Coral Sussex Cup heats preview: Joe to start title defence in style
Published:
David Metcalf | July 14, 2016
Ballymac Mossjoe can collect in Coral Sussex Cup openers
The first round of the Coral Sussex Cup takes place at Hove tonight and reigning champion Ballymac Mossjoe can get his title defence off to a flying start with success in Heat 2 at 19:37.
Barrie Draper’s dog is a real class act who is three form four at the track, with his sole defeat coming in the first round of the competition last year when beaten by just a head.
The son of Ballymac Vic is also 1-1 from Trap 3 and well drawn in the white jacket to hold his main rival T4 Oscar Junior on the run to the first bend.
Ballymac Mossjoe should then be in the driving seat as he has a real will to win and pulls out more when needed to get the job done.
Here’s my thoughts on the other five heats plus an ante post pick to win the competition outright:
19:22 Heat 1 – T4 Oscar Whisky
Oscar Whisky is a really likeable and progressive sort who ran a blinder when a one length third to Ballymac Mossjoe last time out at Nottingham after twice getting badly crowded. Charlie Lister’s youngster is blessed with stacks of early pace, looks to have a peach of a draw, and with a slick start should prove far too good for his rivals.
19:52 Heat 3 – Alfjack
Trained by Maxine Lock, Alfjack is a consistent sort who has won eight of his 30 starts at the venue and has a 50 per cent strike rate at it from the red jacket. He ran very well over course and distance three starts back when leading until getting picked-up close home and beaten 3/4 of a length by Barricane Tiger and looks nicely housed on the inside of a slow starter to ping out and make all.
20:07 Heat 4 – T1 Monty Don
Barricane Tiger heads the market but will have to ride his luck at the first bend and looks worth taking on with Monty Don. Dean Childs’ son of Crash if four from eight at the track and produced a 4.36 sectional in the last of those successes when sporting the red jacket. If turning in front he could be tough to peg back.
20:22 Heat 5 – T5 Bockos Alfie (NAP)
Patrick Janssens’ Bockie Alfie is a really exciting and progressive youngster who is 2-2 over course and distance. The son of Droopy’s Scolari has enough early pace to clear those on the inside an open up down the back straight to quickly put the race to bed. Also looks the type who has plenty more left in the locker and a major player to win the competition outright.
20:37 Heat 6 – T2 Johns Present (NB)
Johns Present has been in fine form at Romford of late and looks terrific value to land the spoils. Paul Young’s charge is a dual winner over course and distance and produced a 4.29 sectional in the last of those victories. A similar exit should enable him to boss the inside, and if doing so he is a tenacious sort who will be hard to pass.
Related
Ante post selection to win competition outright: Bockos Alfie 10/1
