In the pick of the semis, Laughil Jess and Aayamza Sydney matched each other stride for stride in an epic 540m around the tight Crayford half dozen bends on Saturday with Laughil Jess prevailing only by a short head.
The pair will have to do it all again next week as they are joined by Moaning Rossi, Minnie Bullet, King Ezra and Gutsy Jet in the final.
Semi-Final 1
Minnie Bullet was the quickest away in the first of the semis and she made her advantage tell as she held the favourite, King Ezra, comfortably by 3 1/4 lengths. John Mullins’ Dapper Mac was crowded around the first and second bends but kept up the chase gamely to narrowly miss out on the final
Trap 2-1-3 Minnie Bullet (33.59) 3/1, King Ezra 2/1F, Dapper Mac 9/2
Winning Trainer Mark Wallis (Suffolk Downs)
Semi-Final 2
Havana Lover left her late run just a little too late to make the final as 16/1 outsider Gutsy Jet showed plenty of heart in sticking to his task, overhauling long time leader, Moaning Rossi on the run-in. In a race full of incident, Moaning Rossi bullied last week’s fastest qualifier, Razldazl Amanda around the first two bends, forcing the latter out of contention and allowing Harehareherechoo through on the rail. Showing plenty of pace and power, Moaning Rossi was soon in the lead and hung on to the run-in where he was picked up by Kevin Boon’s aptly named, Gutsy Jet who had been travelling well throughout.
5-3-6 Gutsy Jet (33.98) 16/1, Moaning Rossi 9/2, Havana Lover 4/9F
Winning Trainer Kevin Boon (Suffolk Downs)
Semi-Final 3
In an epic battle with Aayamza Sydney, Laughil Jess edged the race for local trainer, David Lee. After Havana Top Note stumbled badly in pursuit of the leading pair, the two were effectively left in a match race to determine who would take the honours. With David Lee’s white and black bitch hugging the rail and John Mullins black and white dog running rails to middle, they ran alongside each other for the entire 540m.
1-2-6 Laughil Jess (33.55) 11/10F, Aayamza Sydney 15/8, Naney Jezabelle 18/1
Winning Trainer David Lee (Crayford)