Newcastle ante-post - All England Cup and Future Stars

Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup

There is plenty of quality at the head of the market before the opening round of the All England Cup. The early pace of Slingshot Poppy could make her very hard to hold if she can ping out three straight times, while Derby finalist Zenith Tanju is going to be popular. Santas Amigo won the Classic at Sunderland recently and a stiffer four bends will suit him well, while Gymcrack winner Elusivenomore and Derby semi-finalist Droopys Bookem add plenty of spice to the ante-post market.

11/4 Slingshot Poppy

7/2 Zenith Tanju

8/1 Santas Amigo

12/1 Elusivenomore

14/1 Droopys Bookem

16/1 Hardwick Woody

18/1 Jacktavern Chief

20/1 Ballymac Lake

25/1 Coppice Saphire, Toddys Tank, Unanimous Leon

33/1 Coolavanny Mercy, Moanteen Webby, Naochra, Parkview Sprite

40/1 Ballymac Sargie, Blackhouse Kim, Bombay Fantasy, Jackos Bono, Saleen Ri

50/1 Droopys Sort, Swift Hostile

66/1 Ballymac Briar, Coolavanny Ken, Coonough May, Crooks Coco, Crooks Stevie, Deerjet Rocket, Delvin Cat, Loxleys Forest, Slingshot Kian

80/1 Fabulous Harmony, Singalong Molly

125/1 Four Over, Freedom Pro Am

150/1 Blackhouse Lewi

Those at the head of the market set a strong standard here but Slingshot Poppy and Zenith Tanju clash in the opening round along with Northern Flat winner Naochra and 2024 Time Juvenile Derby finalist Ballymac Briar. As such, we're looking elsewhere for what we hope is a spot of value.

Unanimous Leon made that Northern Flat final behind Naochra and also made the Classic final behind Santas Amigo recently. He had a confidence boosting win at Star Pelaw last weekend to set him up perfectly for this, and at the prices, he is a little big to get himself into another Category One decider.

Bombay Fantasy ran an absolute stormer in a trial stake last week, beaten a short head by Elusivenomore. Given that the Jimmy Fenwick-trained dog is an 8/1 shot and Debbie Calvert's is 40/1, the disparity is too big. He flew around Doncaster at the start of November ahead of that huge run and he might just surprise a few. 

Ante-post picks

Unanimous Leon 25/1 E/W

Bombay Fantasy 40/1 E/W

Jimmy Wright Future Stars

The market has it all about Mark Wallis's Strike It Skye here and that is no surprise given the body of work that she has put together as a puppy. Although there are others who are far less exposed, flying debut winner Woltemade for example, her added experience is going to be no bad thing in this field. 

5/6 Strike It Skye

6/1 Woltemade

8/1 Ballymac Shontae

10/1 Bouncing Monarch

14/1 Crafty Regalo

16/1 Ballymac Service

25/1 Backtoyourbest, Five Ofa Kind

33/1 Brunssum Bubble, Droopys Anthea, Droopys Link, Oakfront Royale

50/1 Mossend Lav

80/1 Sunnyside Cairo

100/1 Da Rebel Cat, Skye The Boss, Slingshot Major, Swift Despite

150/1 Butterbridge Top, Don Cici, Lorenzo's Grey, Loxleys Star

There are plenty of smart railers in here which does draw the eye to Woltemade who has a wide tag. That could be the way to go here and it strikes as the type who is going to do better now that he has that first experience under his belt. 

Bouncing Monarch is one of those smart railers, and he is going to have to step up on his 28.79 win at the track last time out to trouble a couple of those ahead of him in the market. His big plus point is that like Strike It Skye, he has experience in all-aged company, making the final of the BresBet Steel City Cup. That can stand him in good stead. 

Ante-post picks

Woltemade 6/1 E/W 

Bouncing Monarch 10/1 E/W