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Sussex Cup Betting: He may have missed the big one but I'm still backing Barnfield

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The Racing Post's Jonathan Hobbs on the Sky Sports action from Hove

Tuesday's Sussex Cup final at Hove looks an absolute cracker, and the showpiece can be seen as part of an eight-race live Sky broadcast.

Tune in to see potentially a great buckle between market leaders Ballymac Under and Droopys Carvalho.

Of course, we will have no Barnfield On Air, well not in the final at least. Sam Poots's reigning champion could not hold the powerful bend running of the younger Droopys Carvalho, chucking away his chance by switching wide and losing momentum in his semi on Thursday.

But I'd still back him next time up, and that means in Tuesday's supporting 515m event.
Barnfield On Air still packed a punch early and, to be fair, was probably not helped by the red box in that he aimed middle between in the first and second turns, and had no room to do it. He has to on Tuesday.

However, take nothing away from the winner. There were two champion performances on Thursday, both in the Sussex Cup semis.

Droopys Carvalho shrugged off the 'handicap' of trap three to beat BOA and a back-to-form Spears Tarquynn, after Ballymac Under had produced an awesome all-round show in setting the benchmark time-wise in his semi for Matt Dartnall.
In doing so, he did us a favour from last week's encouraging run, highlighted here. He has been the real 'springer' in the long-odds market and don't be put off by his trap five draw in the final.
It will, though, require his best to beat John Mullins' dog, who is worthy favourite.

The rest of the Hove card on Thursday was dominated by a batch of heats for the various competitions supporting the Sussex Cup final, but before we head to them, keep tabs on Rough Mourinho, who showed terrific pace, matched only by Ballymac Under in their Sussex Cup semi, and will have easier opportunities to lead up in the coming weeks. He clashes with Barnfield On Air on Tuesday.

So to the sprint, and Blonde Jet did everything asked of him to set the standard and is rightly a warm order for the final. But keep an eye out for Ibetx Dot Com wherever he races next. He is beginning to miss the kick now, but still finished close up behind Blonde Jet and will take a flyer and win well soon.

Vancouver Dylan showed plenty of pace on debut for Chris Allsopp in a heat of the Puppy Trophy and missed the final by a whisker as he tired and was passed by Go Big Hitter and Lorrys Options, who showed real zip in defeat. He is into the notebook.