The £10,000 Category One bet365 Challenge Cup concludes at Oxford Stadium tonight, and local hopes are pinned on Wota Swell Party who runs for Burford-based Kevin Hutton.
The two-year-old sprung a major surprise in last week’s cold-affected semi-final when coming from well off the pace to pass race leader Antigua Sugar in the closing strides.
It marked her first triumph of the competition having placed second and third in her respective qualifying heats in Rounds One and Two. But with significantly warmer temperatures forecast, she won’t want to concede too much in the first half of tonight’s final with the track likely to be running far quicker.
Competition sponsors bet365 make Antigua Sugar their 5/4 favourite. Mark Wallis’ two-year-old bitch entered the competition off the back of three eye-catching wins at Monmore and has qualified for tonight’s final with relative ease.
She was triumphant over Wota Swell Party in Round One, clocking 40.11 in fair conditions. But that form was reversed last week in heavy conditions which unquestionably suited Hutton’s star performer.
Making the early running will be key for Antigua Sugar’s chances of success. Her biggest question mark has to be the trip and if she can see out the 650m distance.
Between the mentioned pair are Chelms Cub, Gizmo Smasher, Liquid Lunch and Silverspring Ria.
Jason Heath’s Chelms Cub appears to be the greyhound open to improvement on his previous runs. Despite clocking an opening sectional half-a-second slower than his Round One run last week, his winning time was 0.36 of a second faster.
Now familiar to the Oxford circuit and the slower starting Wota Swell Party on his inside, Chelms Cub might just get the dream run his connections will be hoping for.
Gizmo Smasher will appreciate the break in the cold spell from trap three, although has plenty to find on his two recent efforts. Silverspring Ria meanwhile is the only syndicate owned greyhound and has proven herself to be a consistent performer through the competition – recording times of 40.29, 40.13 and 40.24.
She’ll possibly need to run a personal best to finish in front tonight, but it’s certainly not out of her ability. Finally, Liquid Lunch runs for young trainer Tom Levers.
He has been a star this competition, qualifying in every round despite never being priced shorter than 14/1. He’s finished third in each run and will try his luck from trap four this evening.
Tonight’s card is supported by 10 open races, all sponsored by bet365, with the bet365 Standard starting proceedings at 6.38pm. Tickets are available on the Oxford Stadium website from £9, we hope to see you there!
Bet365 Challenge Cup Final, 9.04pm: Wota Swell Party, Chelms Cub, Gizmo Smasher, Liquid Lunch, Silverspring Ria, Antigua Sugar.
Selection: Chelms Cub.
