Cahill’s Rayvin Giovanni takes the lead: Champions Night Puppy Standard recap
Romford hosted the Champions Night Puppy Standard heats last night in preparation for next week’s £1,000 final. The top two hounds of each 400 metre heat qualified for the final.
In the first heat, 5-2 race favourite, Seathwaite Ville, had a great start and led early, but couldn’t maintain the lead past the halfway point of the race. Instead it was Devastator who devastated Ville with an inside challenge. Ville succumbed to Devastator, and then allowed Cotswold Hegarty a chance to get back into the race after losing ground on the first bend. With Devastator well out in front, Hegarty managed to stay ahead of Ville as they crossed the finish line, earning himself a spot in the final and eliminating Ville at the same time. Other first heat eliminations included Daisyfield West, Dreams Cometrue, and Final Gold.
The second heat saw three hounds drop out and only two replacements fill in. Aero Gaga replaced Jolly Rumble in the first trap, and Cockney Diva took Quernhow Homer’s sixth trap. The third trap remained empty after Lookoutforeve dropped out.
With two longshot replacements in the first and sixth traps, and another longshot in the second trap, 1-4 race favourite, Rayvin Giovanni, had no trouble winning the race despite a poor start. Giovanni will look to add to trainer Seamus Cahill’s recent success in next week’s final. Look for Cahill’s Rayvin Giovanni to further separate the hounds from the pups in the upcoming race.
Coming in second, a long 7 lengths behind Giovanni, was Hidden Universe, and another 7 ¾ lengths behind him was 33-1 longshot, Aero Gaga. Finishing in fourth was Strattons Brett, and in fifth was Cockney Diva.
The third and final puppy heat saw another race favourite take first. Little Urge, at 1-3, led after the first bend and held off Killishin Sport as the rest of the pack trailed in the distance. Sport was only 1 ½ lengths behind Urge and third place finisher Miles Better was another 7 lengths behind Sport. Fourth position went to Forward Jack, and fifth to Archers Eagle. Trailing Eagle took sixth, and two seconds behind was Jadon Blue.
It should be a great final as the heats eliminated those who may not have had what it takes to bring home a win.
The draw for the Puppy final is set: 1 Devastator, 2 Little Urge, 3 Rayvin Giovanni (m), 4 Cotswold Hegarty (m), 5 Hidden Universe (m), 6 Killishin Sport (w).
Tags: