Underground Fizz fancied to sparkle at Nottingham

Underground Fizz fancied to sparkle at Nottingham 

Arc Puppy Classic – ante post betting 

All eyes on Nottingham this evening as the Category One Arc Puppy Classic takes centre stage with four heats taking place. 

The semi-finals of the competition will take place on Monday, August 18 with the £12.500 to the winner final a week later on Monday, August 25. Finals night will also see the Arena Racing Company Select Stakes take place alongside the ARC Select Stayers. 

The Puppy Classic was inaugurated in 1995 with the competition open to puppies aged two years and under. Over the years Coldseal, William Hill, Cafferreys, JenningsBet and Carling have all sponsored the event. 

The bookmakers have the Patrick Janssens-trained superstar Romeo Alliance as the ante-post favourite at 2s with the Kevin Hutton-trained Kranky Drake next in at 5/2.

Let’s take a look at the best prices available for each runner in the 2025 Arc Puppy Classic that starts this evening at the Colwick Park venue, Nottingham.  

Romeo Alliance 2, Kranky Drake 5/2, Not So Steady 7, Romeo Ability 8, Blackhouse Lewi 20, Aghaburren Ben 22, Santas Amigo 25, Droopya Poker 33, Droopys Alldeway 33, Underground Fizz 33, Bramble Shelby 33, Mad For Cash 40, Carmac Cash 40, Coolderrydancer 50, Bouncing Monarch 50, Return Package 50, Toomuchchat 66, Deelish Denzel 66, Whisky Elsa 80, Aero Academy 100, Zenith Jimbombom 125, Zenith Ottoman 125, Zenith Legend 225, Zenith Kindy 225.

Recent JR Racing Juvenile Classic winner Romeo Alliance heads the market at 2s with Bresbet, Skybet and Paddy Power, Unibet are not looking to lay the favourite and go 13/8. Kranky Drake ran an eye-catching race over course and distance last week and looks a major player for outright honours and is a best priced 5/2 chance with bet365, William Hill and Unibet. 

Of those at bigger prices, shop around for the best prices on offer. For example, Santas Amigo is 18s with William Hill yet 25s with Bresbet. Mad For Cash and Carmac Cash are 40s in places yet 25s elsewhere. Zenith Ottoman is 66s with bet365 yet on offer at 225s with William Hill so make sure you check out the likes of Oddschecker for all the latest prices on offer. 

One at a price that could go well is Underground Fizz from the Paul Young kennel. Owner Alan Heard had this to say about the October 2023 daughter of Droopys Sydney who lines up from T2 in heat one of the Arc Puppy Classic at 8.01: “She’s from the same breeding as English Derby winner Droopys Plunge, there’s four from the litter running in the Arc Puppy Classic, Droopys Alldeway, Aero Academy, Zenith Legend plus Fizz. We’re excited about her. She was originally bought for the Romford Puppy Cup, and although she’s dipped below 24 seconds around there, we think the likes of Nottingham and Towcester will suit her better. She improved nicely from her first look around Nottingham (30.44) to then clock 30.10 last week. That sort of time would put her bang in this.

Speaking about the first round heat Heard said: "Kranky Drake (T6) looks a bit of a flying machine, but if Fizz can get out and clear Mad For Cash in T1 into the corner we have every chance of qualifying and would happily take second or third. You need luck to get into the final of these competitions, so let’s see.

Speaking about the betting and overall quality of the event, Alan Heard added: “I think Fizz is an each-way bet at 28s and 33s (William Hill and Bresbet). This long run into the corner will suit, and the distance will be perfect for her. It's a cracking competition though. Patrick Janssens has a strong hand with the JR Racing Juvenile one-two-three (Romeo Alliance, Not So Steady and Romeo Ability) plus, of course, Kevin Hutton with Kranky Drake, who is in the same heat as Fizz this evening. Long term, the aim is for Underground Fizz and Underground Nicky to run in the Click Competitions East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth and then the Oaks around Dunstall Park.’’

Let's look ahead to this evenings four heats: 

Heat one at 8.01 will see Kranky Drake start as the odds-on favourite from T6. Ladbrokes and Coral go 4/9 about the Kevin Hutton-trained middle seed with bet365 and William Hills now going 1/3 after support this afternoon. Mad For Cash (T1) and Underground Fizz (T2) are both on offer at 6s. 

Heat two at 8.19 will see the Patrick Janssens-trained Romeo Ability line up from T4. Ladbrokes and Coral make him a 4/9 chance with bet365 again shorter at 2/5. Droopys Alldeway (T1) has seen some support throughout the day and is now a best priced 5s chance with Skybet. Aghaburren Ben (T6) is next in at 11/2 with Bresbet. 

Heat 3 at 8.36 will see Romeo Alliance line up from T4. If the October 2023 son of Romeo Magico brings his trapping boots, this could be all over bar the shouting at lid rise, on the bunny he’s a class act. William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral all make Romeo Alliance the 1/3 favourite with Santas Amigo next in at 6s with Skybet. Blackhouse Lewi is a general 8s chance with Bramble Shelby available at 14s.

Heat four of the Arc Puppy Classic at 8.54 will see JR Racing Juvenile runner-up Not So Steady lines up from T4 for English Derby-winning trainer Patrick Janssens. Following on from an impressive course and distance win last week in a trial stakes race, the bookmakers are taking no chances on the September 2023 son of Ballymac Bolger and go 2/5. Carmac Cash (T2) is best priced 15/2 with Skybet and Paddy Power. Droopys Poker who finished third in the Ladbrokes.com 480 Puppy final at Monmore back in May is on offer at 7s with Ladbrokes and Coral.

Visit the Nottingham Greyhound stadium website for further information and ticket details - HERE