Runaway Express lands her Jacket heat in style
The McNair's Express Trend was sensational in Golden Jacklet heats
PICTURE: STEVE NASHEXPRESS TREND (11-10F) glided through the Crayford snow to show why she has headed the market for the event from the outset with a dominant success in heat six of the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket over 714m.
Any worries about the draw for Liz McNair’s Prestige winner were rendered academic when she made a fast start from trap four, showed better pace up than Bush Whitney to go clearfrom the first bend and, although tiring a little late on, still comfortably held an eye-catching Blackrose Monach in an easily best-of-night 45.10sec.
There was a dead-heat for third between Creamery Quest and U Make Me Smile. The duo will meet in a 714m trial before racing on Tuesday to determine who progresses to the semi-finals.
Farley Zach justified odds-on favouritism in heat two, Kim Billingham’s dog tracking cleverly to nip inside Mountjoy Orion and Bubbly Swallow at the first bend and never looking in danger afterwards as he came home six and a half lengths to the good of a staying-on Bubbly Swallow in 45.69sec.
Heat three saw a runaway success for Barry O’Sullivan’s local Springwood Bob (8-1) who forged clear after passing early leader Coolykereen Dip with a lap to go and drew further and further away to score by 10 lengths from Blue Bee in 45.87sec.
Wise Signal maintained his perfect record at the track when gamely collaring long-time leader Coolavanny Fairy close home in heat five.
Frank Gray’s charge went unbeaten through the Kent St Leger over the course and distance last autumn,going from the front on each occasion, but he showed tremendous resolution to overcome trouble in running and came through to score by a neck from Coolavanny Fairy in 46.27sec with Buglys Billie flying late to claim third.
Bob Pattinson’s Tommys Inluck, 12-1 with the sponsor in the morning and backed from 8-1 into 5-1 on course, landed a tidy gamble when repelling all challengers in heat four despite checking at the pick-up a circuit early.
In front from the outset, she was clear from the second bend but Bubbly Blues was closing in and looked set to hit the front after Tommys Inluck’s error only for the door to be shut in her face at the seventh bend.
That gave Tommys Inluck just the added impetus she needed and she kept on well for a one and a half lengths victory over Bubbly Blues in 45.84sec.
The opening heat had to be declared void when Banba The Face, who had been knocked over at the first bend, defied attempts to catch her and turned back. The hare was stopped in the interests of safety at the third bend with Millwards Swaby at the head of affairs.
An immediate decision was made not to re-run on the evening and instead a re-run will take place as the first race at Tuesday’s afternoon Bags fixture ahead of Saturday morning’s semi-finals.
**Meetings at Wimbledon, Sunderland, Doncaster and Kinsley were abandoned before a race was run.
Monmore Bags was called off after 4 races, Peterboro after three, Hall Green after four, Nottingham after five and Oxford after six.
**Sunday's meeting at Mildenhall is off.
