Golden Jacket Betting: In-form tipster Darrell Williams rates the contenders for the Crayford crown

Events / Darrell Williams / 16 February 2009 / Leave a Comment

The Golden Jacket heats get underway tonight so let Darrell mark your card for the early skirmishes.

While our ante-post selection Fear Zafonic perhaps didn't take the greatest of finding in the Birmingham Cup, this column's prediction that Bomber Bailey at around [19.0] would win the Springbok means we're in fine form ahead of the Golden Jacket, which begins at Crayford this evening.

The Kent track has caught plenty of fancied dogs out over the years, with the sharp circuit never easy to run for those with limited previous experience. The fact the track lost a number of meetings during the recent cold spell, so reducing the opportunity for trial stakes means many runners will find themselves less prepared than their connections would have liked.

That certainly won't be a problem for Midway Skipper, winner of both the Kent Leger over the Jacket trip of 714m and more recently the Boxing Day Marathon, and if breeding means anything, her mother, Midway Tomsscout, won the race in 2004! Trainer Henry Chalkley, out of action himself after breaking his hip, has not been able to get a run into her since she chased home Flying Winner in front of Sky cameras at Perry Barr more than three weeks ago, but insists she's ready to go. I certainly respect her chances - she's unbeaten in six races at Crayford - but just wonder if she's perhaps more effective over slightly further and hope I've not made a bad judgment in looking elsewhere.

My main idea of the winner is Lorrys Options, who has been in great shape for Dean Childs recently, including when beating a useful field at Wimbledon on Springbok final night last Tuesday. That completed his hat-trick, after earlier running fourth in the Prestige, and while he's had only the one chance to trial around Crayford, his fast time for the 380m trip suggests he handles it well. A trap one draw in one of the easier heats (8.02) was the decisive factor in putting him forward at [5.6].

Matthew Dartnall's dogs always warrant the greatest of respect, and I'm also siding with his Black On Air at [14.5]. Off the track since reaching the Kent Leger semi-finals in November - he'd won his first round heat in good style - his two quick trials over 380m and 540m suggest he's ready to bounce straight back. I'd also suggest a play in his heat (9.04) where ex-Irish Pennys Sunstar should help to make the market.

Capel Wilson finds himself in by far the hottest heat, with Prestige winner Hawks Dilemma and 2008 Golden Jacket finalist Tipp The Breeze amongst the opposition. But Anthony Gifkins' runner still makes my cut for an ante post interest as the inside runners could easily come together with Tipp The Breeze particularly awkwardly drawn in trap three. Fortunate to have had two trials over the trip, the latter particularly eye-catching, he's worth a saver at [13.5] and should also be backed for his heat.