Racing Post

Bullet set to shoot down rivals in Kent Leger semi

Phil Donaldson

AWAY from Towcester and all things Derby there is a host of open-race action at both Crayford and Monmore with crack stayer Bo Shine Bullet set to further enhance her record at the former venue in the first semi-final of the Ladbrokes Kent St Leger (8.22, live on RPGTV).

The Mark Wallis-trained star has only lost two of her nine starts for the kennel – both in Category One finals – getting knocked over in February’s Golden Jacket showdown over this 714m course and more recently when beaten by an inform Blue Tick George in Yarmouth’s George Ing St Leger.

She won in impressive fashion in last week’s heats of this competition and while a draw in four sets her a new challenge – she was zero-fromthree from the trap in Ireland – the fact Sam West’s stylish heat winner Ragtime Arthur will head straight left from three should see the favourite enjoy a clear path early.

Defending champion Droopys Bird and Blue Tick Jenny – who beat last year’s winner in the heats – add further depth to a strong semi-final, but class can tell for Bo Shine Bullet.

Fastest in the first round was Heather Dimmock’s Alaskan Dawn and that powerhouse of a stayer is expected to deliver again from trap one in the third eliminator at 8.59, with Patrick Janssens’ fellow heat scorer Mays Sabbath the likely danger.

Victory looks up for grabs in a second semi (8.41) which features no heat winners, and Marcus Smith’s local hopeful Pakistan Star looks very capable of stepping up to the plate after leading for a long way when second to Mays Sabbath last week.

The card also features the semis of the Guys & Dolls over the 380m course, with the first three home in each same-sex heat set to merge in next week’s £3,000 decider.

As you’d expect over this sharp four-bend course there is serious early speed on display in both eliminators and the draw on the inside may prove pivotal for Matt Dartnall’s Amuse The Droop in the dogs’ clash at 7.08.

All three heats saw seeded winners, with Fire Spark, Only Mahoney and Signature Callum now drawn in traps four, five and six and the selection – a really impressive winner when drawn red here two runs back – can avoid any crowding and steal a march.

Stuart Maplesden’s Hove bitch Punk Rock Doll really took off when returning to Crayford for the Dolls heats last week and gets a confident vote to repeat the dose in the all-female semi at 7.43 where she lines up in the same outside berth.

Two supporting competition also get under way tonight and West’s Ballynabee Jet can set the ball rolling in heat one of the Ladbrokes Kent Vase at 6.50.

This 540m course is arguably a maximum for him in terms of stamina capabilities, but he can build a good lead from six and repel all challengers.

Janssens has a strong hand in the second heat (7.25) and can field the forecast courtesy of well-drawn railer Doolin Princess and versatile Seaglass Smokey, while the red jacket can also be carried to success in the third eliminator at 8.02 when Wallis’s Aayamza Lexie looks a solid bet for favourite backers.

Two heats of the 380m Kent Champion Hurdle add further spice to an excellent card and jumps doyen Rick Holloway looks extremely strong in the first of these at 9.17, with his

Nomansland Flyer expected to account for kennelmate Roxholme Biscuit.

Holloway’s Grand National runner-up Toolmaker Daddy is likely to head the betting for heat two at 9.35, but a chance is taken here with Jim Daly’s local jumper Kicking King who is more than capable of mixing it with the big names on home sand.

Over at Monmore, Wallis can strike in two divisions of a 480m stake courtesy of classy duo Coolavanny Kyser – who looks well set on the fence at 7.21 –and Ivy Hill Skyhigh (9.18).

Other non-maiden fancies are Paul Sallis’s Ballydoyle Luigi (6.17, pups), Kim Billingham’s Final Moon (6.48, sprint) plus Stuart Buckland’s

Daddys Prince and Kevin Hutton’s Kingsbrook Glynn in respective six-bend contests at 8.03 and 9.02.

Open Check nap

Punk Rock Doll

7.43 Crayford

GREYHOUNDS

en-ie

2021-06-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

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