The category one Bet365 Challenge Cup Final with a winners prize of £10,000 takes centre stage at Oxford stadium this evening and is ably supported by a full open card with races over a variety of distances. The Mark Wallis trained and Amanda Jeal owned Antigua Sugar will be looking to add a second category one title to her cv having ran a storming race when landing the Juvenile final at Towcester last August. Sugar looks to have a little bit to do to clear the early paced Silverspring Ria (Trainer John Mullins , Owner Badabing Syndicate) drawn to her immediate inside and though with a break she should just about do so there is enough to be concerned about at the likely price to look elsewhere for the winner. Kevin Hutton’s WOTA SWELL PARTY (owner Mr M G Wightman) got the better of Sugar in last weeks semi final when coming through in the latter stages and if there is any jostling between the outside pair then tonight’s final could well go the same way. Party to win for the Hutton team with a small bet in the place market well worth consideration in the main event at 904pm.
Earlier on the card Matt Dartnall’s FIFTY NINE who was eliminated from the Challenge Cup at the quarter final stage can gain a small amount of compensation by landing the Bet365 Stayers at 825pm. He is without doubt more miss than hit at the start but doesn’t have to lead to win and should gain a much clearer run to halfway tonight than he did last time out.
The Dartnall team can complete a double when their superstar SPACE JET steps back up to marathon distances for the first time since June last year. Her price will likely be prohibitive and in reality she is one to watch as she lines up in the Bet365 Marathon at 920pm.
The best bet on the card looks to be in the very last race of the night with Kevin Hutton’s COPPICE JOSIE (NAP) looking drawn to perfection in the Bet365 Standard at 936pm. The four runners drawn to her inside should all be seeking pitches nearer the rail and with any kind of start Josie looks sure to lead at the turn and soon stride into a lead which shouldn’t be relinquished.
