Preview by Mark Pierrepont

The opening race of the evening is a Puppy 480 again generously sponsored by Star Sports Bookmakers.  This looks a straight forward enough task for Dave Mullins’s Tenpin. 

Although withdrawn from the RPGTV Puppy Trophy heats last weekend, Mullins is nobody’s fool and simply wouldn’t risk a greyhound he rates so highly if he was any less than 100% he is ready to do himself justice. Indeed a midweek trial in order to re-qualify for this race of 28.77 (-20) shows himself to be in superb order. A top class run which isn’t too far away from the long standing 28.50 track record set by Coolavanny Bert in 2011.

He looks sure to take command of the inside by the first bend and although both Ice Of Diamonds trained by Jimmy Fenwick and Kevin Boon’s Atarah King could keep him honest for the first half of this race, quite simply he should soon pull away for a comfortable success.  Those looking to add a little more value to their bets could add ‘Diamonds’ into the equation to fill the forecast slot.

Early betting: 4-11 Tenpin, 4-1 Ice Of Diamonds, 7-1 Atarah King, 8-1 Lemming Fly, 20-1 Romeo Creed, 50-1 Rodhelm Hunter

The second race of the evening is the Sprint Trophy and once again sponsored by the Ben Keith led Star Sports Bookmakers.

There is always at least one race on every Derby final card which brings almost as much discussion about those excluded from a race, as those who are running. In this year’s case it is this sprint race which has drawn the most discussion – though the racing office were left with the problem of whittling 25 entries down to six.

Connections of the high class Ballymac Micko can rightfully feel disappointed to have been left out of a race in which he no doubt would have lay down solid claims.

We must concentrate on those in the field however and the selection falls with Simon Harms Loggies Lito.

He’s an extremely pacey type who has a UK record of 3 wins from 5 starts, rattling off a hat-trick of successes throughout August and September before going down by just half a length to Shrewd Call in the final of the Greene King IPA Sprint.

‘Lito’ left every bit of the half length he was beaten in that race on the tough Yarmouth bends and though Shrewd Call once again lays claims here tonight, I’m siding with ‘Lito’ to gain his revenge.

His one and so far only look around Colwick Park came on the 16th October when recording a superb 17.56 (normal). Trapping superbly well he hit the first bend in an absolutely rapid 6.74 split to my unofficial computer timed marker. A reproduction of this should see him around the bend in front in this race.

Swift Taxman is a high class sort for local trainer Lynn Cook and despite being seen in competitive action just once since August 2019 he’s obviously in top form with himself.

A 3/4 length defeat by Levante Beach (another who failed to make the starting six) in a Sheffield sprint at the end of September was a more than decent effort and trials around here since of 17.34 (+10) when unofficially equalling the 2014 track record of Target Harris and 17.53 (+10) have been nothing short of sensational.

Both of those runs came from T3 though and the move into T1 for this race would have to be of concern.

The red is tradionally not a favoured box for trapping in the sprint and it may prove difficult to negotiate the space with which to drive the bend at full pace.

If he can do so then he is more than a live contender but I’m siding with ‘Lito’ to ping out and cut across them at the turn before setting sail for victory.

For information purposes the unofficial sectionals to my first bend marker for each greyhound on their last runs over this trip are: Loggies Lito 6.74, Tasty Treat 6.80, Swift Taxman 6.82, King Drake 6.90, Shrewd Call 6.92, Signet Mafia 7.00

Early betting: 6-4 Shrewd Call, 11-4 Loggies Ditto, Swift Taxman, 6-1 Swift Drake, 12-1 Signet Mafia, 16-1 Tasty Treat

The third race of the evening is the RPGTV Puppy Trophy final and I’m siding with Phil Barlow’s Ballydoyle Razor.  I thought he looked to represent tremendous value to overturn heat form with the now withdrawn Antigua Bruiser. Although the withdrawal of Mark Wallis’s youngster now opens up the way for Michelle Brown’s One For Gold to gain a much clearer run out wide than appeared likely, I still fancy ‘Razor’ to prove too good in the latter stages.  The race looks sure to be between the pair and a reverse forecast might also provide some cover.

Early betting suspended: 6-5 One For Gold, 10-1 Ballymac Fearnot, 11-2 Ballydoyle Razor, 9-2 Final Xafonic,   12-1 Arthur Sprout

It’s the turn of the ladies in the fourth race of the evening and the honours can go to Angela Harrison’s Coolavanny Bani.

A litter sister to Coolavanny Chick who competes in tonight’s main event, ‘Bani’ is not short of pace herself and can soon seize command of this race. A first bend lead should be all she needs to secure victory and though Kevin Hutton’s strong running Galloping Moon can run on for the forecast, ‘Bani’ is no short runner herself and she can comfortably land the spoils.

