ROMEO ABILITY will line up as one of the shortest-priced favourites in the history of the famous race when going for gold in the final of the BGBF 79th 2 Year Old Produce Stakes Final at Swindon on Saturday.

Having roared into the £10,000-to-the-winner decider with another authoritative display in the semis, dual Derby-winning trainer Patrick Janssens is on the verge of landing a first Produce Stakes success with the October 23 son of Romeo Magico and Fabulous Mila who lines up as one of the youngest runners in the 476m shootout.

“His breeder Dave Firmager really wanted to have a go at the last Produce Stakes at Swindon and we’ve got a decent chance now with Romeo Ability,” said Janssens. “You never count your chickens but he’s run Swindon really well and hopefully can do it one more time, although I don’t think it will be as easy as the bookmakers say!

“There’s a lot of pace around him so we are taking nothing for granted. It’s disappointing he’s not joined by his brother Romeo Alliance in the final, but he just didn’t get the luck of the draws – and to be honest Ability has handled Swindon better maybe than his brother.

“Both are great dogs but Romeo Ability gives us a good chance. I’ve not had too many runners in the Produce Stakes over the years, but I know Dave (Firmager) won it a few times when he had a trainer’s licence. I’m sure, like me, he’d like to win it again.”

Lining up in the second semi-final at the weekend against two-time Category One winner Romeo Alliance, Romeo Ability once again paced up well to secure a first-bend lead ahead of Eagles Respect (Angie Kibble) and Signet Nayla (Kevin Hutton), both themselves handy into the turn, and kept rivals at bay thereafter.

Crossing the line a length clear of Eagles Respect, the pair were joined in Saturday’s final by Izzys Tenpin (David Mullins), who crossed the line in third place behind the 28.01sec (normal) winner.

The first semi-final went to the Rachel Hill-trained Berties Decision who made all inside.

A regular winner at home track Oxford, the 37-kilo July 2023 whelp is a son of 2022 Produce Stakes champion Signet Denver out of Sylvias Chloe, an Oaks finalist for Richard Baker a few years back, brother of the trainer’s partner Gordon.

Berties Decision raced to a slick 3.97sec sectional on his way to a length and a quarter success over Malcolm Bosh (Angie Kibble) and Shes One Eighty (Patrick Browne). The winning time was 28.27sec (normal).

It means Saturday’s final will include a pair of littermates in the shape of Malcolm Bosh and Eagles Respect for Swindon handler Angie Kibble and owner Jonathan Miles.