Links Maverick reminded everyone what a superstar he is with a sublime victory to advance to the Ladbrokes Winter Derby final at Monmore Green.
The Tom Heilbron-trained dog – who counts last year’s Ladbrokes Gold Cup among a long list of accolades – was back to his best in the first of three semi-finals on Saturday afternoon.
He clocked a time of 28.09secs, with familiar adversary Churchfield Syd (Richard Rees) finishing second to progress to next Saturday’s £10,000 showpiece.
Maverick’s kennelmate Bogger Rambo followed up a triumph in the first-round heats by taking the spoils in the second semi-final – Elizabeth McNair’s King Sydney in second place.
McNair’s King Capaldi, a box-office attraction in his own right, then managed to beat Links Maverick’s effort as he won semi-final three in 28.01secs ahead of the Monmore-trained Aero Sacundai (Richie Taberner).
An enthusiastic crowd at Monmore was keen to see how the first semi-final would turn out given Maverick had finished third in his first-round heat.
He had last year’s Winter Derby champion, Coolavanny Shado (Patrick Janssens) to contend with along with Rees trio Kila Detail, Drive On Lad and Churchfield Syd, and David Lee’s Bluejig Baron.
Heilbron’s flyer ultimately shot out of trap one and led all the way for a convincing success while Syd grabbed second ahead of Shado, who missed the break and as a result struggled to find a way through the crowd.
A similar showing followed from Bogger Rambo in the second semi-final – quick away and always ahead – while King Sydney finished strongly to hold off the challenge of the game Droopys Eddie (Maxine Locke).
King Capaldi had the day’s quickest four-bend showing to better Aero Sacundai, who trapped superbly to better Queen Joni and has drawn trap one for the final.
Links Maverick will be many people’s pick for the showpiece having landed trap two, with King Sydney and Bogger Rambo in three and four respectively. King Capaldi, a railer by trade, is out in trap five while the race’s only true wide runner Churchfield Syd has trap six.
Also on Saturday morning were heats in three Category Three competitions – the Ladbrokes Winter Dash, Ladbrokes Winter Dual Distance Stayers and Ladbrokes Winter Maiden.
Belinda Green’s Bombout Bullet had the standout showing in the Dash with a terrific 15.15secs – just 0.20secs off the track record.
Aayamza Sydney (John Mullins) won by eight-and-a-half lengths to make the Dual Distance Stayers final, which will take place over 684m after the 630m heats.
Taberner’s Bangon The Clock – who had good form in Ireland as Good Maestro – grabbed his first British win in the Maiden, in an eye-catching 28.15secs.
