Blue Riband Trophy Betting: Ace can bring Wallis big-race joy again

Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 21 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

Darrell Williams is sweet on the chances of Jogadusc Ace in Tuesday night's Sky-televised Blue Riband final.

While one or two observers have had a little moan about the overall quality of the Sky Sports covered card at Hall Green on Tuesday night - it's impossible to knock the feature Blue Riband Trophy final, due off at 9.45.

In fairness to the Birmingham track, with the Derby just over a week away, it was always going to be virtually impossible to entice the top four-bend performers to the Midlands, and anyway after a number of exceptionally high quality cards this year, we've probably been a bit spoilt.

In it's time the Blue Riband has been a fair Derby trial - Farloe Verdict competed the double six years ago - while tonight's line up features one of last year's finalists in Lenson Express. Tony Collett's runner has proved himself the ideal competition dog time and time again, with a runner-up spot in the Arc and third place in the Pall Mall already on his 2009 CV. He's already improved on his previous attempt at this competition, having been eliminated in the semi-finals two years ago.

Defending one of two unbeaten records in this year's renewal, his odds of [4.6] are far from unattractive as, given his strength, he should be involved at some stage.

However, it's the other unbeaten finalist, Jogadusc Ace, who is taken to give trainer Mark Wallis another big race winner. Better known as Mountjoy Gold, third in the Birmingham Cup at Perry Barr, and a semi-finalist in both the Produce and Gymcrack here, his early speed is likely to be too strong a weapon for his rivals, while the switch to trap one is unlikely to be a hindrance.

Admittedly his price of [2.64] is the stumbling block, but given the strength of the opposition I wouldn't be too surprised if he were to drift slightly ahead of the race. The favourite's litter and kennelmate Mountjoy Ruby, another who has previously excelled at the track, where he has won five of his seven outings, looks awkwardly drawn, but Goldcrest King, a third finalist for Wallis, rates a threat at 7.0, on his semi-final victory form.

Away from the final, Officer Donagh can confirm Good Friday form by again beating Farloe Flapjack - his biggest danger - in the sprint (8.0). Chris Allsopp's runner, who has won four of his last five starts, was making his Hall Green debut on that occasion, and looks well drawn outside Moatview Storm, who is prone to missing the start.

Sniper Mo Chara was never at the races from a bad draw on that same Easter weekend card, but had earlier impressed when handing out a resounding beating to two of tonight's rivals back in late March. An impressive win in A1 local company over the weekend confirms he remains in good form, and he rates the best bet on the card in division two of the stayers (8.35).

Silverduf Jet, also put forward by The Lord in his column, looks perfectly pitched outside middle runner Blue Appleby to claim the 9.25 and gain small compensation for his Blue Riband semi-final exit. I will however be keeping a close eye on Mark Wallis' recent recruit Kengyelfuto Snow in the same race.