Head Iton Ellis lands Sussex Cup at Hove
It was nearly a case of one in, one out, at Hove this evening as the busy Sussex track was only 20 people short of maximum capacity for the Sussex Cup Finals night, in which Head Iton Ellis (5.75) landed the showpiece race, the Sussex Cup, for trainer Sean Race.
Defying what was deemed an impossible draw from trap four the bettor.com selection bolted out of the traps and grabbed the lead at the first bend. As the eventual winner moved off towards the rails this caused expected trouble for joint favourites Balllymac William and Deanridge Rage, which gave Head Iton Ellis a three length lead down the back straight. Deanridge Rage sprouted wings at the third bend but the black jacket kept up the running, to hold off Dean Childs’ runner to land the £10,000 prize.
It was once again a very profitable night for bettor.com readers as the nap (Jimmy Lollie) and next best selection (Head Iton Ellis) both obliged to increase the success rate for the in-form tipster.
The night got off to a record breaking start with Junior Mac (4.00), owned by the Let’s Get on Large syndicate, flying out impressively and making all in the hurdle race to leave the three Grand National finalists trailing in his wake. The time was recorded at 29.83secs which was confirmed by the timekeepers as a new track record, 25 spots quicker than the previous, which had stood for eight years.
Favourite backers were in the money in the second, as the well supported He Went Woosh (1.80) held off his brother Useful Asset to land the Coral Trophy by half a length.
Jimmy Lolly (1.50) enhanced his claims of picking up the greyhound of the year award with yet another fantastic performance in the Coral Sprint Trophy final, breaking his own track record in doing so. His 15th win from 16 starts at the track was completed in an incredible time of 15.94secs; pulling four lengths clear of Karma Kieren.
Veteran b***h Midway Skipper got the better of her arch rival Taylors Riveira (3.25) in the Coralcasino.com Trophy, meaning the two champion stayers have now drawn level in race victories over each other. Her animated trainer, Henry Chalkley, cheered his dog home from the stands as she grabbed the lead at the first bend and held off all challengers for the remaining 700m in a time of 56.47secs.
Droopys Start (4.25) returned from an injury hit season to land the spoils for trainer Dean Childs in the Coral Ladies Trophy Final. The slow starting hound made a wonderful move between the two front runners Swift Ribenia and Pine Isle turning for home which stole the race and she went on to score by two lengths.
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