The last three winners of the Romford Puppy Cup

One of the biggest races in the Greyhound Racing calendar for two-year-olds, the Romford Puppy Cup boasts a prize purse of £10,000 for the winner — level with the Puppy Derby and only behind the Midland Puppy Derby in terms of winnings for this category.

Inaugurated in 1975, the latest renewal of the Puppy Cup is due to take place at Romford next month, and with punters scouring the Betdaq greyhound tips in hunt of picking a winner, let’s take a look back at the last three winners of the Romford Puppy Cup. Read on to find out more!

2020: Tenpin

The 2020 renewal of the Puppy Cup was one for the locals, with Romford-trained dogs coming home in a rare one-two-three. Tenpin burst out of the traps and was soon in the prime position along the rails, acquiring the shortest route around the track, and he went on to win by two lengths, with Bubbly Bollinger and Black Hill Boy securing second and third respectively. It was a third victory in the race for David Mullins, who won successive renewals in 2003 and 2004 with Living Jewel and Vamoose.

“He’s a really nice dog, but sometimes draws win races and certainly the red-box helped him tonight,” Mullins said. “This was only his fifth race and, like all the entries in a really good event, will improve. I’m just delighted for his owners. They’re young owners, Michael and Robert’s (Olley) father had dogs with me a while back.”

2019: Young Princess

There was more success for Romford’s own in 2019, with shock winner Young Princess scooping a victory in the 400m race. It was a manic start to the contest, with Droopys Jet breaking out of the traps well, whilst Badminton Donal, the ante-post favourite, missed the break. 12/1 shot Young Princess soon established a lead ahead of Make No Apologie, who was bumped at the first turn, and despite two dogs closing in on either side down the home straight, Young Princess was able to hold on to win by just half a length.

“It is great to win a Category One race at our local track,” Jack Murrell, the head of Young Princess’s syndicate (The Young At Heart) said. “We got her from the Sean and Michael Dunphy and the team at Paul Young’s kennels have done a fantastic job and this win is well deserved.”

2018: Grays Cup Winner

Grays Cup Winner landed local trainer Philip Simmonds a maiden major victory at Romford in the 2018 edition of the Puppy Cup. The kennel’s fourth runner of the night, Grays Cup Winner was bettered out of the traps by Calzaghe Flash, but gained back the advantage from the Ted Soppitt-trained puppy by the first bend, and he never looked back, going on to win by two and half lengths clear of his counterpart, whilst Bubbly Bonanza came home in third a further length adrift.

“They have all done a marvellous job with this dog,” winning trainer Simmonds said. “He had a slight muscle issue after the semi-finals but Sarah (Tredgold), Luke (Staunton) and Nathan (Hunt) did their bit along with some terrific work as ever from Ron Mills – and it’s done the trick!”