Early betting:11-10 Coolavanny Banni, 5-2 Aayamza Lexie, 9-2 Newinn Liz, 6-1 Galloping Moon, 10-1 Fearsome Encore, 16-1 Fancy Trend

It’s the turn of the British Breds in the fifth race of the evening with the Westmead Legacy In Memory Of Natalie Savva Trophy Final.

The event has kindly been sponsored by the British Greyhound Breeders Forum (BGBF) and the trophy will be presented by legend of both the sport and British breeding Nick Savva and his family. Along with his wife Natalie, Nick headed a breeding and training operation which was the envy of all within the sport for many years. Every Derby finalist has some ‘Westmead’ in their pedigree.

Tonight’s final can go the way of the Kevin Hutton trained Boca Junior who has looked well suited to this galloping circuit in both his recent trial and when comfortably accounting for his rivals in his heat of this competition. ‘Junior’ looks a stayer in the making and if he can once again secure a first bend lead he should be near on impossible to the pick up.

He’ll have to be lively at the traps though in order to hold his pitch on the inside, Amka Rofe for Robert Smith showed his class when reaching the final of the Produce Stakes at Swindon in September, he’s since reached the quarter final of the English Derby itself here at Nottingham.

Kevin Ferguson’s Acomb Jenny has won her last four races, going unbeaten through the BGBF British Bred Northern Maiden at Newcastle before showing her class when winning her heat of this competition despite the lack of a look around. A competitive race where stakes should be kept low but ‘Junior’ is the selection.

Early betting:11-4 Acomb Jennie, 10-3 Boca Junior, 4-1 Acomb Winston, 11-2 Agincourt Xena, 6-1 Amka Rofe, 13-2 King Axle

The sixth race of the evening and the turn of the stayers over the tough 730m trip.

Mark Wallis’s Avastorm reaches veteran status in just a matter of days but she’s still more than capable of producing some top class staying form. A bitch who stays really well but much the best when dominating her races, she simply couldn’t get involved early in last week’s 680m heat in a race which contained a lot more early and middle pace than she faces in this event. Avastorm should soon find herself in a prominent position and though she faces some strong running rivals she can make every post a winning one.

Early betting: 9-4 Droopys Bird, Sheldan, 11-4 Avastorm, 4-1 Blue Mischief, 10-1 Riley Ray, 16-1 Fabulous Marina

The seventh race of the evening, again sponsored by Star Sports Bookmakers and this time it’s the turn of the veterans.

Bramble Reggie is well positioned in the white jacket of trap 3. A greyhound who has always fell just a little short in the latter stages of some major competitions but on his day he’s a greyhound who has proven himself well capable of beating some of the best around. He maintains a high level of form despite his advancing years and he can smash out and make all for Steven Anderson over the 480m trip.

Early betting: 8-11 Lenson Blinder, 9-4 Bramble Reggie, 13-1 Swift Tarquin, 8-1 Shoot The Bolt, 16-1 Droopys Aussie, 20-1 Kalamoun

The RPGTV Stayers Trophy is our eighth race of the evening and one of the most eagerly awaited events on the card.

It was a privilege to be trackside to witness one of the greatest staying performances ever seen over the Colwick Park stayers trip as Roxholme Kristoff destroyed his heat opposition by fully 12 3/4 lengths last week in a sensational 40.76 calculated.

It was some run on a slow track and even more special since the hand timed 41.36 actually came through my own computer software at fully 10 spots quicker.

If Hayley Keightley’s superstar can get to the front early he’s likely to be unbeatable but could he just find the early and middle pace of Sharon Thompson’s middle to wide running Sparta Master a hindrance? Drawn in trap 2 and extremely likely to move off at trap rise after being entered as a railer Master hit the third bend in last week’s heat winning run in 18.76 compared with 18.87 recorded by Kristoff.

If Master were to reproduce that sort of run it could be a head to head battle that might just do neither greyhound any favours. The selection has to fall with Kristoff, after last week’s performance it would be a fool who opposed him and I’m not quite prepared to put myself in that category just yet despite an abysmal performance in this year’s media tipping competition.

Peter Harnden’s talented local Salacres Pippy looks destined for success over marathon trips in 2021 and she would be waiting to pounce if things did happen to get messy upfront between the aforementioned duo.

Early betting: 4-9 Roxholme Kristof, 11-2 Blue Tick George, 6-1 Sparta Master, 12-1 Zascandil, 16-1 Salacres Pippy

The ninth race of the night is The ARC Trophy over 500m and the selection is the Peter Harnden trained, Gary Hick’s owned Kilara Icon. A greyhound who possesses huge heart and a massive will to please.

