Ahead of the first round of The BET365 Challenge Cup at Oxford, Samantha Bonner looks back on the 8 Trial Stakes and identifies some leading contenders.
As the foggy evening kicked off at Oxford, we had 8 fantastic Bet365 Challenge Cup stakes to get ourselves running with.
Trial Stakes 1
We had a great first race which included the antepost favourite New Destiny trained by Mark Wallis.
New Destiny quickly took control of the race trapping very smartly doing a nice 15.03 split and a very Impressive 39.60 (-30)!
She’s a leading contender in this competition with her natural trapping ability and strong running pace.
In behind we had a strong performance from Havana Top Note and Forest Roanna.
New Destiny 39.60 (-40)
Trial Stake 2
Trial Stake 2 was also a very competitive race, with the favourite being Ela Maestro who’s trained by Chris Hamblin. In the stripes of the 6, we had the Kevin Hutton trained performer Droopys Creative
Ela Maestro quickly took to the race showing nice early pace (15.12 split) and managed to miss the trouble in behind at the first turn between trap 3 (Aero Arran) trap 5 (Mad for Sterling) and trap 6 (Droopys Creative)
Ela Maestro took a strong running lead and had only Ballinulty Fire being his only real challenger for the first half of the race. Behind this though there was plenty of action happening with Aero Arran moving off at the bend and causing all sorts of problems for Mad for Sterling and Droopys Creative who both looked like they had a lot on their plate to get an invitation spot for next week’s heats.
But, showing their class they got themselves back into the race. At the 4th bend you could see Mad for Sterling really showing some fantastic pace with Droopys Creative following closely behind. Both managed to secure 2nd and 3rd place spots to come back for next week!
Ela Maestro posted a swift 39.98 (-30)
Trial Stake 3
Into Trial Stake 3 now. Once again, this was a competitive race with some fantastic dogs.
Watching the betting, there was support for the black jacket of 4 King Ezra who opened up 7/2 and went off at 2/1F. Unfortunately for Ezra, the race wasn’t going to go in his favour.
Aayamza Sydney, trained by John Mullins, who went in the blue of 2, trapped very smartly clocking a 15.09 split. He also handled the track first time really nicely. He took the lead from the start and made all to take the victory posting a nice 39.98 (-30)
Gagas Merry went off in the orange jacket of 5 at big odds of 9/1, which I personally thought was overpriced seeing as she had recently clocked at 39.88 over the C&D.
King Ezra and Gagas Merry both swung off very wide at the 2nd bend losing themselves a few lengths, letting Aayamza Sydney take hold of the race. They both stayed on very strong in behind securing the 2nd and 3rd spots to come back for next week.
Aazyamza Sydney 39.98(-30)
Trial Stake 4
Trial Stake 4 was a very tasty race once again, with the favourite coming in the form of the red jacket of Low Pressure. Belinda Green’s charge was sent off at 6/5f. Unfortunately the tables were going to be turned for Low Pressure who was only able to finish 4th. Ballymac Johnjo turned up the pressure coming into the last bend, taking the lead and staying on very nicely, posting a 40.69 (-30).
Ted’s Dexter who ran out of the 5 box was impressive in behind, come out of the traps well but was slightly outpaced for the first half of the race, posting at 15.79 split. The Nathan Hunt Trained dog stayed on very well to take 2nd place, with Malglass Brave, who was unlucky in running (when forced to check at the 5th bend when challenging Low pressure), for Richard Rees taking 3rd place .
Ballymac Johnjo 40.69 (-30)
Trial Stake 5
Trial stake 5 next, and what a battle this race was going to be!
The 2 dogs who were being supported in the market was the Liz McNair trained Havana Lover and the Mark Wallis trained Minnie Bullet.
Out of the traps and Havana Lover led up but was quickly joined by Minnie Bullet, who took the lead posting a 15.13 split (Havana Lover 15.18). Minnie Bullet went on in the lead with Lover still on her heels up to the half way point. Down the back, Havana Lover took control of the race and stayed on nicely – taking the win by 3L to Minnie Bullet back in 2nd.
