Heat 1
Domino Storm (8-11 BET 365) will start at odds-on here and should extend her winning sequence to eight providing she can clear Droopys Astorish (T3) who showed an inclination to move in at the boxes in the first round. Fortunately, Storm should have ample room on the inside with Deanridge Maybe likely to be slow away. Queen Asia should get a clear run on the outside with the big striding, wide running Teds Last running on. Sel: 2-6-5
Heat 2
Droopys Roddick has slipped to fifth favourite in the Derby betting but is still capable of a stunning run IF he traps. Note the big IF! He is not the quickest out of the boxes and needs space to show his acceleration. If he traps – goodnight! But the Irish runner will need to clear the inside three at the bend and that is no certainty. Stay Loose (9-2 BET 365) looks the best drawn. There is a lot more ‘EP’ in the outside boxes though both struggle late on. Sel 2-4-5
Heat 3
A fantastically competitive race in which You Never Listen (9-4 BET 365) is fancied to finish the best of three litttermates. She looks to be coming back into form and ran a stunner in the heats – but then so did Bockos Bolassie, who looks a huge danger. On the outside, Yassoo Martin is a big striding wide runner who will appreciate the stripes can continue his progress Sel 1-6-2
Heat 19 winner BALLYMAC MATT (t1, rails) is led up by You Never Listen (t3). William Hill Derby 1st Round. Photo: Steve Nash
Heat 4
When Old Joe Golden shot clear of Holdem Chico (3-1 BET 365) in the first round, he looked all over a winner but Carol Wetherall’s dog ran a stunner to reel him in. Chico should lead up the slow breaking On Alert but can take no liberties with Kentish Duke who was flawless until caught on the nod. Fizzypop Buddy has the clock on his side but much will depend on where he catches the five. Sel 2-1-6
HOLDEM CHICO wins heat 3 28.66 William Hill Derby 1st Round. Thursday 5th May 2016. Photo: Steve Nash
Heat 5
A race to thrill a BAGS racing manager, you could make a case for all six. Some trouble looks inevitable on the rail and the inside pair are not certain to be spared it. Attention then to Charity Buster who is comfortable in black and one of the wide seeds. Viking Jack never runs a bad race, but the voted goes to Stay Lucky (5-1 BET 365) who ran superbly after being wiped out in the heats. Sel 6-4-5
Heat 6
There are at least three in this race who would appear ‘semi final standard’ though this is no easy qualifier. On all known form, red and orange should be predominant early with the two sons of Westmead Hawk tracking them from halfway. The vote has to go to ‘The Kid’ (10-11 BET 365) who looked as good as ever in the opening round. Sel 4-5-1
Heat 7
The white and orange meet again in similar boxes to the heats and there is no reason to assume history will not be repeated, leaving selection as Jaytee Dutch (6-4 BET 365) . Pinpoint Boom and Crossfield Molly, who moved in at the boxes, will both find time given any decent type of clear run. Slow breaking Making Paper is just quality. You can’t always see how he will find his way through traffic, but he does. Sel 3-4-2
Heat 8
Possibly the weakest heat of the night. The selection is Lenson Rocky (9-4 BET 365) who still looks a bit novice but has good pace and can lead up the middle runners. Bubbly Torpedo and Swift Whirlwind meet again, with the former likely to finish many lengths closer – if not in front. Droopys Turin looks one of the event’s most consistent runners should run his race from his favoured box Sel: 3-5-1
