Allsopp to the rescue as Tipoki heads classy Monmore entry.

Byline: Jonathan Kay

CHRIS ALLSOPP yesterday answered an SOS from Monmore to help fill the Ladbrokes Gold Cup field for next Monday - and was rewarded with five of his nine entries being drawn in one heat and two in another!

"I was only going to put three or four in," said the locallyattached handler, "but the racing office rang up and said they were a good few short so I put the others forward even though they are really only minor open-racers in truth.

"I've had three or four runners in A1s before, but five will be a first for me and I didn't even get trap one! I suppose on the plus side, I'm guaranteed at least two qualifiers for the semi-finals."

Allsopp rates Scurry winner Centaur Allstar as his leading hope for the pounds 10,000 Category One competition. "He went off the boil a bit at Sunderland [in the William Hill Classic] and his form dipped, but we found a few little problems with him which hopefully have been sorted now.

"He needs to start trapping, but I'd be hoping for a big performance from him if he does. He's won over the [480m] trip, and even came from behind to win a Derby heat at Wimbledon, so I don't think that will be an issue, especially at Monmore which is such a fast track."

There is no shortage of quality in the competition, which is run exclusively at Bags meetings concluding on Friday, August 21, with the field headed by Tuesday's classy William Hill Steel City Cup champion Bandicoot Tipoki, who was also winner of the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby over the Gold Cup course and distance back in March where he led home Kinda Ready.

Other notable entries for the event at the Wolverhapton venue include William Hill Classic winner Jogadusc Ace, Farloe Reason and in-form Corrig Count, Trap draws, page 103

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Chris Allsopp: good Monmore entry