Ask most connections of most Derby runners in recent years about their biggest disappointment and ‘being beaten in the final’ does not hurt anywhere near as much as ‘going out in the semis’.
So for 11 sets of connections (one withdrawal), the pressure has never been greater as they live their Derby dream.
For punters, this is a fabulous 12 race card with quality from the first (an outstanding puppy race) to the last.
Enjoy!
Derby betting: 7-4 Swords Rex, 7-2 Romeo Command, 8-1 Clona Duke, Gaytime Nemo, 12-1 Burg Khalifa, 16-1 Ballymac Finn, 28-1 Savana Beau, 33-1 Mystical Mario, 40-1 Jacktavern Bella, 50-1 Romeo Top Gun, 66-1 Cochise, 100-1 Ninja Kerry
Latest betting:4-5 New Destiny, 11-4 Droopys Clue, 8-1 King Memphis, Saka Falcon, 10-1 Miami Patrol, 16-1 Slippy Thriller
Mark Wallis’s NEW DESTINY is a hugely pacey pup with an extremely bright future. She arrived in the UK with a winning record of 3 from 4 with the last of his Irish victories being an 11 1/2 length success around Newbridge in 2842. She’s had just the two competitive starts since arriving here in the UK and won both impressively at Hove and Monmore respectively. Her 2904 trial here last week confirms her of a pup of immense promise and she is likely to take some holding here. Liz McNair introduces a nice type in King Memphis though at December 2021 is the youngest in the field and might just need the experience. Patrick Janssens Saka Falcon was two from two in Ireland and won at the second time of asking here in the UK when landing a Hove maiden earlier this month. Destiny can get the night off to the best possible start for punters however and very much looks one to keep on side in future.
Latest betting: 10-11 Ballymac John, 11-4 Savana Top Cat, 7-2 Swithins Teejay, 7-1 Alineas Debut, 12-1 Rapido Lady, 33- Arthur Cucumber
There were little in the way of excuses when Mark Wallis’s BALLYMAC JOHN and Richard Yeates Swithins Teejay met in last weeks heats but the make up of tonight’s semi final might mean that Teejay doesn’t find it quite so easy to get clear. He’s not always as flashy away from the lids as he were on that occassion and even if he does come away he might find Wallis’s Rapido Lady a hindrance early. That being the case things should fall nicely for John who although it won’t come as any compensation for his supporters last week didn’t actually run a bad race. He’s a confident enough selection to make up for last week’s long odds on reversal.
Latest betting: 9-4 One Day Scooby, 5-2 Makeit Magical, 7-2 Deanrise Skippy, 7-1 Coppice Warrior, Naney Jezabelle, 8-1 Coppice Trophy
DEANRIDGE SKIPPY landed his heat for Alison Kelly-Pilgrim last week and he can follow up here. He’ll again need to trap smartly but if doing so looks the call. Paul White’s One Day Scooby was an eye catcher behind the selection last time and wouldn’t need too much more to go right for him this time to make it a much closer affair.
Latest betting: 8-11 Signet Goofy, 7-4 Shockwave Onyx, 6-1 No Rush, 16-1 Who Needs Goofy, 33-1 Fabulous Twirl, 66-1 Tuftys Dora
The betting for this will revolve around Kim Gooding’s Shockwave Onyx and Kevin Hutton’s Signet Goofy who served up a terrific race in last week’s heat. Goofy got clear on that occassion although Onyx was checked up behind him a couple of times else would have been closer than the 1 1/4 lengths which he was eventually beaten by. With clear enough runs the pair should serve up another good race but there is a chance they could come together at some stage and that might just open the door for Carol Weatherall’s NO RUSH to come through and land the spoils.
Latest betting: 11-8 Arkady, 7-4 Whyaye Man, 4-1 Droopys Google, 10-1 Stevie Knows, 12-1 Blackhouse Harry, 20-1 Doghouse Dazzler
David Mullins freshened ARKADY up with a couple of trials around Oxford after his elimination from the Derby and it really did the trick as he ran out an impressive winner of his heat from Mark Wallis’s Whyaye Man who reopposes tonight. A similar break should soon see Mullins charge in command and the result can be identical to last week with Whyaye Man following him home in second.
Latest betting: 5-4 Fromposttopillar, 9-4 Brookside Richie, 7-2 Rioja Joey, 10-1 Deelish Frankie, Thunder Black, 16-1 Forest Icon
Liz McNair’s FROMPOSTTOPILLAR was mightily impressive in back running Brookside Richie last week. Jimmy Fenwick’s greyhound looked away and gone but the decisive moment came as they headed into the final stages of the back straight and Pillar managed to get into a clear second. The gap was always going to be closed down but could he reel in the not insignificant advantage held by a quality greyhound in Richie ? The answer was yes and relatively comfortably in the end. It will be no easy task but Pillar is a special greyhound and he can come through late to secure first place.
