Just half a length separated the three winners on the clock in the semi-finals of the RPGTV Scottish Derby over 480 metres at Shawfield.
Everything that led won with Steve Race’s La Cuchilla clocking 28.91sec, Coolavanny Jap registering 28.93sec and Swift Hoffman recording 28.94sec.
There will be three English and three Irish runners in next week’s final.
Irish based litter brothers Coolavanny Jap and Lenson Sanchez gave Pat Buckley a 1-2 in the last eliminator.
Coolavanny Jap, the 7-4 favourite, flew out of the traps and was soon three lengths clear.
Puppy Derby winner Lenson Sanchez tried to close and by the line the winning margin was a length and a half with the winning time 28.93sec.
Buckley said afterwards: “Jap showed huge early pace, while Sanchez is not trapping out of trap one.
“There is nothing between them and the draw for both dogs in the final is perfect for us.
“It’s a wide open final and everything is there on merit.”
Swift Hoffman came back to form when landing the opening qualifier.
Pat Rosney’s runner, the 2-1 favourite, drifted from an opening show of 6-4 along with kennelmate Newinn Yolo (6-4 to 5-2) as the cash came in for Irish runner and fastest heat winner Tynwald Rodney from 3-1 to -5-2.
However Tynwald Rodney’s chances ended with a slow start while Swift Hoffman got off to a flyer and was clear around the opening turn.
Newinn Yolo, who was slowly away, was involved in early trouble and it was left to Oaks winner Cashen Maureen to chase home the leader who eventually scored by just over three lengths in 28.94sec.
La Cuchilla justified 7-4 favouritism in the second qualifier.
Steve Race’s runner flew out of the boxes and went round the first bend in front of Barrie Draper’s Ballymac Mossjoe.
The other fancied runner Ireland’s Save The Don, who has made a moderate break, moved up on the back straight but had the door slammed in his face at the third turn. However he ran on strongly to grab the runner-up spot, five and a half lengths behind the 28.91sec winner.
Final Draw:
1 Cooolavanny Jap
2 La Cuchilla
3 Lenson Sanchez
4 Save The Don
5 Cashen Maureen (m)
6 Swift Hoffman (w)
Pumpstreet Niall went quickest in the RPGTV Puppy heats over 480 metres.
The son of Central City made virtually all the running to hold Vatican Gurkha by just over a length in 29.56sec.
Ted Soppitt’s Calzaghe Lisa landed a scrappy second qualifier when picking up kennelmate Skywalker Jaypee and scoring by just over two lengths in 29.91sec.
Greenwell Ace impressed in the RPGTV 500 heats.
Pat Flaherty’s runner was soon clear and went on to beat Nadurra Tar by two and a half lengths in 29.90sec.
Julie Bateson’s Quick Impact missed most of the trouble in the second heat to come home three and a half lengths in front of Trickyblueginger in 30.00sec.
Here We Go led early in the third qualifier to beat Farran Sexton by two and a half lengths in 30.12sec.
