And then there were six . . . the Coral Puppy Cup Final
A fantastic Coral Puppy Cup final awaits where there will be a different trainer and owners’ name attached to the winner this year. David Mullins and Dave Firmager have won the last two puppy cups but this year we have six outside trainers competing for this special prize. We also have the top three in the outright market at the start of the competition in the final – writes Joe Conneely.
Fire And Ice was the Original Ante Post favourite and the draw has worked out perfectly for him on the inside. He was an impressive winner in round one before surprisingly to most being caught last week when leading but Untold Rufiyaa reeled him in late on. He is 6/4 favourite with Coral to win the race this evening and has the perfect make up in trap one.
Gingers Prince has gone unbeaten through the competition with a majorly impressive semi final display from an unfavourable draw in trap four clocking fastest of the three semi finals 23.89. connections would have been hoping for a draw inside Fire And Ice but he has shown guts and steel to get to this stage with two victories having working hard to lead in both races so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him pop out and lead. If leading he would take some catching and is 9/2 with the sponsors Coral.
Untold Rufiyaa is a very fast pup who will be better over stiffer four bend trips so to make this final the way he has is credit to him and shows his versatility. He burst onto the scene with a 23.78 on debut in a maiden over C&D. He worked extremely hard to quality in the first round before a professional performance in the semi final catching Fire And Ice. He is yet to go ping from the boxes and if doing so would be a huge player. The draw in trap three is far from ideal but a clear run for this dog would see him go extremely close and is 11/4 with Coral to land the spoils.
Ritz To Rubble is the outsider of the field at 12/1 with Coral but has run two big races in success when finishing second to Gingers Prince in round one and second to Roanna Mamba in last weeks semi final. She has the worse draw of the six runners being out in trap four and will be looking to dart left early from the boxes but has plenty of early pace on her inside. She is going to need a slice of luck to win this but her never say die attitude has served her well to this point.
Newinn Souly another who was well fancied at the top of the market before the competition got underway has done well to make the final with two second place finishes without looking his best. Like Ritz To Rubble, Newinn Souly has been beat by Roanna Mamba and Gingers Prince in heats and semi final when well fancied in both. He has a nice draw to work from with trap four edging left early and if he can hold Roanna Mamba on his outside and clear the inside runners he would be a big player. We are yet to see the best of Newinn Souly and there is no better time to produce that with him being a 13/2 chance with the sponsors.
Roanna Mamba is the second unbeaten runner in the final and is going from strength to strength with some slick exits. He has won three in a row from traps three, four and five so a different box for him to try and break how he has been in tonights decider and connections probably would have preferred to be drawn inside Newinn Souly but if Roanna Mamba traps how he has been it wouldn’t make a difference as he would have a nice run into the bend. He then needs to clear the inside runners and if doing so he is another who would be very tough to beat. He potentially looks the value bet at 5/1 with Coral.
I put Gingers Prince up each way at 33/1 outright so I am hoping we get a big run out of him but the draw hasn’t worked out in his favour sandwiched between the two most fancied runners in the race. With that I am going to be with Fire And Ice on the inside who has a brilliant draw to work from. If he traps on terms I can’t see anything leading him to the first bend and from there I would be surprised to see him caught as he was last week. Roanna Mamba has a good make up out wide and challenge Fire And Ice with Untold Rufiyaa hoping for a clear passage to give himself the best chance but I have to be with Fire And Ice on the inside in what is a brilliant final.
1st Fire And Ice – 2nd Roanna Mamba – 3rd Untold Rufiyaa
Go fastest in Oaks prep
Click East Anglian Derby winner Druids Say Go was the quickest trialist at Perry Barr on Thursday afternoon heading into next Saturday’s PGR Oaks first round.
The Patrick Janssens trained runner clocked 28.14 on normal going. Recent Empress Stakes winner, and likely ante post favourite Avongate Venus clocked 28.37 at the same session. The videos can be viewed on Perry Barr’s Youtube link.
Pelaw to join SIS?
Pelaw Grange
Following the announcement that Pelaw Grange has been purchased by Star Sports, ARC have announced that the venue will no longer form part of its service to the betting industry.
So far there has been no announcement from the new owners, though the Star understands that they are expected to join the SIS service from that date – which coincided with the end of their ARC contract.
Speculation over plans for the track have been rife with Pelaw advertising for two new posts and confirmation that the track plan to increase their race schedule. The Star also understands that there will be increases in prize money and that the track has been inundated with applications for trainers from various other venues.
We anticipate being able to confirm all the above in due course.
Joe’s Friday Tips
***9.28 Romford – Chiltern Sunny (4/1 Coral)
**7.27 Romford – On The Banks (5/4 Coral)
*8.54 Romford – Miltons Dream (2/1 Coral)
The Coral Romford Puppy Final is upon us and a brilliant undercard to enjoy as well including a really intriguing match race over 400m sponsored superbly by GB Skip Hire between Links Maverick and Not So Slow.
The Nap of the evening runs in the Return Of Phillies 400m race at 9.28pm. Chiltern Sunny runs from trap four and has a lovely draw to work from. With three dogs on her inside she should clear and Whitewood Lenny in trap five ideally wanting trap six, Chiltern Sunny can soar down the middle of the track to lead at the first bend and with a recent 23.89 on the card when leading, I would be gobsmacked to see her lead and be caught and 4/1 looks an insanely big price.
The Next Best on the card is trap one On The Banks in the Coral Romford Puppy Cup Consolation at 7.27pm. He went out behind Roanna Mamba in last weeks semi final but can make amends this evening from a good draw on the inside. Rapido Ali in trap two should give On The Banks plenty of room and if he comes away he should lead at the bend and win.
The GB Skip Hire match race at 9.46pm is a cracker. Links Maverick and Not So Slow Go head to head and I have to be with Links Maverick purely on his consistent trapping ability. Not So Slow is running at the top of his game but I’ll be with Links Maverick to be in front off the second bend and win
Other selections on the card include Miltons Dream in the 8.54pm over 400m, Teaboy Brownie in the sprint at 8.19pm and Never Say No in the PGR Champion Stakes Trial Stakes over 575m at 7.11pm
OPENS
Saturday: Central Park ♦ Doncaster ♦ Monmore ♦ Perry Barr
Sunday: Crayford ♦ Sheffield ♦ Towcester