He always gives his all, a finalist in the Boylesports Irish Derby Final this year and reached the quarter final of the Star Sports & ARC English Derby before being somewhat unluckily eliminated in fourth position. Icon was given a well earned weekend off last week and that can serve him well, as too can a switch to a middle draw. It may well see him navigate the first two bends a little more comfortably than he has managed in recent races.

If heading into the back straight within touching distance he is sure to go close in a highly competitive race where Knocknaboul Syd (Derby semi finalist), Gonzo (Monmore Gold Cup Winner), the unexposed Hopes Bullet, local star Upton Legend and British Bred star Romeo Rumble will all be looking to stake their claims.

Early betting:8-15 Knockabout Syd, 4-1 Gonzo, 5-1 Hopes Bullet, 8-1 Kilara Icon, 16-1 Romeo Rumble, 33-1 Upton Legend

The RPGTV Derby Plate is our tenth race of the evening and I’m taking Doolin Duke to smash out from trap 5 and make all for Ireland’s Pat Buckley.

He will need to be at his best though, Hopes Doggy for Mark Wallis and John ‘Ginger’ McGee’s Catunda Logan in particular are no slouches in the early pace department and could prove troublesome to his chances if he doesn’t take a flyer. Granted he makes the turn in front he shouldn’t be for back running, Brian Thompson’s Vixons Lad will keep going in behind and could be one for the forecast and place markets.

Early betting: 11-10 Doolin Duke, 5-2 Catunda Logan, 8-1 Hopes Doggy, 10-1 Vixons Lad, 16-1 Faughan Rebel, 20-1 Look Like Power

The main event of the evening and of the year in English greyhound racing. The Star Sports Bookmakers & ARC English Greyhound Derby.

‘Halfway’ refers to a fixed point close to the third bend

A high class final in which all six participants can lay serious claim to lifting aloft the most famous trophy in the sport.

Southwood Jet comes into the final unbeaten both in the Derby itself and in his UK career to date. On paper he has a super draw against the fence in trap 1.

Pat Buckley’s Irish raider Deerjet Sydney goes from trap 2. He’s a live contender and his chance will improve massively if he can out trap Jet to his inside.

Ballydoyle Valor goes from trap 3 for Graham Holland and though he’s likely to be sent off the outsider of the field, he is much more likely to finish nearer first than last with any kind of run.

Wolfe, the second of Graham Holland’s Irish finalists goes from trap 4 and has already proven during this competition that last year’s puzzling pulling up at the third bend on second round night was a minor blip on an otherwise faultless and classy career. A veteran in just a few days time but he’s in the form of his life.

Smurfs Machine in trap 5 for Seamus Cahill has improved throughout the competition. He’ll need to improve again but in the hands of a trainer who has already achieved Derby success when his Astute Missile out ran huge odds when landing the inaugural 2017 Star Sports English Derby at Towcester, that is more than a distinct possibility.

Last but by no means least and running from the striped jacket of trap 6 is the sole bitch representative in the final Coolavanny Chick.

Trained by Ireland’s Noel Hehir this lady is a hugely talented sort who never knows when she’s beaten. The selection though, as much on grounds of value as anything else is Graham Holland’s Ballydoyle Valor. Available at the time of writing at as big as 16/1 he is a must bet each way. He will be ready and waiting to take full advantage of any upfront crowding and can come through in the final strides for a memorable victory and see the famous old trophy returning to Irish soil.

Early betting:2-1 Southwood Jet, 3-1 Deerjet Sydney, 4-1 Wolfe, 10-1 Smurfs Machine, 12-1 Coolavanny Chick, 16-1 Ballydoyle Valor

The Dorando Marathon sponsored by Star Sports is traditionally the final race of the evening.

Mark Wallis’s Aayamza Royale will relish every single metre of this stamina zapping 905 metre distance. Her main market rival is likely to be Graham Holland’s Riverside Honey, a bitch who assistant trainer Nicky Holland has openly admitted isn’t too keen on the wet weather and would rather be tucked up in bed at the sight of a bit of rain.

The forecast for the night isn’t good, rain is due to fall and with no doubts in my mind that ‘Royale’ is likely to be right up to what is sure to be a huge battle of attrition she can land the spoils. ‘Royale’ is my best bet of the evening and is a very strong fancy.

Early betting: 11-8 Aayamza Royale, 5-2 Micks Little Gem, Riverside Honey, 15-2 Beechgrove Bell, 9-1 Affirmed, 50-1 Our Supreme Sue