Anfi Gem sparkles in Cock O' The North heats

Belle Vue: Home of The Cock O' The North

  PICTURE: Steve Nash  

ENGLAND EXPECTS stretched his winning run to four when justifying 11-8 favouritism in heat three of the C&T Bookmakers Cock O’The North over 670m at Belle Vue.

Jimmy Wright’s dog picked up where he left off at Sunderland when last seen in competitive action – he went unbeaten through the £15,000 williamhill.com Grand Prix there – as he collared early leader Ballymac Roger at thethird bend and kept on powerfully to beat that rival by three and a quarter lengths in 40.60sec. The winner’s kennelmate, defending champion Hurleys Hero, was eliminated in third after a modest start.

Quickest time of the round came from Anfi Gem in the opening heat. Colin Redden’s charge, 4-5 favourite, had finished fourth behind England Expects in the Sunderland decider and looks sure to be a big threat in next week’s final here after winning by six lengths from Grandads Gold in 40.56sec.

Shades Of Jonah (5-2), trained locally by Martin Cutler, came out on top in heat two, a race which changed dramatically on the run for home.  Favourite Cally Time had just mastered long-time leader Bubbly Cruiser off the final bend only to bump with that rival and both Shades Of Jonah and Romantic Esther stormed past the duo, the winner posting 41.02sec.

Draw for Thursday’s £1,500 final: 1Ballymac Roger, 2 England Expects, 3 Anfi Gem, 4 Romantic Esther, 5 Grandads Gold (m), 6 Shades Of Jonah (w).