Coral Sussex Cup Final – Runner-by-runner

First run in 1972, the Sussex Cup has one of the best rolls of honour in greyhound racing with a host of champions winning the 515m contest. A £10,000 winner’s prize is up for grabs, won last year by the locally trained Candolim Monsoon for Derek Knight. Knight fields two in the 2024 final.

1 ROMEO COMMAND

(Dorotas Wildcat – Drive On Betsy, Jan 21) Patrick Janssens – Mr D Firmager

This dual Category one finalist, including the 2023 Star Sports / TRC Greyhound Derby when finishing runner-up to Gaytime Nemo, has shown in the last month just how good he is. A Dominant display in the British Bred final at Towcester on Derby Final night was consolation following his exit in the first round of the Derby. That run on June 29 has been followed up by two impressive victories in heats and semi-final of the Coral Sussex Cup. He clocked a fast 29.83 in last week’s semi-final. Trap one wouldn’t be the ideal draw for Romeo Command but he continues to show he can win from any box. He is 7/4 second favourite with the sponsors Coral.

2 DROOPYS CLUE

(Out Of Range – Droopys Natalia, Aug 21) – Seamus Cahill – Keylight Hire Ltd

Deserved Greyhound Of The Year winner for 2023, Droopys Clue has shown his versatility. He won the St Leger over 710m at Perry Barr, The George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial over 740m at Hove and broke the track record over 500m at Towcester. Connections would have been distraught to learn of the wrist injury that kept Droopys Clue out of the Derby but he came back with a bang on Derby Final night, winning the first race of the evening in style.

He has been professional as expected through the competition. He qualified fastest of the finalists in last week’s semi-final clocking a rapid 29.66 calculated. The draw immediately outside Romeo Command would be a concern but he has proven in the past he can overcome tricky draws in big races. Droopys Clue is the 6/5 favourite with Coral.

3 CLONA URIEL

(Droopys Sydney – Swift Wriggle, Apr 21) – Derek Knight – Messers C & K Winter

A stop-start career for Clona Uriel has proven costly as we have seen in this competition just how fast he is. He made the Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby final at Monmore at the start of his career when beaten by Bradys Bullet in March 2023. Since then, he hasn’t had a consistent run of races to show what he is capable of. The week before this competition started, Clona Uriel was an impressive winner of an A1 over the 500m trip.

He followed that up by running Droopys Clue to half a length in the first round finishing third. He then went two better by beating kennel mate Newinn Benni in last week’s semi-final in a time of 30.22. Clona Uriel needs to trap in front and hope things work out in his favour in behind to see him victorious in Saturday’s decider. He is 10/1 with Coral.

4 UNCLE FREDDIE

(Burgess Bucks – Burgess Helena, Feb 22) – Richard Rees – Kangaroo Patrol

This dog hasn’t won as many races as he probably should have but when you look at the calibre of greyhound he has been in with since the turn of the year, that would explain why. Runs behind King Capaldi and King Memphis at Central Park were followed by a two-month break before heading to Towcester for the Derby. An early exit allowed Uncle Freddie a crack at the Greyhound Traders competition where he was desperately unlucky in the final. He was coming to win the race but was short of room late when finishing behind Gary The Arb.

He has run two huge races in this competition, beaten a short head by Droopys Clue in the first round and three parts of a length by Romeo Command in the semi-final last week. We are yet to see the best of Uncle Freddie and a monster run is in there somewhere. The draw has worked out well for him in trap four where he is a 12/1 shot with the sponsors.

5 WASTED MONDAY

(Good News – Vale Recruit, Jun 21) – Belinda Green – Messers McMorros & Tubman

A Finalist in last year’s Coral Sussex Cup, and a finalist in the Coral Olympic in December 2023, Hove really is where we see the best of Wasted Monday. He was knocked out in the second round of the Greyhound Derby at a track that never suited him so this would have been the next obvious target for him.

A comfortable first-round victory was followed up by (in my opinion) a better performance behind Droopys Clue where he went toe to toe with the Sussex Cup favourite being beaten just over two lengths. He has a good draw to work from and 8/1 with the sponsors could be a spot of value if you are looking to stay away from the main two in the market.

6 NEWINN BENNI

(Droopys Sydney – Newinn Cuckoo, Apr 22) – Derek Knight – Rinn Prem Ocl Syndicate

Starting his Hove career in A4 at the beginning of 2024 allowed this dog to learn. It wouldn’t be long before Newinn Benni was competing in Open Races. He never looked like a dog who would get the 515m at Hove but his potent early speed has served him well in this competition to date.

A professional half-length victory over Antigua Bingo in round one was followed up by a half-length defeat to kennel mate Clona Uriel in the semi-final where he stayed handy throughout. This dog has one way of winning. Flying out, leading and making all with a bit of luck in behind. Coral makes him an 8/1 chance to land the final.

Conclusion

We really do have a cracking final to savour. It entirely depends on what kind of run Romeo Command and Droopys Clue get early on in the race. Romeo Command will move off from trap one as we know. Clona Uriel will edge in from trap three so Droopys Clue has to track clever here to give himself the best chance possible.

The early pace will be seen on the outside from Newinn Benni who has a good draw to work from. Uncle Freddie is putting in huge runs in defeat and will be looking to go one better than his two runner-up finishes in the competition so far but my selection at a big price is going to be Wasted Monday.

He loves the track and trip having made two category one finals over C&D last year and at 8/1 I think the race could suit with expected trouble on his inside. If Wasted Monday manages to lead Uncle Freddie and turn in a position behind Newinn Benni, I would fancy Wasted Monday to catch Newinn Benni late on. At 8/1, I’m more than happy to take a chance on him.

Good Luck to all the finalists this evening