Garryvoe Bobby, clearly a hugely progressive greyhound and the best drawn of the six runners in tonight’s showpiece at Swindon, can repay connections for the considerable amount of time that they’ve invested over the last two weeks by getting it right, again, and winning a very high quality final of the Calne Racing Arc, live on Sky Sports at 9.08. Such is the quality of the final it’s hard not to be drawn to a number of runners, based on price alone, as Oscar Whisky rarely gets sent off at his predicted price of 7/2. That said it’s all about Bobby tonight and the odds against that’s available for Graham Holland’s runner may be made to look generous when the track prices come through and the race is run to suit, with the four railers on his outside all drawn to come together.
A competitive looking supporting card offers tremendous value in places, non more so than Newlawn Peter in the first televised open at 7.11. It’s easy to put a line through all three local runners here, make fair reasons to be against Our Sam in three and the only danger is Peter Cronin’s Swithins Brae. The 7/2 about Newlawn Peter is exceptional, especially given his likely sp will be around 2/1 and he rates the biggest value and best bet on the whole card. If you want to save on the favourite you can do so later, as although the market has seen some money at the early prices he is unlikely to shorten further and may even be odds against.
Huarache Madison, an eyecatching runner up at Monmore last week, has been chalked up at the right sort of price and so is one to think about including over the extended six bend trip at 7.26
Sab Miller, in the following race at 7.43, is hugely attractive at 7/2 and will certainly not be near that price this evening. The second of Peter Cronin’s runners on the card, he was slightly disappointing in the heats of the 509 competiton last week but actually has a brilliant makeup in six, despite being a rails runner. Astute Missile will cut across the field from five here and both three and four would have to put in career best efforts, which means the main challenge will come from either Tynwald Baz or Castell Henry. As mentioned previously it’s easy to leave out greyhounds that run from one that have experience from the middle at Swindon, so despite an impressive display at Monmore it would be of no surprise to see Tynwald Baz in one fluff his lines and leave Castell Henry with a solo down the inside. The market has come for Baz, which now means that Castell Henry is a very meaty 5/1 and if bet the two coupled you’re getting not shy of 13/8, which is bigger than Sab Miller alone represents and makes the race a must play.
Unfortunately the sprint at 7.59 has seen the withdrawal of Graham Holland’s Skywalker Manner, which will play into the hands of Ela Ela Genie in three. Already rated the favourite overnight, not all bookmakers have adjusted their prices but Mark Wallis’ adaptable tracker won’t be too phased by the lack of a look around Swindon and trap three is often a better draw for sprinters, especially those without a sighter. The reserve runner will actually give the favourite a little bit of room by moving left early, which means another big priced runner could be the value alternative in the shape of Courts Ad Peter. A 16.36 winner back in February, his odds had been drifting prior to the changes and his tissue price of 7/2 is half the 8/1 that can be found with those that have repriced the race.
Both the 8.16 and 8.33 are very hard to assess, although it’s quite easy to put lines through a few in each race. Despite that there isn’t much value on offer, so it’s wise to just sit back and watch as there are question marks regarding the draws and form for the main protagonists in both contests. Droopys Costa looks the likely winner of the 8.16.
Money for Slippery Louise in the 8.33 is very very interesting but, still, it will pay to keep your powder dry and get involved with the other races.
The 509 final at 8.51 is the penultimate Sky covered race and Ballymac Lyster has been all the rage thus far, which is hardly a shock given his eye-catching performance in the heats. A terrible start which left him out of the picture, for those watching on the TV, was followed up with some ferocious back straight pace and a three length second place finish to Sneezys Martin.
On that form alone he will only have to turn handy to be in with a very fair chance of winning and, although he’s attracted some early support today at around 3/1, he should go off shorter and is very tempting at 11/4 that’s still around. The main danger will likely come from Kevin Hutton’s Mad For It, another greyhound who made up a lot of ground to win his heat but he’s also got a better start in him and can turn very much closer to the action than he did last week. He’s now drifted out to 7/1 but should really be half those odds, as he’s a very talented dog that’s got some notable scalps on his CV. Again this pair can be backed at 13/8 coupled, which is amazing value and should set up a nice pot for the big final the following race.
