (Elite State-Paradise Geneva, Apr 15) came into the race unbeaten in six staying races and extended that to seven for Central Park’s Tony Collett. In a messy race, the 20-1 ante post fancy eventually cleared Romeo Mandate and was unchallenged in 45.73, on slightly slower going than the previous qualifiers.
Heat 4 saw Mark Keightley’s ante post tip Mrs Roo (Ballymac Eske-Blitz Baby, Aug 15) continue her impressive form for Simon Harmes. A winner of only two of her 21 races in Ireland, the fawn (20-1 ante post) dominated from the front and clocked the fastest time of the night.
Heat 5 featured the ante post favourite Huarache Madison but the kennel’s fear of early traffic problems proved prophetic. But the merited winner was Piemans Jet (Romeo Recruit-Allowdale Nokia, Mar 15). Defeated in 18 consecutive races between June and January, the 31 kilo black female completed a fine hat-trick for a kennel in flying form.
Heat 6 saw two Mark Wallis trained runners attempting to join four kennelmates in the semis – Garryglass Champ (Kinloch Brae-Pennys Lady, Nov 14) obliged, Safffrons Bonnie didn’t. The early part of the race was dominated by the second favourite in the ante post betting – Jackeen Flyer. But Mark Keightley’s foresight that hampered preparation would cost her proved prophetic and she was eliminated.
Semi final form and outright betting
10/3 Shotgun Bullet, 6-1 Mrs Roo, Roswell Romanov, 8-1 Goldies Hotspur, 10-1 Rubys Rascal, Russelena Reggie, 12-1 Kentish Power, 14-1 Dinnington Lady, 16/1 Bubbly Firebird, 20-1 Garryglass Champ, 25-1 Bubbly Diamond, Heroic Miss, 33-1 Kiltrea Mike, Piemans Jet, Shreyas Solitair, 50-1 Meadow, Pointless Pearl, 66-1 Cincinatti