In the Bet365 Challenge, the odds are 8/1 for contenders beyond the top two in the market. This is remarkable considering the strong field, including the current track record holder and a bitch participating in her sixth Category One final.
Currently, Havana Lover is priced at around even money, and Lively Lauren is at 9/4, with both occupying their preferred traps and presenting strong chances to lead.
Their history at the course dates back to March 24, with distinct styles of victory. Lauren, known for her early break, set a new track record of 39.68, while Lover, navigating through traffic, clocked 40.07. Despite a second and fourth position in their first meeting, Lover went on to claim the Cat One decider in 39.41.
Lively Lauren boasts a 70% strike rate over ten races on the 650-course, unbeaten in four attempts from the red box, and a PB of 39.44. Havana Lover holds a 75% success rate from a dozen races, with a best 250m split of 14.98.
In an impressive display, Jonny Whiskers, the ARC Classic winner, showcased stamina over Newcastle's 480 metres, landing the fastest semi-final of the PGR All England Cup with a calculated 28.40. Swift Silly faced challenges in her qualifier but outpaced rivals to secure a spot in the final.
The opening qualifier featured a professional performance from the ante-post favourite Bogger Rambo. With only two lengths separating the three semi-final winners, the final promises to be highly competitive, especially after the trap draw.