Can David Mullins make it five in a row at Romford?
That's the biggest question heading into the Coral Romford Puppy Cup which starts with six heats over 400m tonight given the local handler's extraordinary record in the famous Category One event at the Essex venue, having won the last four runnings.
Time will tell whether there is a Tenpin, Brookside Richie, Romeo Hotshot or Romeo Crusade - his last four winners - in the line-up, let alone a Living Jewel (2003) or Vamoose (2004. It looks a tall order, but never rule out improving pups!
So to tonight's six heats of the Romford annual - incidentally supported by some cracking one-off contests - and heat one can go to Droopys Maybe (7.11).
Paul Young's runner has the edge in experience over her rivals but looks an improving sort and caught the eye behind the impressive Fire And Ice, the ante-post favourite to win the Romford Puppy Cup, last week over this C&D.
She starts and stays well and could reel in likely leader On The Banks, who makes debut tonight for Nathan Hunt and who will improve for trials.
Another red-jacketed runner Swift Underwater (7.27) can frank the form of the recent Puppy Classic at Nottingham by winning heat two.
Trained by Perry Barr's John Lambe, the son of Pestana showed real gears at Nottingham and, while at times rather green and perhaps finding 500m tough to handle at this stage of his career, this trip could see him shine with searing all-round speed.
A prep trial augurs well for his chances given he railed and has trap one tonight and he gets the vote over another debutant in Maxine Locke's Call It Off - his chances would be boosted should On The Banks strike in heat one after their recent trial head-to-head.
The clash of Untold Rufiyaa and Newinn Souly (7.44) looks a cracker in heat three with both already comfortably dipping under the 24 seconds barrier in prep races.
Tom Heilbron's Newcastle raider Untold Rufiyaa won well on UK debut in 23.68sec and looks a huge player event outright, but there was a lot to like about the win of Kim Billingham's Newinn Souly seven days ago and he will improve for that experience.
Ritz To Rubble (8.01) was also an eye-catching UK debut winner at Romford last month and, if hitting her stride early tonight, might be away in heat four to land the spoils for Roy Peckham, while the vote in heat five is for Michelle Brown's Golden Bullet (8.19).
He fired to victory last week in some style and could also improve now having broken his duck and is preferred to Vixons Promise (Nathan Hunt) and Rapido Ali (Patrick Browne) in arguably the most competitive Puppy Cup heat tonight.
The best could be saved for last with Matt Dartnall's long-odds favourite Fire And Ice (8.36) having every chance in heat six - and ready to set the standard.
His warm-up race was pure class - and fast - given a 23.64sec return and a repeat sets out the stall of one of the more experience runners in the line-up, although Craig Morris's in-form on-a-roll Easy Player is given huge respect here as drawn outside.
The appearance of Barntick Bear (9.46) is the highlight of the supporting card in a Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes trial stakes and Patrick Janssens' runner will be tested by Mark Wallis's win-machine Fabulous Sonique over the 575m trip.
However, his awesome middle speed can prevail, while other Romford votes go to Mark Wallis's tight-railing Cat Island (6.37) if trapping in front; David Mullins' improving and speedy Brigadir Brindle (6.53); Kevin Proctor's Coral Golden Sprint winner Front Alice (8.54), third time up after a break, and Richard Rees's Avarua Zlatan (9.11) who caught the eye behind ultra-quick Madabout Peck last week.
All the action is live on the Premier Greyhound Racing service tonight.
*MAKE sure to report back tomorrow given another huge card at Perry Barr given the semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger and M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup - a fantastic double-header at the Midlands venue.
