Form student, and owner of entry Drahbeg Dash, Paul Gebhard previews the first round of the Coral Winter Derby from Hove.
Denotes ante post odds
WAIKIKI LAD: had his first look at the track a week ago and did 29.54 in a trial after some interference ( 3.64 sectional), is a little hit and miss at trap rise but has very good early, been in amongst good company, has two wins from four runs out of the red box. (20-1)
VOLCANIC REEF: a very decent dog with excellent early, has vast experience at Hove already, his best over the 500 trip being 29.50 (so far) (16-1)
FAYES JET: gone off the boil a bit lately, can trap well sometimes but more often than not he doesn’t, his calculated 29.56 may be as good as he is right now. (40-1)
ANTIGUA ROMEO: a live contender for the outright title, did 28.86 when beating King Sheeran, has plenty of pace (3.53 sectional) but can also come from behind to win.(11-2)
KING SHEERAN: we all know his story and we all know good he is, he’s definitely “been there and got the T Shirt”, a mouth watering rematch is on with the aforementioned Antigua Romeo.(11-2)
HOT PRODUCT: often pings but he can fluff his lines in that department, has a very decent 29.98 over the 515 trip but may struggle in this tough heat.(50-1)
In a hopefully clean run race I select King Sheeran to beat Antigua Romeo this time with Waikiki Lad the choice to qualify in third and for trio backers.
BRAVE VENTURE: knows the track like the back of his hand, best recent over the 515 is 30.27, very nice dog but unlikely to improve at the age of four.(100-1)
KING LENNON: can trap sometimes but more often he comes through the pack, has a 29.48 trial over the track and trip, a classy dog for sure.(16-1)
GALLOPING MINOR: more A1/A2 than open class in Ireland, did 30.18 in a trial (but he was badly baulked), hard to see him actually winning the race.(125-1)
AERO TURBO: did 30.20 off a 3.60 split in a trial (first look at the track), more recently been plying his trade over the 575 at Romford. Be staying on when others are tiring?(100-1)
VICS CHARM: a bit hard to fully weigh up, did a calculated 29.19 in a solo but has done around 50 spots slower in races in spite of having clear runs. Perhaps the 500 in decent company is a tad too far for him?(50-1)
ROMEO RUMBLE: classy performer but probably needs a longer trip when he’s in with the best, could qualify here though.(50-1)
I select King Lennon to win with the staying on pair of Romeo Rumble and Aero Turbo to qualify.
KILLEACLE GUS: won in a very handy 29.20 last time out even though he didn’t lead until the fourth bend, previously did 29.13 when leading all the way, young, lightly raced, a contender for the outright title.(12-1)
FRIDAYS CARAMEL: came from behind in an A2 last time out to win in 29.67, this might be about as good as she is nowadays (January 16).(125-1)
BRITANNIA WILL: a little inconsistent but does have some decent form too, probably capable of improving a bit on his 29.61 over the trip.(100-1)
SONIC SPUR:- top class bitch, big enough at 29.5 kilos so as to not get bossed about, was 5/4 to win the final of The Oaks but met trouble in running, did 29.04 in a solo (first look at the track), doesn’t hit the lids every time but does have excellent early, another genuine contender for outright honours.(10-1)
RAVENS BURGER: often finds bother in his races but he can definitely run (29.16 in a trial), possibly a little bit frustrating for connections?(33-1)
SHOOT THE BOLT: a regular fixture at the track, sometimes bombs out and then backs it up with good early pace.(33-1)
Local knowledge may help Killeacle Gus to beat Sonic Spur this time round, a good draw may allow Shoot The Bolt to qualify.
SUMMER CALL: a grand servant, now nearly four years old, his local knowledge will help but it’s hard to see him actually winning the heat.(50-1)
JAKES MAGIC: A1 and Open winner, slight suspicion that even though he’s been tried over the 575 that the 500 might be every inch as far as he wants to go (when he’s in against very good company), can fly out and hold his position early, did 29.64 in a solo trial.(25-1)
AERO MADRID: a winner of 3 races (2 of which were over Romford’s 400 trip), can trap well and does have early pace, hard to say if a 500 metre trip will be his cup of tea or not.(40-1)
NANS DREAM: has raced from plenty of different trap numbers, has several comments in her form lines that include the word “rails”, not quite sure which path she will take.(40-1)
DRAHBEG DASH: he’s definitely the best dog that I’ve owned, I do fancy him to win this race (head not just heart) but 3rd will do nicely! Then who knows how far he might go after that hasn’t raced for six weeks though.(20-1)
So I select “Dash” to win with Nans Dream to finish second and perhaps a combination of trap draw and local knowledge may allow Summer Call to qualify.
PROVEN LOYALTY: has some very good form, not far off his fourth birthday, perhaps more of a concern is that the 500 metre trip just stretches him a bit?(66-1)
CLAUDES SYDNEY: not a regular open racer but still a very useful greyhound, maybe his 29.69 is as good as he is.(100-1)
FOREST ALAN: has been in with the elite at times, did a 29.35 solo trial over tonight’s trip, highly respected(25-1)
MAKE NO APLOGIE: a very smart greyhound that could well have more improvement to come, just might find that the 500 stretches him (when in against the best).(20-1)
SELDOM WRONG: has a 29.58 over course and distance, definitely no mug, but that may be as good as he is.(150-1)
KING LOUIS: can ping and backs that up with very good early, has a 29.16 over course and distance (“crowded”), definitely a good contender for the crown…(14-1)
My selection is for King Louis to win and for him to be followed home by Make No Apologie and Forest Alan
SIDAZ JET: comparatively lightly raced, plenty of early speed and knows the track well, a best so far of 29.34 (25-1)
DROOPYS BATON: a very nice dog but might be tapped for a bit of speed over this sort of trip when he’s in with the very best, does have a 29.25 on his card though (solo trial).(40-1)
CHIPPING AWAY: has plenty of track knowledge, no trouble in staying the trip, can fly out sometimes, possibly overpriced? (for the heat).(66-1)
QUEEN DOLLY: yet another high class performer from the McNair kennel, did 29.28 in a trial against her litter brother where she was “baulked first”, can miss the kick sometimes.(20-1)
WINETAVERN CURLY: a dog that I like, he didn’t fire on all cylinders in The Olympic but has returned to form since, lightly raced, more to offer.(14-1)
DROOPYS TOAST: been running mainly over the 575 at Romford but his 29.31 off a 3.59 sectional tells you that he’s sharp enough over tonight’s trip.(66-1)
I select Wintavern Curly to win and to be followed home by Queen Dolly, maybe Chipping Away can grab the third qualifying place and boost the trio.
