Rathglass is a heroic winner of Coronation Cup

Action from Romford

That tight Romford bend strikes again.

Rathglass Hero came through an almighty scrappy and potentially disastrous Coronation Cup final as four dogs ended up on the floor after a huge pile-up at the first bend.

The eventual winner broke best of all from trap four to lead up at the first bend and that proved a race-winning move. Top bend trouble at Romford unfortunately isn’t a rare occurrence in this competition - in two of the semi-final races last weekend first bend carnage left two dogs, including the well-fancied Spinky’s Nod, also tumbling to the ground.

This time it was odds-on shot Rockview Sail that left punters dumbstruck as he and Fatboyz Pacquiao collided and hit the deck at the first bend, therefore severely hampering both Roses Rockin and All On Board. Thankfully all dogs returned to their paws but finished the race miles behind the front two. Not a race the GBGB will use in their end of year montage, you would think.

This left the race as a two dog affair for the remaining five bends with Judicial Academy set the task of chasing down the fast starting McEllistrim runner. It was all in vain though as a silenced Romford crowd witnessed rank outsider Rathglass Hero stride to victory in a time of 35.23secs, four and half lengths in front.

It had been a struggle for favourite backers in the opening races of the televised card but Powerfast Pigeon gave the jolly followers a much needed reprieve when winning the marathon. It had been billed as a race between the eventual winner and Ministry Magpie, however, the former could never get in a position to challenge as Powerfast Pigeon tracked the early leader Penny’s Option, who took them round for the first two laps. Stamina is the game for this talented stayer though and he strode away in dominant style. The official distance was measured at six and three quarter lengths and more marathon events are likely to come the bitch’s way as the year progresses.

Trap three is known as the pingers trap at the Essex-based track and Diamond Cnoc did that theory no harm by making all in fine style in the second division of the 400m standard. The dog racked up his tenth win at the track from the front as he stole four lengths at the start on his rivals, which included one of the country’s top sprinters in the form of Lil Risky.

The performance of the night was produced by the St Leger winner Aero Majestic for Mark Wallis in the 575m event.

He didn’t break very well but his class shone through round the first turn as he whizzed around in front. The locals were already celebrating there and then as the dog, which has been backed throughout the day, scooted clear round the remaining fives bends, winning by a going away eight lengths.

Lewis Jones

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