It is another phenomenal night of racing at Romford and here we preview the two Category One finals on the card – the Coral Puppy Cup and the Coral Champion Stakes.
We start off with the juvenile event (which in UK parlance, still means ‘puppy’) and will begin by refreshing your memories of the three semi finals:
Although the Puppy Cup has a long and distinguished history (1975), the 2020 decider is surely unique in one particular feature – the clue features immediately below the runners’ names in the racecard.
The answer lies in the career records. There can surely never have been another final where the combined racing careers of the finalists is less than 20 races!
The reason, is of course, the global pandemic and no dog epitomises that better than Jimmy Fenwick’s Lightfoot Ripley.
Jimmy said: “I bought the dog on the basis of a couple of trials at a schooling track in Ireland and everything else in the dog’s career can be seen on the racecard. He arrived with me on May 1 and at that stage it was impossible to get any trials for the young dogs. I eventually managed to get him marked up and have that first sprint solo at Newcastle at the end of July.
“He went very well but when he did that 28.71 in his second mixed trial, I think it made him the fastest pup I have ever qualified unraced (Ice on Fire did 28.90!). I realised at that stage that if I tried to run him graded he would end up in A1, and I wasn’t prepared to do that.
“He came to Romford, did a good trial, improved in the first round and then again in the semi final. You would have to expect him to improve again providing he does everything right. But then the connections of the other five finalists all probably have the same idea.
“I am quite relaxed about the draw, in fact I would expect Bubbly Bollinger to be moving in, but everything will depend on Ripley getting the break right.”
Romford racing manager Mark Arkell is delighted to have three locally trained runners in the final, but very appreciative of the efforts made by the two Newcastle trainers.
(Incidentally – Bramble Oliverj is named after Steve Anderson’s father – “I have waited years to get a dog good enough to have the name”)
Arkell said: “The lack of race form for so many pups was probably the reason that we struggled to fill it. But with the exception of Bubbly Magnum, I think most of the fancied runners made the final and we really appreciate the support of Jimmy and Steve in coming such a distance.
“You never know how puppies will perform on the night and I honestly think it is a totally open final. Anything can win it with a clear run. It isn’t ideal having the four railers with one middle and one wide, but that is the nature of open racing. But there aren’t any real concerns.
“The draw seems ideal for Tenpin and Black Hill Boy. Lightfoot Ripley looks the worst drawn of the four railers, though I don’t think he would have been suited to trap one and I expect him to hold his line to the bend. It is a good final and I am looking forward to it.”
Star Sports Jason Gander (Aka Rain Man) is our most consistent ‘winner spotter’ on the Tipsters Challenge. How does he see the contest going?
He said: “The Puppy Cup Final is always a fantastic race and usually a great guide into some exciting pups who will thrive on the competition science for the next 24 months with some luck. In this competition we have seen some really exciting types and the Bubbly Club look to have a couple of really nice dogs on there hands in Bubbly Magnum and Bubbly Bollinger
“Unfortunately it’s only the latter that lines up in this final after a missed break in the semis from Magnum. But I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of that name. Bubbly Bollinger just has favouritism but my preference is for the Newcastle based Bramble Olivierj
“This dog is the real deal and it’s great to see two Northern trained dogs make the trip down South. Oliverj did it nicely after turning second and I can assure you he will come away better for the final.
“With his Northern compatriot likely to be edging in, he can make full use of the space to lead up and make all. Out of the other, runners Tenpin looks like a pure 500m dog, and I am sure he will head to Nottingham after this, even if it is for the puppy competition”
Latest betting: 3-1 Bubbly Bollinger, 7-2 Tenpin, 4-1 Bramble Oliverj, 5-1 Lightfoot Ripley, 13-2 Black Hill Boy, 15-2 Our Lucky Lee
The Coral Champion Stakes Final is a different entity entirely with 183 races split between the six runners, and Desperado Dan alone responsible for 76 of them.
Here are the last six lines of form:
“If Smallmead traps and Dan doesn’t, she wins it five lengths. But if she misses it, we have a very different race.”
Despite fielding half the runners in the Champion Stakes Final, Patrick Janssens realises that the odds are firmly stacked against him.
He said: “John has a very very good bitch in Smallmead. She is consistent and very fast and is righty favourite. But I couldn’t be happier with my three. Desperado Dan has been performing in top class company for two years. He loves Romford and he loves trap one.
“Although he is not so far off his fourth birthday, his 35.21 shows he still isn’t far off his best (35.01 – he did 35.06 as recently as July) and if gets to the bend on the inside of Smallmead, he is a very difficult dog to pass. He is totally genuine, but he slows and goes again.
“But don’t rule out my other two either. Ideally I would have liked them drawn the other way around, but Smokey, who was only two years old in September, still hasn’t led, and he can. View King has 29.15 on his card at Central Park and can do a 35.10 at Romford in my opinion.”
Racing manager Mark Arkell said: “Smallmead is the obvious choice but it is a very open final with lots of solid form over the course and distance. Desperado Dan has won a Coronation Cup, Deanridge Cane recently won the Category Three Summer Cup, and I thought ran very well in defeat behind Smallmead.
“With three railers and three middles it will be tight going to the first bend and whoever comes out in front must have a huge advantage.”
Jason Gander said: “The Champion stakes might not be as clear cut as the betting has it. Smallmead is a 1-3 favourite lining up in this final and the Lee Calcutt owned bitch has shown a real love of Romford after probably slightly disappointing connections at Monmore – probably due to the lack of run to the bend.
“She is the sort of dog bookmakers love to lay and punters love to back. She has been foot perfect so far and has shown no reason to oppose. But the old boy Desperado Dan has re-found form from his youth and really running at the top of his game. He is a dog that won’t win by 10 lengths but will keep pulling when challenged and can be a hazard for Smallmead to clear.
“Of the other runners, I think View King has a chance and would be worth a dabble at double figures prices. But it’s not a race you could confidently get stuck into. As a layer, I would love to get Smallmead in the book but imagine at the off, she would be a 4/7 chance opposed to the 1/3 generally offered at the moment.
Latest betting: 4-7 Smallmead, 7-2 Desperado Dan, 7-1 Deanridge Kane, 12-1 Seaglass Smokey, 14-1 View King, 20-1 Tiffield Maximus
