Mark Pierrepont continues his preview of the Derby second round.
(Don’t forget the first round review: Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
Colour guide to ‘halfway’ from ‘halfway’ in the first round –
Yellow/black prices (left) are Star Sports ante post – blue prices (right) are a rough indicator to individual race betting
HEAT 9
A classy heat which can go the way of Liam Dowling’s 2021 finalist BALLYMAC FAIRONE. A more experienced dog this year he’s well at home around Towcester and is well drawn to take this situated between two runners who wouldn’t be the quickest into stride. Pat Buckley’s Singalong Sally needs no introduction. Last years Irish Derby Final runner up is one of the fastest bitches around and run a good race behind Part Blake last week. She didn’t immediately head rails from her trap 4 draw last week though and in fact moved off on the run up slightly. She may well look to claim her preferred rails position earlier as she becomes more accustomed to the track but on all evidence so far Fairone looks sure to get a nice run round the first two bends with any kind of break and that should be enough. Savana Beau is improving all the time for Diane Henry. He’s a strong runner and can qualify through to the third round.
HEAT 10
Last week’s run was much more like it from Graham Holland’s PART BLAKE. Quickly into stride he never looked in a moments danger as he sauntered around the track on way to a 2925 (+10) victory off the back of a rapid 406 split. With further improvement likely he’s well drawn for a repeat performance. Carol Weatherall’s strong running Trumps Benefit can chase after the selection. Reared at the Sean Conway school of excellence over in Northern Ireland the dog as with many from the set up has a huge engine and will be difficult to keep out of the frame in any race put together throughout the competition. The third and final spot in next week’s draw is up for grabs with each of the other 4 all able to lay claims if bringing their A game to the table.
HEAT 11
Alison Kelly-Pilgrim’s DEANRIDGE SKIPPY was purchased at the Greyhound Trader sale held at Towcester in March and what a shrewd purchase he’s looking to be. Previously named ‘Takeout Merchant’ Skippy has really begun to showcase the early pace which previous connections always believed he had in recent outings. He came away from traps not too badly in last week’s first round but for an initial few yards struggled to find his legs. Once he found them however he really took off and by the bend was a comfortable leader. He’s drawn wider than ideal and he trip is without doubt a little further than his optimum but he can overcome both factors to have this race sewn up by the time they hit halfway. Whats Up Eva can drop second to the selection and follow him home for Richard Rees. Frank Gray’s Makeit For Waz ran a storming race to qualify in last week’s first round but it was a break that he’s never previously shown he had in him and the suspicion is he’ll find life tough now we’re into the second round unless proving it not to have been a fluke start.
HEAT 12
Michael O’Donovan’s SKYWALKER BARRY on paper looks a strong fancy to reproduce what was a near flawless effort in winning his first round heat last week in 2909. Graham Holland’s Bockos Leah drawn to his immediate left in trap 3 was drawn in trap 2 last week and was looking for the rail then so it’s to be presumed from one trap further out she will simply be affording Barry plenty of space once again. He looks a good bet and one that punters could really get stuck into with my only real note of concern being that the hare came to an abrupt holt at the first bend just after the finish last week and Barry was first dog onto the scene. Greyhounds are intelligent animals and at times remember things like this so I would have a slight worry that he may anticipate it heading into the bend tonight. Hopefully that’s not the case and if going around the turn at full tilt he shouldn’t be picked up in what is now a five runner affair following yesterday’s ‘off colour’ withdrawal of Brendan Matthews Fernandes. Jason Gray’s Mickys Barrett has been a joy to watch in recent times and is obviously giving his loyal team of owners a great thrill. He won well last week though the time was moderate and this is much tougher. The enthusiasm of his team of owners is great to see but maybe just for the sake of his rivals concentration the football like chanting could be left until after he’s raced and not beforehand.
HEAT 13
This heat looks to be between the even numbered traps with Paul Hennessy’s Barefoot Supremo , Brendan Matthews WIDE OPEN and Graham Holland’s Bockos Viera all set to battle it out. Marginal preference is for Wide Open who might just ping from her middle draw and if getting to the front at the first shouldn’t be for picking up. I say shouldn’t and in most races she simply wouldn’t be but she’d not want Barefoot Supremo dropping too close as the manner in which he finished last week’s race when nailing Bubbly Apache late on was a sight to behold. It was no surprise to see him coming out as the fast finisher of the first round by some considerable margin. He also possesses a fair bit more early pace than might be believed in some quarters and if he could lead up kennel mate Jaytee Wexford then he’s a big player in this race. Bockos Viera ran a great race when winning in 2908 last week but has to overcome a draw wider than he’d like here in trap 6 and in a race of this quality that might just be easier said than done.
HEAT 14
Liam Dowling’s HOODOO BROWN may never be a greyhound who does things the easy way in away and gone style but what an exciting greyhound to watch he’s turning into. His pace and power from halfway are something to behold and if this greyhound gets a clear to that point then he’ll go close in any race which he lines up. He’ll need to get around fairly handily though if he’s not to let Paul Hennessy’s Priceless Jet steal too much of a march on him. Jet to lead clear , Brown to loom rounding the final bend and pick off his rival late on.
HEAT 15
Michael O’Donovan’s COOLAVANNY CALVN became involved in an early paced dual with Signet Denver in last week’s first round heat and despite battling on well came off second best. The draw slightly off the fence this evening in trap 2 as opposed to last week’s trap 1 can only aid him so far as breaking is concerned and that can soon see him clear of his rivals on way to a QAW ALD victory. Patrick Janssens Lautaro was simply sensational when setting a new track record of 2884 when winning his first round heat last week. He’s shown himself in my view to be a greyhound not quite at that level when facing company on his inside and it’s at times led to him losing races which he really should have won. I suspect he may find tonight’s race a little tougher and asking a few more questions of him than last week’s facile victory did.
HEAT 16
Peter Cronin’s Kirby finalist KILDARE went down narrowly in his first round heat but the run should have brought this lightly raced sort on once again and despite yet again be drawn right against the rail when he’d be better off drawn slightly off it he can show the benefit of that experience by taking the final heat of the second round. He needs to be quicker into stride than he was last week but so long as he’s that little bit sharper he should out pace Sharon Thompson’s Master Ten Ten to the bend from which point home he’d be very difficult to beat. Patrick Janssens 2021 Derby Champion Thorn Falcon ran a gutsy race from behind to qualify in third position last week when looking to be up against it in the early stages. He’s not trapping at the minute and in a race of this nature that’s a huge concern. The unofficial finishing clocks showed that maybe the finishing run of Falcon wasn’t quite as taking as the eye might have suggested. Pat Buckley’s Scarty Yank was extremely impressive when landing his first round heat and drove the bend with a bravery I like to see in a dog. He’ll need to be ultra sharp from trap 5 tonight though if he’s to get across at the turn though if doing so he’ll take some pegging back.
