LIGHTFOOT RIPLEY heads into Friday’s final of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup as the fastest semi-final winner as the raw but fast and unbeaten Newcastle raider posted 23.80sec (+20) when making all in the first semi at the Essex venue.

Trained by Jimmy Fenwick for Barry Cutting and Peter Marley, the December 2018 son of Quietly and Light Foot Abbie was fast away (3.77sec split) and always dominating in the 400m contest, coming home a length and a quarter clear of Tenpin (David Mullins).

Jimmy Fenwick, Lightfoot Ripley’s trainer and also trainer of the reigning GBGB Greyhound of the Year in Ice On Fire, said: “He’s a really raw pup who’s having his first ever races in the Romford Puppy Cup, so we’ve got to be delighted.

“He’s started his racing career off in excellent fashion, winning both heat and semi-final. He qualified in at Newcastle, clocking 28.71sec for 480m in just his second ever four-bend trial, so we decided puppy races would be where ‘Rippers’ would start off.

“The Romford Puppy Cup is a very prestigious competition, of course. My parents actually won the event in 1977 with Gan On Smokey, trained by Randy Singleton, so it appealed to us for many reasons, not least that.

“Rippers is fast and has shown already he can win coming from behind or popping out of the traps to lead. He’s got trap four in the final which looks fine. We’ll be hoping for a flash start then he’ll have every chance. Good luck to everyone.”

Black Hill Boy, trained by Yvonne Gaskin, led home a Romford-trained one-two in the second semi-final as the October 2018 son of Droopys Jet and Yellowtown Girl was quickly away and made all the running, set up victory with a 3.80sec split.

Always in command thereafter, he took advantage of crowding at the bend among his rivals in behind, with favourite Bubbly Bollinger (Paul Young) emerging off the second bend to lead the chase, finishing a length and a half behind the 23.83sec (-20) winner.

The third semi-final saw another Newcastle raider oblige with Bramble Oliverj ensuring the trip back north to Steve Anderson’s kennel was a satisfying one as the December 2018 son of Droopys Buick and Fionas Star quickly paced up in contention.

Our Lucky Lee (Mark Wallis) set the tempo up front, but with a smart turn of back-straight pace Bramble Oliverj came through at the fourth bend to justify favouritism by edging out the runner-up by half-a-length in 24.10sec (-20).

Mark Arkell, Romford racing manager, said: “Well done to the connections of all the Puppy Cup finalists – and it’s great to see a real spread of trainers. Fair play to both Steve (Anderson) and Jimmy (Fenwick) given the amount of travelling they’re doing.

“As ever, well done to our local trainers – Yvonne (Gaskin), David (Mullins) and Paul (Young) for representing the track in another major final here, while not many GBGB Category One finals here are without a runner from Mark’s (Wallis) kennel.

“We’re looking forward to another superb night here on Friday. We’ve not only got the finals of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup and Coral Champion Stakes, but the ‘semi-finals’ of the Coral Guys and Dolls plus the heats of the Coral Cesarewitch.”

Trap draw and form for the Coral Romford Puppy Cup: www.romfordgreyhoundstadium.co.uk/result/racecardform/2020/09/18racecardform1.pdf