DERBY SECOND ROUND PREVIEW – FRIDAY – BY MARK PIERREPONT

The second round of the Star Sports, ARC and LPS English Greyhound Derby gets underway this evening at Nottingham’s Colwick Park Stadium.

95 runners remain, and if you want to refresh your memory on the previous rounds, then simply click: Friday – Saturday

After the withdrawal of Peter Cronin’s Jacks Tornado and with trap two subsequently vacant, the path looks clear for Droopys Verve to take the spoils.

Angela Harrison’s star just about managed to grab the third and final qualifying position in last weeks first round heat, he was horrendously drawn on that occasion surrounded by pace and struggled for a run throughout. He is likely to move off yet again, however, importantly he should be moving off into clear space rather than into the trouble he encountered last week.

The Alan Bellis trained Liberty Hawk should set the pace up the middle, this should give Verve all the room in the world to get himself into stride prior to delivering his challenge along the back straight.

Brendan Matthews Irish raider Ribchester is another greyhound with excellent early pace, he missed the kick in last weeks first round heat, however his pace once touching the floor saw him take command by the turn, though he came back to the field late on, the result never really looked in doubt. He’s sure to strip fitter this week and if he did clear Liberty Hawk at an early stage, he’d be a big player.

The race looks setup though for Verve, Liz and Rab McNair’s King Dylan ran a very game race to win his heat last week, he can claim a running on second, whilst the third qualifying slot for the third round can go the way of one of Liberty Hawk or Ribchester.

Itsurmate ran well to qualify in third place last week behind Sporting Dave, however the wide seed attached to him isn’t likely to do him any favours, his middle running has been highlighted perfectly by the race card comments, he doesn’t have the pace to clear Ribchester and Liberty Hawk and once coming to his preferred middle ground he’s going to be battling away with Verve and Dylan, qualification looks a tough ask.

Latest betting: 4-6 Droopys Verve, 4-1 King Dylan, 11-2 Ribchester, 8-1 Liberty Hawk, 20-1 Itsur Mate

Ante post: 16-1 Droopys Verve, 40-1 King Dylan, 66-1 Ribchester, 150-1 Liberty Hawk, 300-1 Itsur Mate

Heat two is a race to watch and for those who really do feel compelled to get involved from a betting perspective, the advice would be to keep stakes to an absolute minimum.

This race could get extremely congested on the inside at various stages, therefore a chance is taken on Pat Rosney’s Newinn Banger, a true wide seed who at least looks like he should get a run throughout and should steer clear of the majority of predicted ‘crowding’.

Paganini Show, as highlighted in last weeks first round heat has pace to burn, there are question marks however about whether that pace is always used to the best of his advantage. He can get first run on another dog with huge chasing pace in Savana Volt and that could crucially secure Show a qualifying position.

Emers Cookie and Clonbrien Prince both ran very well to win their respective first round heats, however i’m sure both sets of connections would take third place now and a place in the third round.

Arthurs Noodle got away with his middle seeding last week. However, for a bitch much better drawn nearer the rail, she’s yet again going to have to play her cards right from a poor draw in five, if she is to progress to the next round.

Latest betting: 11-10 Clonbrien Prince, 4-1 Paganini Show, 7-1 Savana Volt, 8-1 Arthur Noodle, 10-1 Emers Cookie, 12-1 Newinn Banger

Ante post: 16-1 Clonbrien Prince, 50-1 Paganini Show, 80-1 Savana Volt, 150-1 Arthur Noodle, Emers Cookie, 150-1 Newinn Banger

Heat three looks a match between Desperado Dan drawn in one and Lemon Express drawn in six.

Both greyhounds were impressive winners of their first round heats and just 5 spots separated their winning times. Peter Cronin’s Irish raider in six looks open to a little bit more improvement than Desperado Dan does at this stage however and gets the selection. He can improve significantly on his first round split of 5.11 and that can put him into the perfect position by the time they reach halfway.

Dan can take second place whilst Graham Holland’s Blue East can qualify in third. East looked all set to win his first round heat, laying second to Emers Cookie as the greyhounds raced off the second bend. He looked all set to turn on the turbo boosters and take command along the back straight. Unfortunately for him he was clipped from behind, losing his back legs in the process and going from likely winner to unlikely qualifier in a matter of a couple of strides.

To the dog’s credit he regained momentum and despite not gaining a clear run, managed to get up late to qualify in third place. He was value for much much more than his 30.44 calculated time and the 8/1 priced up by Ladbrokes early in the week is a must bet for those seeking a value alternative to the selection.

Latest betting: 13-8 Lemon Express, 10-3 Desperado Dan, 9-2 Nice Charmer, 7-1 Blue East, 10-1 Kingsbrook Glynn, 16-1 Busters Bullet

Ante post: 40-1 Lemon Express, 80-1 Nice Charmer, 100-1 Desperado Dan, 125-1 Kingsbrook Glynn, Blue East, 200-1 Busters Bullet

Graham Holland spared no effort in seeing that his Derby team got all the trial and race preparation needed around Nottingham. That didn’t apply to his heat four representative Totos Park though who was otherwise engaged in the Irish Cesarewitch at Mullingar, reaching the final.

He eventually finished seven length third behind last weekends Nottingham track record breaker Skywalker Logan. Totos was sent off a 6/4 second favourite behind Logan for that final, highlighting perfectly the class of dog he is.

Coming into last weeks first round heat without a trial was always going to be a gamble but on this occasion it was a gamble that paid off as he qualified in second behind Slaheny Star beaten just half a length.