Latest betting: 6-5 Singalong Stacey, 5-3 Wolf Moon, 11-2 Westwell Emer, 14-1 Smores, 16-1 Jaffa, 25-1 Romeo Sparta
Jill Llewellin’s WOLF MOON can complete the hat trick by landing his semi final tonight. There wasn’t much in the betting last week between himself and Kevin Hutton’s reopposing Singalong Stacey but it was Llewellin’s home bred who got the upper hand staying on well all the way to the pick up. He’s drawn a little wider than ideal here but there isn’t too much in the way of early pace inside him and he can soon get himself into a prominent position. Stacey can once again fill the forecast spot for Kevin Hutton and the team.
Latest betting: 5-2 Clona Duke, 7-2 Burj Khalifa, Gaytime Nemo, 9-2 Mystical Mario, 10-1 Ballymac Finn, 25-1 Cochise
The first semi final of the English Derby can go to Brendan Matthews Irish raider BURJ KHALIFA. This giant of a greyhound has been improving with each passing week and once his feet hit the floor he possesses a raw pace which few can match. With John Lambe’s Mystical Mario likely to edge in slowly on the run up but maybe more importantly more significantly at the bend the path can be left clear for Khalifa to sweep into the lead as they head onto the back straight. Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Finn hasn’t been seen at his best around here to date but in the hands of one of the sports best ever an improved run can most certainly not be ruled out. Graham Holland is double handed here with Gaytime Nemo and Clona Duke with preference just for Nemo who comes into this in top form as highlighted by a magnificent quarter final victory last week in 2879 calc. The Rees family have a rich history with the Derby and they’re yet again advertising their class as a training family with Cochise looking to provide them with another finalist. Last but by no means least John Lambe and connections are living the Derby dream with their Mystical Mario who will need a career best performance tor reach the final but this early pacer is improving with each run for his likable handler and what a story it would be if they were to make it through.
Latest betting: 4-6 Swords Rex, 2-1 Romeo Command, 14-1 Jacktaven Bella, Savana Beau, 33-1 Ninja Kerry
ROMEO COMMAND looked like a greyhound with a million ways to get beat when trained in Ireland by Graham Holland but since arriving here in the UK with Patrick Janssens he looks like a greyhound with a million ways to win. I fully expect him to fly the lid from his trap 4 berth tonight and that then will give ante post favourite Swords Rex something to think about with him being asked to perform from behind for the very first time in the competition. There are absolutely no questions for Rex to answer once in front he is a dream of a greyhound to watch but being led up if that is to be the case may just make things interesting. Janssens had to withdrawn Romeo Top Gun from the competition after he picked up a hock injury last week and that now makes things interesting between Diane Henry’s 2022 finalist Savana Beau and Graham Holland’s Jacktavern Bella. Though both greyhounds do their best work late it could well become the case that it’s the race to the first bend between the pair which decides which of the two qualify through to the final. Whichever of the two leads the other at the bend will almost certainly secure their place. Finally Belinda Green has been in sensational category one winning form this year and her Ninja Kerry will be hoping to book himself a place in the draw. With so much early pace directly inside him and then the finishing pace of the inside pair to contend with too things won’t be easy but he’s doing connections proud and cannot be safely ruled out of qualifying.
Peter Harnden’s SALACRES SMASHER always looked like a greyhound who would benefit from a step up in trip and he duly got off the mark at the first time of asking over 712m here when landing the Don Harnden Memorial Invitation. He set a frightening pace upfront and though just holding on in the latter stages his time of 4318 was just 0.42 spots off the October 2022 track record set by Havana Lover. For a young dog running over the trip for the first time that was some effort. Given a short break since by his shrewd connections he trialled well over the 500m trip here last week and can pop out and make all. Steve Rayner’s Night Time Danny needs no introduction and obviously rates the main danger to the selection but he wouldn’t want to be allowing Smasher too much in the way of rope. A good race in store.
Mark Wallis’s CROSSFIELD CORA has a touch of all round pace over both four and six bends and at what should be a decent enough price in a fair race is chosen to the job done. John Mullins Faypoint Susie has been in flying form and had plenty of excuses when well beaten last time out.
June Harvey’s OWER SMASHER is a proven strong stayer over tough marathon trips and is a confident selection to send punters home happy. She will leave it late but punters can begin to get the roar up as she starts moving through the gears from halfway.
