The decision to delay the trap draw to the Derby lunch at The Ritz in London on Monday afternoon became even more relevant as six railers made it through to the final of the Star Sports/ARC/LPS Greyhound Derby Final.
Saturday night’s semi finals went to two hounds who had each won three of their respective qualifiers and in doing so, they both confirmed and dispelled some of the theories that have emerged about the Derby’s latest venue.
Both went to front running railers. No middles or wide seeds made it to the final, though the qualifying places went to greyhounds who came through the field.
The first semi was dominated by the greyhound who had dominated the timing stats. Magical Bale had featured three times in the top ten places of the ‘fastest to halfway’ table and produced a similar clinical display when flashing away in front.
Winner MAGICAL BALE (t2) approaches the first bend in his Derby semi final, giving chase (L-R) are King Sheeran (t6), Ballyanne Sim (t4) & Dorotas Wildcat (t3). Runner up Droopys Expert (t1) hidden by Bale at this stage. Photo: © Steve Nash
As he cleared the bend in front, Rab McNair’s premonition that King Sheeran would trap too fast for his own good proved prophetic. He was in second place on the outside as Dorotas Wildcat and Ballyanne Sim collided with the latter bouncing into Sheeran’s path and ending the Derby for both of them.
As they headed along the backstraight, it was a Hutton 1-2 with Wildcat in clear second and Droopys Expert in third. But as they came around the last two bends, Wildcat didn’t look to be at his fluent best as both Expert and Priceless Blake ran him down for a qualifying spot.
MAGICAL BALE wins the first Derby Semi Final from Droopys Expert (t1) and Priceless Blake (t5) with Dorotas Wildcat (t3) fading into fourth having chased the winner hard until the home straight. Photo: © Steve Nash
The second semi final saw Clonbrien Prince take a commanding lead to the first bend. Queen Beyonce was slow away as Skywalker Logan trapped better from the inside and hugged the rail. With Roxholme Glory joining the chase, three runners found themselves within two spots at the sectional. Beyonce was the meat in the sandwich at the first bend which Skywalker Logan ran bravely.
CLONBRIEN PRINCE (t3) leads up in the second Derby semi from (L-R) Jaytee Taylor (t6), Ballymac Tas (t5), Roxholme Glory (t4), almost hidden Queen Beyonce (t2) and runner up Skywalker Logan (t1). Photo: © Steve Nash
Along the backstraight, Prince seemed to have the race at his mercy but a determined Logan almost reeled him in on the run-in as Ballymac Tas just held off the other celebrated finisher, Jaytee Taylor, for third spot.
It was a 1-2-3-4 for the Irish who will have a quartet of runners in that semi final draw.
