Kent Derby semi-final sets stage for exciting final
John Smith’s Kent Derby final field was set on Sunday as the three semi-final heats were completed at Sittingbourne. Seamus Cahill saw all three of his semi-finalists earn spots in the final that goes next Sunday. Cahill has half the field in the final and Lethal Freds, who had a semi-final best time of 29.10s, looks to be in a good position to win after an impressive showing in the first semi-final. Guinness Time and Sparklee Bernie are Cahill’s other two qualifiers.
Lethal Freds and kennelmate Guinness Time, squared off against one another in the first semi-final. From the fifth trap, Freds was in front early and held off Guinness Time to win the race. Guinness kept the race close, was bumped early, and managed to beat 7-4 race favourite, Capel Benjamin. Rocking Rolo had chances to pass, but ended in fourth. Timber Ted finished fifth and Coolavanny Rock, who was bumped early, finished last.
The second semi-final saw Westmead Osprey win over race favourite, Lenson Bolt. Bolt, who was favoured at 11-10, got off to a good start, but wasn’t able to catch Osprey. Dilemmas Tom was bumped and finished in third. Buzz Doc slowly faded and ended in fourth. Jacks Back and Newmarket Romeo took fifth and sixth respectively. Bolt’s second place finish gives him the opportunity to defend his Kent Derby title from last year. Bolt also had the fastest time in the heats least week.
The third semi-final saw Sleeping Urban beat Uphill’s, Sparklee Bernie, by 3 ½ lengths. Urban was quick out of the traps and led the entire race. Bernie, who stayed wide in the race, pushed but wasn’t able to pass Urban. Bernie only beat third place, Lenson Duo, by a shoulder. Mecano, who finished fourth, was also close, finishing ¾ lengths behind Duo. Bridge Flash finished fifth and Rhapsody Inblack came in last. Bernie finished runner-up to Urban, by a shoulder, in their heat last week.
Next week’s final is set to be an exciting one, Urban and Bernie will go head to head for the third straight week, and Guinness will have another chance to race against Freds. Cahill having three of six finalists, and the inclusion of last year’s winner, Lenson Bolt, adds another couple of interesting factors to the final.
Next week’s £7500 final will see Sleeping Urban in trap one, Westmead Osprey in trap two, Lenson Bolt in trap three, Guinnesss Time in trap four, Lethal Freds in trap five, and Sparklee Bernie in the sixth trap.
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