Perry Barr owner and form student Paul Gebhard – who has a runner in Drahbeg Dash – previews tonight’s Winter Derby semi finals.

SIDAZ JET: ran very well in his heat, still a slight suspicion that a 480 trip would suit him just that little bit better than the 500.

JAKES MAGIC: also ran well last week, leading all the way to record his fastest calculated time over C&D so far.

CHIPPING AWAY: possibly a little underestimated by some, put up a very respectable performance in his heat.

AERO MADRID: ran well enough last time, hard to see him qualifying here though.

KING SHEERAN: majestic last time, I fully expect more of the same.

ROMEO RAMBO: put up a very good show last week (29.29), if Sheeran is out and gone then this lad could have a trouble free run around the outside.

Betting: 1-2 King Sheeran, 9-2 Sidaz Jet, 8-1 Romeo Rumble, 12-1 Jakes Magic, 20-1 Chipping Away, 33-1 Aero Madrid

I can’t oppose KING SHEERAN, there could be some scrimmaging on the inside and middle so I narrowly choose ROMEO RAMBO to qualify (SIDAZ JACK for trio backers).

 

VOLCANIC REEF: posted a top class sectional last week (still found some trouble), a very consistent hound.

BRAVE VENTURE: terrific servant, ran well enough last week, might struggle here though.

ANTIGUA ROMEO: a bit of a concern that he went back some way on the clock last week, I do realise that he got his back legs taken a bit but it didn’t look like 50 or so spots worth to me.

FOREST ALAN: a very good 29.29 last week from a dog that’s been in with the best.

KING LOUIS: he also went back on the clock last week, the McNair team said that he had gotten a bit het up in the preliminaries.

DRAHBEG DASH: he ran well enough last time in what was his first race for nearly 7 weeks, should strip that bit fitter and sharper tonight.

Betting: 4-5f Antigua Romeo, 5-1 King Louis, 8-1 Forest Alan, Volcanic Reef, 12-1 Drahbeg Dash, 16-1 Brave Venture

I shall go for ANTIGUA ROMEO to bounce back to his top form and win, I will select DRAHBEG DASH for second based on the evidence that usually King Louis doesn’t trap as well from the 5 box (we all know what will happen now!), and in the hope that last week’s race has brought “DASH” on a fair bit (VOLCANIC REEF is taken to supply the trio).

 

KING LENNON: Not for the first time he found the way to win last week after finding plenty of traffic problems.

KILLEACLE GUS: still on the upgrade, you’d have to fancy him to clear the red here.

QUEEN DOLLY: I thought that she put up a gutsy performance to get up and win last week, “bitch in form”.

MAKE NO APOLOGIE: I have to own up to being a little surprised by him last time, not by his level of ability but by how well he stayed the 500 trip.

SONIC SPUR: ran exceptionally well in defeat, suspicion that the 515 trip have would played into her paws that bit more.

SHOOT THE BOLT: just as last time he does appear to have a plum draw, third place won’t suffice this time though.

Betting: 2-1 Killeacle Gus, 3-1 Sonic Spur, 4-1 Make No Apologie, 6-1 King Lennon, 8-1 Queen Dolly, 20-1 Shoot The Bolt

I find this extremely tight to call, three of them ran against each other last week, it could pan out to be a race where regardless of overall ability it’s best to be in front, so I select KILLEACLE GUS to win and MAKE NO APOLOGIE to qualify (SONIC SPUR to supply the trio).

 

May the best performances come through and hopefully all contestants come off sound.