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Golden Jacket Betting: Merc can get the engine revving in the final

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Darrell Williams previews Saturday's ante-post action and looks at Thursday's Arc semis

The Golden Jacket final is live in the betting shops on Saturday morning and even after two rounds the valuable prize still looks up for grabs.

Swift Jade who literally got up on the line to win her semi-final is the only unbeaten finalist and is undoubtedly the greyhound in form. Since returning from her seasonal break in November she's won eight of her 15 starts including the recent Pepsi Marathon at Walthamstow (Spiridon Louis only fourth) and is now three from three at Crayford. Given that it was ante-post rival Barnfield Brooke that she edged out in what was by far the toughest of the three semi-finals, logic would suggest she is now the one to beat in Saturday's showdown. However, I don't believe it's as simple as that as both runners had enjoyed far from clear runs before eventually making their challenges. The pace appears to be inside and outside with Charlies Dream, who will be far more comfortable in trap one taking on semi-final rival Shelbourne Merc (trap six) in the battle for early supremacy.

To this observer, Shelbourne Merc seemed to stay a little better in that race, eventually coming out a comfortable two length winner. With Tipp The Breeze who was scraping paint down the rail last time drawn in trap four and likely to be cutting in at traps rise, I believe Shelbourne Merc could be drawn for success in a tough race and at the current odds is worth a small wager.

Crayford's card also features the Spring Trophy final, the heats of which were also shown in the shops last weekend, and while the Golden Jacket offers all kinds of possibilities, I'd be very disappointed if Barnfield Slippy doesn't come away the winner here. Admittedly Sam Poots' dog missed all the trouble the other day but showed excellent pace up to get clear and was relentless on the bunny.

Main rival and Coronation Cup winner Ronaldos Merit did little wrong himself early on, but the end times tell a very different story, with the selection more than comfortably ahead. While Seamus Cahill's runner faces a more hazardous trap three draw, the selection looks perfectly pitched as the sole wide runner.

The Arc is brewing up into a decent competition with the semi-finals set for Thursday at Walthamstow. Those who followed my quarter-final selections can't fail to be smiling with Blonde Jeannie, Arthurs Joy and Milldean Flash all obliging, while ante-post pick Mustang Garcia also qualified.

At this stage Milldean Flash is probably the dog to beat especially given his draw in the weaker semi-final (9.01) and from a trap two pitch outside slow starter Bower Turbo and inside middle mover Erinaceous Rapid I'll be surprised if he doesn't win his semi-final in good style. If he breaks as he has in the two rounds to date they'll struggle to reel him back in.

The other semi-final (9.40) looks tougher but given her current wellbeing Blonde Jeannie might be the one. Despite a trap three draw I'd still fancy her to clear the inside two runners, although it's the presence of Mustang Garcia and Cobra Striking in four and five who look the biggest dangers. Cobra Striking however does seem to break better from the stripes, which hopefully will ensure Mustang Garcia, a shade below par against that rival on Saturday, can gain a clear run.