King Turbo maintained his position at the head of the RPGTV Scottish Derby betting market despite an unsuccessful first attempt at the Shawfield 480m course. Liz McNair’s Gold Cup winner is a best priced 7-2 chance after finishing third in his opening heat on Saturday.
Best 0dds: 7-2 King Turbo, 6-1 Bruisers Bullet, 10-1 Calico Ranger, The Other Reg, 14-1 Barefoot Painter, Lightfoot King, 16-1 Wuheida, 20-1 Bull Run Button, Dorotas Vic, Dropzone, 25-1 Cooneen Jack, Black Farran, 33-1 Bombers Bullet, 50-1 Borna Account, Westeay O Neill, 66-1 Carn Brea, 100-1 Ahsbank Christy, 200-1 Ni Hao,
Heat 1
The opening heat featured an impressively brave performance from The Other Reg (Razldazl Jayfkay-The Other Peach, Jul 15). Pat Rosney’s brindle (T5 1-1f), went line abreast with Bombers Bullet (T3 5-1) and Pennylane Lucky (T2 5-1) – who clocked identical 3.69 sectionals. Showing great resilience, the favourite drove around the first two bends before pulling away to beat Borna Account (T4 10-1) by just under four lengths in 29.09 (all heats ‘normal).
Heat 2
Favourite King Turbo (T3 4-6f) led up (3.68) but went on a tour of Glasgow on his first visit to Shawfield. But saved by exceptional ability, he still qualified despite giving away at least eight lengths in running. The contest went to another dog deemed undesirable for the English Derby, Lightfoot King (Candlelight King-Droopys Knox, Dec 15) who caught early Carn Brea (T1 12-1) to win by half a length and the same in 29.23. Rackethall Jess (T6) was the surprise elimination.
Heat 3
Cooneen Jack (Chenzou Boy-Sherrys Rebound, Jul 15) was a white jacketed 7-1 winner for Jimmy Fenwick in the third heat but Bull Run Button (T2 6-4f) only enhanced her reputation despite a short head defeat in 29.14. Dropzone (T5 6-1) was just under two lengths back in third with Forest West (T4 7-4) eliminated along with a ring-rusty Donation (T6 6-1).
Heat 4
With three 3-1 co-favourites, the fourth heat always looked an open affair. It was dominated by red jacketed Irish raider Barefoot Painter (Ballymac Vic-Kilara Cher, Apr 15) who always led (no sectional available) and beat another of the 3-1 chances Irish Derby finalist Black Farren (T3) with Ashbank Christy (T4 6-1) beaten another six lengths in third. The winner’s 29.00 was the fastest of the found with Calico Blackjack (T5 3-1co.f) in last place.
Heat 5
Derby second favourite Bruisers Bullet (T3) went to traps as the 4-5f in the fifth heat but it was the dog flagged-up by racing manager Daniel Rankin as the danger in the race, Dorotas Vic (Ballymac Vic-Droopys Danneel, May 15) who came out on top. The early stages were dominated by Oaks winner Wuheida (T1 5-1) and also as predicted by the RM, she struggled to get home. Seeming to relish the circuit as much as litter brother and last year’s champ, Dorotas Woo Woo – Vic got up by a short head in 29.02, the Bullet was two and a half lengths back in third.
Heat 6
The final heat was flagged up as the weakest of the six and reckoned to be at the mercy of Calico Ranger (T5 4-6f). But the white jacketed trialstake winner Westway O Neill (Tullymurry Act-Coolavanny Royce, Apr 15) took up the running at the third bend and held on by half a length in 29.62. Ni Hao (T1 8-1) was third.
ALL FOOTAGE COURTESY OF RPGTV
Semis draw:
Ht 1 1) Borna Account, T2 Cooneen Jack, T3 Westway O Neill, T4 Ni Hao, T5) King Turbo, T6) Dropzone (M)
Ht 2 1) Bombers Bullet, T2) Bruisers Bullet, T3) Bull Run Button, T4) Wuheida, T5) The Other Reg (M), T6) Dorotas Vic (W)
Ht 3 1) Black Farren, T2) Lightfoot King, T3) Barefoot Painter, T4) Carn Brea, T5) Ashbank Christy (M), T6) Calico Ranger (W)
