Droopys Xavier to show class in Ladbrokes Golden Jacket final
Published:Droopys Xavier can see off his rivals in the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket final.
The £15,000 to the winner contest is one of the biggest prizes to be shown in the betting shops and its distance of eight bends around Crayford is a thorough test of a
greyhound.
The on-course market was positively lukewarm about White Soks Roks (T6) during the semi-finals, but Danny Riordan’s dog romped home in the fastest time of the session.
Drawn in the widest trap of all for the final, he is odds-on to repeat the dose at 8/11.
Pauline’s Pride (T5) didn’t give his backers a moment’s worry during his semi-final and connections will be hoping that he’ll be able to steal a pitch from an awkward trap. But there will be no margin for error with three wide seeds in the field.
20-year-old kennel hand, Kaan Hughes, gets his own shot at the big time through his part-ownership of Eden Rumble (T1).
The son of Head Bound has yet to win a race over the distance, though he’s seen out the 714 metres well and his draw suggests him as likely to secure a run on the inside.
Kevin Hutton is a trainer to follow and the Burford-based handler has two finalists with Pony Bride (T3) and Crinkhill Jewel (T4). Both bitches will aim to follow in the
paw prints of last year’s leading lady, Blue Bee.
Droopys Xavier (T2) has something to prove after he was turned over last week but the St. Leger third is the class act of the sextet.
Trained by Claude Gardiner, he has plenty of early pace and signed off with two emphatic victories in open race company at Hove before being prepared for this valuable competition.
Available at 100/30 with Ladbrokes, he makes plenty of appeal under the circumstances.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
