Only one winning favourite at Romford on Friday and that was in the last heat of the Essex Vase at the end of the night.
An earlier race produced a dead-heat between Chelms Charmer and Racenight Mikey, so we had the inevitable drawing of lots (rule 90), which resulted in Charmer missing out.
Had it been the other way round, Mikey could have stood as a wide reserve. This would have been the case if their previous race times were used as the decisive factor!
After the draw was made at the track on the night, Bacon Frazzles was subsequently withdrawn lame from trap 5 in the last semi-final.
Coral Essex Vase
In this case, Mikey would have stepped in, as the classification allowed him to be included.
Antigua Kestrel tops both the race and sectional ratings after his emphatic victory in only his first-ever race at Romford.
He was chased home by Gary The Arb, who broke the track record last week. It is a tough semi-final with New Destiny in the line-up.
She will clearly come on for the run, but worth taking on in the outright market with Kestrel each-way at 8/1.
The third semi-final sees Tiffield Tarquin as a strong contender and should have ample racing room with a vacant trap now on his inside.
He missed his break in the Champion Stakes final here in October last year and at 7/2 has a chance to put that right as probably the only wide seed reaching the climax next week.
Coral Silver Maiden
The ante-post favourite Zenith Kindy had to work hard to qualify but remains at the head of the market despite that previous performance.
However, his kennelmate Zenith Legend impressed in a fastest of the night and is preferred at around the 7/1 mark.
He was nearly knocked off his legs around the first bend but showed great determination to overhaul Stormy Pat on the run-in.
The second semi-final includes three heat winners, but Seomra Hachi has been underrated.
At 20/1 each-way, he looks the value in a highly competitive event. Getting a clear run is easier said than done over four bends at Romford, but capable of defying those odds as the sole wide seed.
ARC Cesarewitch
The extended six-bend competition sees Mongys Wild and Droopys Flare hoping to battle it out once again to land the spoils.
The draw has kept them apart in the semi-final stage and both should come through their respective assignments.
Flare had to negotiate a rough ride and slipped around the second bend when pushed out wide in her heat.
Disregarding the finishing time, she was more than capable of going all the way in this category one event.
Unfortunately, she has now been withdrawn, which is a real blow to connections as well as the event itself.
With three going through to the final, Ballymac Madgie at 16/1 is worth an each-way bet. She was caught by Mongys Wild at the last bend but showed enough stamina to qualify.
Deadly Disco recently won the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial and finished behind Madgie in third, so it is not a formality if Mongys Wild gets held up.
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