Tonight sees the final of the 73rd RPGTV East Anglian Derby. Racing Manager Marcus Westgate reckons he has seen, “every final, bar perhaps one”, since Murlens Abbey took the title in 1992. So how did 2019 stand up?
He said: “I set out thinking it was a very open competition but Roxholme Nidge has ended up dominating it. He has been outstanding.
“Tonight’s support card is pretty good. I was disappointed that we didn’t fill the marathon but otherwise most of the races look competitive.”
Here are Marcus’ views on the 14 races
Supporting races on a Derby card aren’t easy to fill when you are looking to give all the locals a run that want them. In the first race I would edge it to Safepak Wini, who has the draw and is good enough. She is certainly the most consistent of the six in recent weeks. The danger looks to be Colski Aine who will be running on.
The one and two dead-heated last time out and although I wouldn’t particularly look to grade them together next time out, it suited the race. But me selection is Pam Cross’s pup Fahrenheit Loki who has shown she has some ability when she gets a run and I make this a slight drop in class.
I have been trying to give Whoop Niall a win and he almost got there last time out, after being unlucky in running. This might be a better chance with Im All Right the danger if she gets a clear run on the rails early.
Jakes Magic is one of the best pups at the track and is my selection, though trap one is not ideal. If I was grading him, I would have him out of either two or three. I don’t how strong the Sheffield form is, so would edge between locals Vigorous Kevin and Sophies Sparkle as the dangers.
In my opinion, Antigua Romeo looks the stand-out selection here. If he reproduces the 4.35 sectional, I would expect him to be away and gone.
This looks a very difficult race to judge but in my mind it looks a match-up between Cuil King and Not So Lento.
They were a couple of decent trials and sectionals from Coney Boom Boom and I expect him to win this one. Treaty Bill would be a real threat if he could reproduce a 5.43 sectional because he stays on strongly, but I am not confident that he will.
I thought Good Karma ran a decent race after Ava Storm got away from him last time out. His recent Central Park form would probably be good enough to win this and with the benefit of that run, he should improve. But I certainly wouldn’t rule out Swift Tarquin. He overcome plenty of trouble in the same race and John (Mullins) normally has a winner or two on final night.
This looks to be at the mercy of Pond Asprilla who has the draw and early pace to lead all the way. Scotch Mist is capable of giving him a run now that he is better drawn. Trap four did him no favours last time out.
Coolavanny Messi would probably win this if he reproduced his semi final form and I just give him the edge. But if he gets it wrong in any way, Troy Bella is the proven quality in the race and would take full advantage.
I wouldn’t want to be disparaging about any of the others in the field, but I think this is Roxholme Nidge‘s to lose. He has been head and shoulders the best dog in the competition and if he traps anything like he has been, they won’t see which way he went. The obvious danger is Seaglass Tiger.
Local runners have a good record in the Derby and I am really pleased to see Mary Goodnight make it through for Sandra Clayton. We have some really high class A1/ minor open runners here at the moment and I would love to see her in one of them. I reckon there would be seven to select from in total. She would be joined by Scotch Mist, Jakes Magic, Rob Roy, Tidal Boy, Newtrack Comet and Ascot Prince.
It is hard to look past Avastorm in this one. There were a few hard luck stories in the heats, but she has half a second on the rest of the field.
I would expect Master Jay Jay to lead, but think he will be caught by Kenzi. Canavour Rose has been quite unlucky, she keeps producing the times but is being beaten and Southwind Radio can cause an upset if he manages to avoid trouble at the third bend.
Cadawill wasn’t originally scheduled to contest this race but has come in as a reserve and looks well capable of winning it. The danger is Champagne Knave.
