There’s £10,000 to the winner of the Essex Vase tonight in a race where a case can be made for all six.
It’s a strong supporting card as well, with some smart types in action on what should be a super Friday evening.
Harrison holds the strongest hand in final
The Essex Vase final at 20.54 has all the makings of a classic. Angela Harrison has two runners with her Coolavanny Aunty looking the way to go. She is gradually finding her feet at this track, by far the quickest semi-finalist last week.
This requires her being at her best in the early stages as one of five railers, especially with bundles of early pace in this race. She is more than capable of doing that though and can use her middle gears to win this on the second lap.
Rosie to get job done on the rails
Zari Rosie has not quite had things go her own way in racing here, unlucky to bump into a particularly smart one on one occasion and having some troubled runs. Last week, however, things all went right for her and the 20.38 looks like a similar story.
The door opened for her off the second bend last week, with the dog who opened it drawn outside her tonight. A vacant trap in three and then three wide seeds should see Paul Burr’s girl get a dream run up the inside off the second turn.
Burgess to show that he’s elite
John Mullins has a very smart stayer in Burgess Elite. He tries the 750m trip at Romford for the first time in the final race of the night at 21.42. The entry rules of this race allow him to run in maiden company which is a huge plus.
He was a multiple Category 1 finalist at the end of 2021, including the Hunt Cup at Towcester where he beat the eventual competition winner and track record holder Salacres Pippy in the semis. He is very much the class act here.
Mullins can switch things up with a double
In the 21.28, Mullins can be on target with Chelms Switch. This is a deeper race than he was in last week but he produced an excellent visual impression on that occasion, including showing smart early pace.
He takes on Droopys Addition in this contest, a hound who has not been in the best form in recent starts and with a draw right on the inside, he looks worth taking on, especially if the selection comes away in the same fashion as he did a week ago.
Cahill’s jet to take off
A smart type in Ireland, Drahan Jet is a perfect 2/2 since arriving over here at the kennels of Seamus Cahill. They have both been over this course and distance, looking well set to add to that unbeaten start in the 20.17.
He stays further than this, a semi-finalist in the Laurels at Cork back in October. Although he has solid early pace, it’s his middle gears that can make the difference here, putting himself in a position where he will prove too strong for his rivals.