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Column selections Farley Zach and Blue Bee have made it to the final of Saturday’s Ladbrokes Golden Jacket.
The £15,000 race goes off at 12.24pm and I am hoping one of my pair will be successful having reached the last six from a starting field of 36.
The final looks open after the three semis were won by Blue Bee, Lottes Girl and Wise Signal in 45.83, 45.76 and 45.83sec for the 714m distance.
That puts just under one length between the three on the clock. The line-up, in trap order, is: (1) Blackrose Monach; (2) Blue Bee; (3) Lottes Girl; (4) Farley Zach; (5) Springwood Bob; (6) Wise Signal.
With six railers, that all-important trap allocation came into play when the final draw was made. All six prefer no wider than trap four and, on form, Springwood Bob and Wise Signal appear to have come off worse. However, their chances may not have gone after Bob was second and Signal won from traps six and five respectively last Saturday.
It will come down to that dash to the first bend and I fancy the winner will be one of the first two that lead out of the second. I would, though, give any dog within three lengths of the leader at that point a chance.
Lottes Girl goes into the final as probably the best-known greyhound and having had to run here on Tuesday last week, after her heat the previous Saturday was stopped in the interests of safety, she looked impressive in catching Farley Zach on the line in their semi.
She may start favourite but if she is not close enough early on she could struggle as in a trials race in January when was beaten by some 12 lengths by Zach.
In contrast, Springwood Bob will be the outsider and is overpriced. His best time – 45.87sec – will not be fast enough to win but he should give a good account of himself. Similarly, Wise Signal has never bettered 45.83 so I cannot see him being up to the task. I could say the same of Blue Bee but she improved by some 10-and-a-half lengths in between her heat and semi races. There is more to come.
There seems to be a bit of a whisper around at the moment for Blackrose Monach, who has finished second in both rounds and has that plum trap one draw. With a 45.64 time in his locker from the heats he may spring a surprise. I am happy, though, to stay with Zach – he is good enough to win.