After a missed break and generally feeling his way around the bends, it wasn’t until very late in the race that Totos Park eventually let himself fully stretch out. Once he did so it was clear to see that there is much improvement in the locker. This is no easy heat, last years Irish Derby winner Ballyanne Sim races from trap 1, he did little wrong when winning his heat last week.

Magical Bale is in trap 4, he moved off at the first turn just at the same time that Geelo Blissful was moving in last week, Bale lost all position but then got lucky at the second bend, benefiting from further trouble to see himself skip into the lead.

From that position on, he looked all set for victory, he propped slightly at the third turn however and from there on home didn’t ever really look to be striding out to the best of his ability. Trainer Kevin Hutton has stated on more than one occasion though that Bale is a work in progress and it would be no surprise to see him improve this week.

The selection is with Totos Park, Ballyanne Sim is well drawn to claim second whilst Bale, who may well have to yet again work hard, can take third.

Latest betting: 7-4 Ballyanne Sim, 9-4 Magical Bale, 5-1 Totos Park, 8-1 Hero To Zero, 14-1 Bockos Tiger, 20-1 Front Edge

Ante post: 25-1 Magical Bale, 33-1 Ballyanne Sim, 66-1 Totos Park, 100-1 Hero To Zero, 150-1 Bockos Tiger, 250-1 Front Edge

Graham Holland can land a quick fire double in heat five courtesy of the Len Ponder owned Lenson Blinder.

It was initially not all that clear to see what all the fuss was about with Blinder, early trials were average at best for a dog with his reputation.

He has done nothing but improve with each passing week though and took off when winning his first round heat in 29.46 (+10) off the back of a 5.05 split.

With nothing to say he’s done improving yet, Blinder can take an early lead and comfortably hold off Lemon Ronald and Leemount Venus who can qualify in second and third respectively.

Latest betting: 4-5 Lenson Blinder, 7-2 Lemon Shane, 6-1 Lemon Ronald, 14-1 Adis Abebba, Slaheny Star, 16-1 Leemount Venus

Ante post: 16-1 Lenson Blinder, 50-1 Lemon Shane, 66-1 Lemon Ronald, 150-1 Leemount Venus, 200-1 Slaheny Star, 250-1 Adis Abebba,

Heat six is a tricky looking race but the selection is with Braveheart Bobby who fairly set the track alight when equalling the new sectional track record of 4.88, initially set by Droopys Nadal earlier in the evening.

Bobby will need a similar break tonight, he is surrounded by good pace with talented novice Bockos Doomie inside him and Ballymac Miscula to his outside.

Miscula in particular will be looking to come across at the earliest possible opportunity.

Bobby is a strong dog though and a quick start can see him take command of the race by the turn. That should be enough to secure victory.

Dorotas Woo Hoo looks well drawn on the outside to claim second whilst Doomie can qualify in third.

Latest betting: 11-8 Bockos Doomie, 15-8 Braveheart Bobby, 6-1 Dorotas Woo Hoo, 10-1 Ballymac Miscula, 12-1 Stonepark Warrior, 50-1 Pink Osteria

Ante post: 33-1 Bockos Doomie, 40-1 Braveheart Bobby, 125-1 Dorotas Woo Hoo, Ballymac Miscula, 200-1 Stonepark Warrior, 1000-1 Pink Osteria

The Liz and Rab McNair home bred and trained Queen Beyonce can take heat seven in style.

Beyonce has returned from her break as good as, if not better than ever. Now trapping with much more consistency, she is showing all of her old early sparkle and simply tore the track up as she headed to the half way marker in last weeks first round 10 spots faster than anything else in the competition.

There is nothing to stop Beyonce yet again taking an early lead if coming away on terms and for a bitch still improving, that should be enough. Droopys Gold was horrendously drawn in last weeks heat but ran a game and gutsy race to claim the third qualifying position.

Though drawn slightly wider than ideal yet again in orange, he has nowhere near the same amount of pace to contend with on his inner and he can qualify in a comfortable enough second with Droopys Davy in a close third.

Latest betting: 11-8 Queen Beyonce, 7-4 Droopys Davy, 11-2 Droopys Gold, 20-1 Bull Run Button, 25-1 Boylesports Boom, 80-1 Bayview Gerry

Ante post: 25-1 Droopys Davy, 33-1 Queen Beyonce, 100-1 Droopys Gold, 200-1 Bull Run Button, 250-1 Boylesports Boom, 1000-1 Bayview Gerry

The eighth and final heat of tonight’s second round action can go the way of Paul Hennessy’s Boylesports Xtra.

He possesses massive early pace and can put that to full use in a heat where he looks heavy odds on to go some way clear.

There are plenty of strong runners in opposition though so he’ll be hoping that none of them drop in a clear second, though with the way the draw has panned out, a clear run isn’t guaranteed for many bar the selection.

Pond Adonis was extremely unlucky not to claim victory in last weeks heat, he’s not ideally drawn in trap 4 but can put himself into his preferred rails pitch by halfway and can run on strongly for second. Roxholme Butt is a similarly strong running sort who can take the third and final qualifying slot.

Latest betting: 15-8 Boylesports Xtra, 7-2 King Sheeran, 5-1 Volcanic Reef, 13-2 Pond Adonis, 8-1 Roxholme Butt, 12-1 Jelly Flood

Ante post: 33-1 Boylesports Xtra, 66-1 King Sheeran, 66-1 Pond Adonis, 80-1 Volcanic Reef, 100-1 Roxholme Butt, 200-1 Jelly Flood