ANTIGUA RUM landed Mark Wallis a third Coral Coronation Cup as he produced a stirring last-to-first finish to claim the upgraded £10,000 prize at Romford on Friday.

Following wins for Reel Trickyone (2014) and Roswell Romanov (2017), it was the September 2017 son of Droopys Jet and Basket Of Trumps, the youngest finalist in the 575m contest, who landed the 11-times champion trainer this latest renewal.

Our Lucky Fool (Paul Young) trapped in front and that proved to be significant as the race unfolded with Essex Vase champion Droopys Aoife (Ernie Gaskin) pacing up to join issue and then go ahead, before Sparta Master, the track record holder for the trip, moved into contention.

Crowding between the pair saw the field group up as Roman Empire (Ernie Gaskin) also threw down a challenge, before Antigua Rum began to close and the strong-running Nottingham Puppy Classic fourth challenged round the outside at the fifth bend, going on soon after.

Sparta Master rallied but the momentum was with the Wallis runner, who scored by one and three-quarter lengths from Sharon Thompson’s dog in 35.06sec, in the process landing the Category Two prize for owners Nic and Amanda Jeal.

“I’m delighted for Nic and Amanda. They’ve just had a baby, so couldn’t be here and cheered him on at home. He’s done them and us proud and thanks go to my staff and to Ron Mills (sports physiotherapist), who’s done another cracking job.

“I’d also like to thank the LadbrokesCoral group for their support of the Coronation Cup and the decision to upgrade the first prize to £10,000. I told Ian Smyth (head of stadia for LadbrokesCoral) that it was a tremendous gesture – a good news story for the sport!

“I said that before we won it – but always thought we had an outside chance. There was so much early pace in the race that there was always a chance they’d group up and give ours a chance off the back – and he’s shown great trackcraft to take that chance.

“The plan will be to target the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket. He was fourth in the Puppy Classic at Notts before we stepped him up to 630m at Monmore. Doncaster’s St Leger trip was just beyond him but he was younger then and is stronger now.”

Winning owner Nic Jeal said: “We were delighted when Antigua Rum made the final, but not totally surprised. He’d run well in heats and semi-final.

“We decided early in the competition we wouldn’t make the trip to Romford for the final due to baby Hope’s age, so it was strange to be watching the race on Amanda’s phone. Just as the traps opened the phone froze and we missed the race!

“The first we knew he won was when we saw Dan (Wallis) being interviewed afterwards, but it’s great and we’d like to thank Mark Wallis and all his team for all their hard work and skill in steering ‘Guinness’ to his first competition win.

“We’d also like to thank the staff at Romford for the £5,000 bonus, which was a fantastic surprise. He now heads to the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, although time will tell whether he will stay the distance.”

Definitely heading to Crayford is Coronation Cup runner-up Sparta Master who is already a winner over 714m at the Kent track and returns there on Saturday for a trial stakes this weekend, reported her trainer and part-owner Sharon Thompson.

The Bedford-based handler, who confirmed before the Coronation Cup Final that leading owner Mick Freshwater had purchased a half-share in the two-year-old, reports her kennel star to have come out the Romford race well.