Joe's Monday Tips - 4 August 2025

ARC Puppy Classic trial stakes at Nottingham 

***8.36 Nottingham - Witton Thomas (3pts) 4/5

Six opens at Nottingham this evening with three trial stakes for the upcoming ARC Puppy Classic starting in a weeks time.

The first open race is a Puppy Classic Trial Stakes at 7.27pm where trap six Ballymac Shontae takes all the beating on debut. An April 2024 youngster who has trialled extremely well at his home track Newcastle for trainer Jimmy Fenwick clocking 28.58 before posting a more than reasonable 30.59 over this evening’s C&D. It is a chance worth taking with a dog so young that he can kickstart his career with a bang if getting a clear run out wide to get the better of his rivals.

At 7.44pm recent Juvenile Classic runner-up Not So Steady should not make any mistakes in the second Puppy Cup Trial stakes. He has gone extremely well in a prep trial clocking 30.29 so as long as he finds himself in front of Droopys Poker by the second bend he should go on to win. Trap one Aghaburren Ben ran a huge race behind Romeo Ability seven days ago and he would be a big threat if getting off the front but if Not So Steady comes on for his trial, he should take all the beating.

The third and final trial stakes at 8.01pm is a corker with Juvenile Classic winner Romeo Alliance up against his litter bother and Juvenile Classic third Romeo Ability as well as another finalist in Santas Amigo and the very pacey Kranky Drake. Romeo Ability drawn in trap two inside Romeo Alliance should suit but he made extremely hard work of a trial stake last week so I am with Romeo Alliance to get the better of his bother albeit drawn outside him. Kranky Drake comes here in fine form clocking a rapid 26.26 calculated at Oxford before a 30.14 trial here but this is all about how Romeo Alliance runs.

At 8.36pm we have the Arena Racing Company Sprint Trophy over 305m that should go to the Kevin Hutton-trained Witton Thomas in trap four. He has been off the card since the end of May but flew round Oxford in a sprint trial last week posting 14.74, so he comes here fresh and in a race that should not take much winning if he were to break on terms. Starcash Best on his inside in trap three looks the main danger but if Witton Thomas traps well he should leave his rivals behind.

The second Arena Racing Company Sprint Trophy at 8.54pm is a cracker where Stonepark Hoffa sets a very high standard. He returned to competitive action with a bang at Newcastle just under two weeks ago after initially missing the break so the long run to the corner over this evening’s C&D suits his style as long as he traps. Noels Shadow in one was a good winner last time out with Rental Crisis, Coppice Ronnie and Leelad all capable of impressive runs on their day especially Rental Crisis who has only been beat once in five starts over this track and trip. That was seven days ago by Leelad but if Stonepark Hoffa traps level he can show his class going on to win well.

The sixth and final open race of the evening is the Arena Racing Company Stayers Trophy over 680m at 9.28pm where trap three Vale Bluebell can continue where she left off by landing the spoils in a race that looks set to be won by one of the inside trio. Trap one Stonepark Abba was just under six lengths behind Vale Bluebell last week but was drawn outside her so the draw could work out in her favour with Champys Girl in trap two looking to come from off the pace to get competitive. As long as Vale Bluebell can clear the inside pair on the short run to the bend, she can pull away to make it two from two over C&D.