Back in 3rd, securing a spot for next week was Alright Gordon, who lacked any early in the race but stayed on well in behind, trained by David Lewis. .
Havana Lover posted at 39.90 (-40)
Trial stake 6
Going into the 6th trial stake and there was a clear favourite in the field coming in the red Jacket of Lively Lauren, the Matt Dartnell trained bitch.
Lively Lauren went off the clear 4/11F and it showed in her running. She was quickly away out of the boxes, posting a 15.23 split. She was soon in complete control with her closest rival on the first lap coming from trap 3 Queen Pink, who challenged for the first half. But, down the back straight, the strong running trap 4 runner Gutsy Jet trained by Kevin Boon showed some great pace and strong running to pick up Queen Pink and run on to be beaten only 1/2L by the hot Favourite.
Lively Lauren Posted a 40.14 (-40)
Trial Stake 7
Going into the penultimate stakes race, we had a competitive race ahead of us.
Strong in the betting market was the striped jacket of Alright Patricia (7/4F) trained by David Lewis, but close behind him was the 2 Baywatch Bullet (5/2) for Belinda Green.
There was not much early pace in the race and the lead come from Ettas Dream, for Jamie Kingsley, who posted a 15.25 split.
She took the lead and held on strongly until the last bend where the hot favourite Alright Patricia (15.41 split) took charge of the race and stayed on nicely, beating Ettas Dream by 1 1/2L.
Back in 3rd spot we had Coppice Warrior who posted a 15.38 split. He ran competitively throughout the race but wasn’t as strong at the finish with the front 2 runners ahead of him.
Alright Patricia clocked a 40.05 (-40)
Trial stake 8
Into the Final trial stake and what a night it’s been. This final race looks to be a thrilling race to end with.
Watching the betting market closely, there was strong support coming for the white jacket of Longacres Nutty trained by Pat Doocey who opened up at 6/1, touching 11/4 and finishing at 3/1. The favourite was however in the 6, Free Style Sue who went off at 7/4F.
However…. The race was one that had you on the edge of your seat watching.
As the lids opened for the final thriller, there was early pace coming from the inside trio.
Going into the first bend, Clairekeith Remy in 1 was holding the rail snuggly with Sleek by design in 2 closely next to him. Longacres Nutty, in the white jacket, was in a prime position but unfortunately moved off badly impeding the 4 (Hay Bale) -taking them both to the back of the pack.
Up front, Clairekeith Remy, Farneys Willie (trap 5), and Sleek by design all had the lead in a line together.
Clairekeith Remy showed the better pace on the rail going into bend 3, taking the lead down the back. But the strong running Farneys Willie was constantly on his paws and challenging strongly. Despite being in 5th position at the 4th bend, the well supported dog of Pat Doocey, Longacres Nutty showed some phenomenal pace going from 5th (about 5L off the leading pair) to 3rd heading into the 5th bend and closing the gap to within a length on the leaders.
Swinging off the last bend, the strong running Farneys Willie had taken the lead from Clairekeith Remy who was now back in 3rd with Longacres Nutty had now positioned 2nd, closing the gap with every stride. Coming up to the line, Farneys Willie held on from Longacres Nutty, who was beaten just 3/4l, with the hot favourite Freestyle Sue getting up for 3rd position in what you can call a thrilling race to end a fantastic card.
Farneys Willie clocked 40.52 (-40)
Overview of the evening
Well, what a fantastic 8 trial stakes we have had. The fastest time of the night came from the Mark Wallis trained New Destiny who also posted the fastest sectional of 15.03.
The biggest upset and priced winner was Farneys Willie who took the 8th trial at 8/1 odds.
After watching some fantastic performances, there’s a couple of dogs I will be watching out for throughout the competition to see how they progress.
They are Droopys Creative, Gutsy Jet and Longacres Nutty.
I hope you all have enjoyed the write up on the trial stakes and I look forward to watching the heats of the Challenge cup next week.
Good luck to all connections and dogs who take part.
Samantha
