JR Racing Puppy Trophy final

JR Racing Puppy Trophy final

The betting suggests this is all about the form of the second heat, when Romeo Alliance prevailed in a ding-dong battle with odds-on favourite Headford Asher in 29.20. 

The pair both missed the break but showed tremendous early speed to go round in front together and went head-to-head thereafter. The Patrick Janssens-trained dog came out on top by three-quarters of a length in 29.20, but Headford Asher remains a hot favourite to gain revenge in the decider. 

Maxine Locke’s charge accounted for Romeo Alliance (third) when scoring over this C&D the time before and the layers fancy him to confirm that piece of form. The key will be if he can get first run from a wider-than-ideal draw in the striped jacket, while Romeo Alliance is arguably better housed in trap four.

However, the fastest heat saw Droopys Poker stay on strongly to pick up the trailblazing Vermithor when scoring in 29.11. 

With the winner sent off at 33/1 and the runner-up a 25/1 shot, it was clearly a huge shock but they shouldn’t be underestimated again. Droopys Poker gave away several lengths at the start and did an awful lot of running to come through and win by a length and a half.

Vermithor was making his debut that day and the Mark Wallis-trained youngster could well show a good amount of improvement for that initial experience. Drawn between well-fancied duo Droopys Trade and Droopys Aladdin, the December 2023 whelp showed a good burst of early speed to turn in front and looks a nice prospect.

Janssens is double-handed in this decider as his Romeo Ability took the other heat. The October 2023 whelp has a bit to find with the others on that 29.43 success from Rogue Duo, but he was completed a C&D hat-trick on that occasion and he has his draw in the red jacket, so he is dangerous to dismiss.

Betting (best prices):

5/4 Headford Asher, 7/2 Romeo Ability, 5/1 Vermithor, Romeo Alliance, 14/1 Droopys Poker, 40/1 Rogue Duo