Diamond given Puppy Oaks vote but may need help behind to last

SCOOBY DIAMOND has twice led and been caught in the bet365 English Puppy Oaks over 450m at Oxford but Nathan Hunt's bitch can hold on when it matters most to land the £10,000 Category One final at 3.29.

She raced clear of Soapy Suds in the semis last week only to be worn down in the second half and it may be the Romford Puppy Cup heroine just finds this distance beyond her.

However, she can again build a significant lead and it would not need a lot to happen in behind for it to prove decisive so she looks the value shout as second favourite.

Soapy Suds is ultra strong over this trip and trap one does again offer hope of a clear run early but there could still be a battle for racing room at the opening turn which she will need to be wary of.

The other unbeaten finalist is Headford Lily representing last year's winning trainer Maxine Locke and she has to be respected having herself outstayed the selection in the opening round.

Preview: Suds rated odds-on to clean up but Lily supported early

SOAPY SUDS, trained by Debbie Calvert and one of two finalists to have reached the decider unbeaten, is odds-on at 5/6 with the sponsor for Sunday’s £10,000 final of the bet365 English Puppy Oaks over 450m at Oxford. Headford Lily, the other finalist with a perfect record in

SIS RacingJonathan Kay

Whatever the outcome of the feature, Locke can score on the supporting card courtesy of Droopys Will in the 2.16 over 450m after he ended a six-month wait for a win over the course and distance seven days ago.

Venetian Mick stretched his unbeaten six-bend record to four a fortnight ago and it will be a surprise if Kevin Hutton's upwardly mobile stayer does not make it five in the 3.11 over 650m, the top local handler also having strong claims with Signet Bucko (1.57), Jazzy Mia (2.33), Jazzy Soul (2.52) and unbeaten Coppice Ferry (3.49).

There is early open action at Valley with non-maiden picks being the Christian Darch duo of Affleck Salsabil (10.57) and Pandy Chris (12.04) plus Donna Davy's Droopys Nijinsky (1.47).

Best at Doncaster's early fixture is Jimmy Gaskin's Redbrick Nuke (11.21) who can make it five wins in seven career starts having finished second in the other two, while Rob McCarthy's Fionntra Ogie (8.16) is an evening pick in the finale at Star Pelaw.

There are three Sunday Irish fixtures with Catriona Ni-Duill's Kuma Muezza (3.59), Stephen Bourke's Mustang Havoc (8.09)and Jimmy Anderson's Luna Annie (7.10) making most appeal at Mullingar, Clonmel and Lifford respectively.

Scooby Diamond (nap)
T4 Oxford 3.29