From the moment the draw was made most focus on the Puppy Classic fell on the fifth heat which featured three of the top four in the ante post betting. As it turned out, it was 25-1 long range fancy Headford Ranger who provided the shock of the night, and also clocked the fastest time.
Punters would have known a shock was on the cards when favourite Bockos Doomie strolled from the boxes as Ice On Fire set the fastest sectional. Jimmy Fenwick’s runner was pursued by Headford Ranger who appeared to be running for second slot from as early as the first bend.
The favourite moved into fourth and would surely have qualified in any other heat, but when Droopys Cannon refused to yield at the third bend, it was all about the front two. Kevin Hutton’s Ranger finally got past in the 499th metre for a short head victory in a flying 29.45.
Roxholme Dolly, the night’s shortest priced favourite, appeared well placed when second to Antigua Rum off the second bend in the final heat but was beaten on merit by the Kirby Memorial fourth who clocked 29.83, a similar time to Phil Simmonds earlier winner Rack Itup Turbo,
