Hot dogs

THE Sharon Thompson-trained Sparta Master

(34.77sec) was quickest in the semi-finals of the Coral Essex Vase heats at Romford on Friday – with connections now hoping it will be third time lucky in next week’s decider.

A finalist in both 2019 and 2020, Sparta Master takes his chance in a fantastic and top-class £10,000 live-on-RPGTV Category One final on Friday against the cream of the crop.

He lines up against big-race winners from the kennels of Mark Wallis (Antigua Romeo, Antigua Rum) and Patrick Janssens (Seaglass Tiger, Desperado Dan) plus 2019 Essex Vase champion Droopys Aoife (Ernie Gaskin).

Tonight’s RPGTV action comes from Central Park and Swindon. Best bets at the Kent track could be Seamus Cahill’s

ARCHY (7.36) and David Mullins’

REX (8.17) in the two Springbok trial stakes, while Terry Kibble’s

(6.36) looks well drawn in the A1 at Swindon.