The William Hill All England Cup – sometimes called the ‘Geordie’s Derby’ was first held in 1938 and won by Sidney Orton’s Ballyjoker. Among previous winners of the competition are English Derby winners Endless Gossip, Mondays News and the locally reared Slippy Blue.
Of tonight’s trainers, Harry Williams won the event in 1988 with his home bred Pond Hurricane, in 1992 with New Level and again in 2012 with Mags Gamble. Pat Flaherty last won the All England 22 years ago with Greenwell Eagle while Angela Harrison took the 2017 final with Droopys Expert.
The most prolific winner of the event though was Charlie Lister OBE – who else – with six victories.
The lightly raced Greenwell Jet began his racing career almost exactly a year ago when beaten by Droopys Verve in a puppy open over the All England course.He reached the semis of the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby but didn’t win his first open until landing a puppy event at Shawfield (480-29.42 +30) on Scottish Derby Final night.
His only other race win came in the first round heat of the All England coming from last to first. He would probably be favourite to be the last dog at the bend, and thus have to come from behind Droopys Verve. That is reflected in his price with the sponsors of 14-1.
Trainer son John Flaherty said: “Apart from the favourite, I think we are as good as the rest of them. Our lad has not been coming away though we think he has more early than he has shown. The way he is breaking, he should give the favourite a clear run. To have any chance, we really need a bit of trouble in the race.”
Verve clocked 28.40 (+10) on debut at 16 months over this course and distance. He won two heats of the Monmore Puppy Derby and was returned evens favourite when beaten by Rising Brandy in the final. He was switched to Towcester for six wins and two seconds in eight races, the two defeats both coming at the hands of Dorotas Wildcat, most memorably in the 2018 Star Sports Derby Final for which he went to traps as the 7-4f. Wildcat clocked 28.85 on the night, Verve had won his previous three qualifiers in 28.76, 28.88 and 28.91.
In July, he beat the best in Ireland in the Dundalk International and was duly made favourite for the Irish Derby. He won his first round heat in 29.49 for the Shelbourne 550yards but was eliminated in the second round. He produced some sparkling trials over course and distance including a 28.16 run but was left flatfooted at the boxes in the first round of the All England. But he looked very much back to his best in the second semi final. He is the sponsor’s 1-2f.
Trainer Angela Harrison said: “The draw hasn’t worked out too badly because the inside dog doesn’t come away and and although we want to turn right at the boxes, so does the white. There is a bit of a concern about being switching from five into two but he ran well from the inside at Monmore earlier in his career. Falcon Bay looks the obvious danger but I’d settle for a clear run behind him early on.”
For a dog with only six wins in 34 races, Carol Weatherall has done exceptionally well with this honest journeyman. In January he reached the Henlow Maiden Derby Final (6th 10-1). In July he reached the Classic Final at Sunderland (4th 20-1). He followed that up with a second place in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup at 25-1.
It was Zidane who took advantage when Affane Party broke down in the first semi final and his three runs over course and distance are probably a testament to his consistency, as well as a guide to his chance. He is the sponsor’s 7-1 third favourite.
The fast starting Falcon Bay came into the competition with three open wins on his card over Notts 305m (17.79 +20), Pelaw 435m (25.91 +10) and over this course and distance in 28.51 (+10) back in August. He is the only unbeaten finalist, all from trap four. A true middle runner, he had the joint quickest sectional in the first round, and the quickest in the third semi final. He is the sponsor’s 7-2 second favourite.
Trainer Billy Thomson said: “I bought Falcon Bay from Irish trainer Pat Buckley after he won in the fastest time of the night at Shelbourne Park – 28.32. He also won a heat of the Irish Leger with the fastest sectional of the night but then picked up a virus and was off for six months. Pat looked after him and didn’t even charge me a kennel bill. I brought him home to be retired, but Pat had kept him in such good condition I decided to get a trainers licence and to try to train him.
“I asked a good friend of mine, Gary Ferguson, who is very good with dogs, how to feed, and he helped me. I took Falcon Bay to Newcastle and he took to the track straight away. Now I can’t believe he has reached the All England Cup Final. I would like to thank both Pat and Gary for all their help.”
It is probably testament to the more consistent and slightly less testing Newcastle surface that Allowdale Bruno was even considered for the All England Cup. Harry Williams William Hill Classic winner made full advantage of his early pace and expert local knowledge but it now relying on good training and a touch of class to see him beyond the 450m for which he appears best suited.
In the all England semis, former Sunderland A1 runner was outrun from the second bend onwards by Holdem Zidane. He started at 10-1 at Sunderland but is even less fancied by the sponsors this time around. They make him the 20-1 outsider.
The versatile and durable Shay began his career with Kevin Hutton but switched to Newcastle last October. He has a 1:3 strike rate over the 480m course and one narrow open race victory over the 640m. His furthest attempt was over 686m at Towcester on Derby final night where he was narrowly beaten in the final strides by Garryglass Champ.
Trainer Gary Carmichael said: “Realistically, he is a good grader. At his best he has a 28.30 run on going that was slightly fast. Realistically he will do 28.50 on a regular basis. The one thing in his favour is that he know the track inside out but to beat Angela’s dog there would need to be trouble in the race. But it’s dog racing so you never know.”
