Emma Gray Previews Monmore Derby Team

Droopys By Amile – Heat 1 (6:30) Thursday

Droopys By Amile kicks off the 2023 derby action running in the first heat on Thursday at 6:35pm and so the first of the Entain dogs will be flying the flag early. At the kennels he is known to be a very headstrong boy and in his races he can be a bit inconsistent at the boxes which has meant that he hasn’t won as many races as perhaps his ability suggests he could have done. With just two trials and a race around Towcester he is relatively inexperienced at the track and it is perhaps true to say that he hasn’t taken to Towcester yet but he is a capable sort who could progress through a few rounds as he has form over longer trips at Monmore and Romford. Droopys By Amile finds himself in a five dog race but has some tough competition coming up against the likes of Drive on Lad who went unbeaten through the Maiden Derby and Mustang Sam who has electric early pace which he used to brilliant effect to land a hat trick of wins in April. Although the outsider in the betting for this heat, if Droopys By Amile can find the ping break that we saw when he led up Antigua Woofwoof at Monmore on 22nd April to post a rapid 27.97 then he would be a hard dog to peg back but he will need to improve on what he has shown at Towcester so far to be in with a fighting chance in this heat.

Antigua Big Syd – Heat 6 (8:05) Thursday

Antigua Big Syd is a quirky character in the kennel. He is very lively boy but now being kennelled with a bitch, he is starting to mature. Nathan sees him as his best chance behind Droopys Fidget and is hopeful he can progress well through the competition. Based on his recent trial times and the fact that he has some race experience at Towcester, he has a real chance in his heat. There is some early pace on his outside and so he will need to hold Mystical Mario to the turn but he is capable of his own quick start which is seen in the 4.16 sectional he posted on 16th May. Black House Harry on the rails looks to be one of his main rivals here. Having raced in Ireland previously, he has only had 7 competitive starts in England and from those he has won twice with both wins coming in opens at Monmore. Antigua Big Syd himself may feel he has something of a point to prove given that his litter brother, Frompillartopost, is the antepost favourite and there’s nothing like sibling rivalry!

Dapper Rodney – Heat 7 (8:36) Thursday

Dapper Rodney has been a great dog for connections reaching the finals of the Eclipse, Gold Collar and Essex Vase but he will be 4 this year and so this may be his swansong. He is a stunning boy, a really good stamp of a dog and his lively nature suggests he knows that he is possibly the best looking dog in the kennel. As he is now getting that little bit older, he is looking after himself in his races but being in a five dog race may help him and as he runs on, he should have more room to find a way through the field with Rioja Joey and Tommys Boss looking to blaze a trial early. Dapper Rodney has both trial and race experience around Towcester which is a positive but he may be lacking a little race fitness as other than his competitive start at Towcester on 14th May, he has only had trials since his run at Central Park at the start of March. His price to take the first round suggests that he has a tough task ahead in this first round race but you never say never in dog racing.

Whitings New Era – Heat 10 (9:30) Thursday

Whitings New Era, who is a quiet girl at the kennels and does everything right, will conclude the Thursday night heats and what a heat it is with Swords Rex, one of the leading fancies to land the competition starting his derby campaign in the same heat. While Swords Rex is capable of winning off the front or from behind, he will be expected to make a good start while Whitings New Era will be a dog that is picking her way through the field in the latter stages of the race with winning form over 575m at Romford showing that stamina won’t be a problem over this 500m trip. The same is also true for Romeo Salvo who runs from trap 3. Whilst Swords Rex may be the name that jumps off the page in the final heat of the night, Mark Wallis’ runner, Newinn Touch, ran impressively at Monmore to follow up her run in the Brigton Belle to reach the final. Ballymac Walt, a young Irish dog, is something of an unknown but one thing is for sure, the Dowlings must rate him highly to be bringing a pup over for this competition. Perhaps the trial victory over Ballymac Johnjo gives us just a hint of what to expect. All of this means that Whitings New Era may have a tough job on her hands especially as ideally she would be drawn further off the fence but she is running well and as everyone will tell you, until the final, it is all about qualification and connections would no doubt be happy to see her crossing the line in a qualifying spot.

Aero Arran – Heat 11 (6:20) Friday

Aero Arran is looked after by Assistant Trainer, Jo Slater, at the kennels. She was quick to tell me what a pleasure he is to look after and train. Although he is still a quiet lad at home, he has come out of himself since he arrived as a very shy boy. He loves his walks and playing in the big field. Aero Arran kicks off the second night’s racing lining up in Heat 11, the first of Friday’s heats. When lining up against another 180 odd dogs, it is somewhat unlucky to come up against the bitch, Fayepoint Susie, who beat him in a trial on 14th May. She has more early pace than him but it looks as though he could tuck in behind her and run on as he will stay the 500m trip well. Although on times he is very much in with a chance, he will have to contend with the huge amount of early pace that surrounds him both but although he may lack a little early, he will make up for that in the latter stages of the race and will have to do it the hard way. Connections would be thrilled to keep qualifying or maybe even sneak a win.

Smokey Frank – Heat 16 (7:48) Friday

At the kennels, Smokey is very much a well mannered but independent boy. He likes to do what he wants to do and he knows what he does and doesn’t like. He enjoys going for walks and seeing the ducks running around the pond is his favourite. He is very vocal is breakfast is now served in a timely manner which is just one example of his very cheeky side! He Since coming over from Ireland, Smokey Frank has run at Monmore where he reached the semi final of the Winter Derby. He hasn’t done much since that competition because although he was running well, it was not necessarily as well as expected. He had a thorough check over and it was found that his tonsils were the problem which he has now had removed as that seemed the better option. He had the operation in Ireland and coped well with the travelling, surgery and recovery. His first trial back at Monmore (15.25) was very pleasing as was his trial at Towcester. In terms of his heat, he has drawn trap 4 which should suit him Magical Kyle and Candolim Monsoon will be the two leading the market in terms of betting but Smokey Frank can land a spot in the top three to add his name to the hat for round two.

Droopys Fidget – Heat 24 (6:50) Saturday

Droopys Fidget is only of 29 pups to take their place in the Derby. Although she is an August pup she is mature for her age, she knows she is good and she is also very clever. She quickly realises at the kennel when her kennelmate is being taken out and she will latch onto the person trying to take out the other dog so they can’t go. At the track she can be quite stubborn and doesn’t like walking past the traps. She has already shown she is a classy sort having reached the semi final of the Monmore Puppy Derby and then landing the Steel City Puppy Derby back in April. She has had a break since then and trialled for the first time at Towcester on 14th May posting a 4.16 sectional. Considering she tied up a little coming home, 29.36 was a decent time. From what we have seen of her so far, she is certainly good enough to go deep in the competition but it will all depend on her trapping consistently. She does sometimes stand up in the boxes and then misses her break which she can ill afford to do particularly the further through the competition she goes.  Droopys Fidget is second favourite to be top Entain dog behind Bradys Bullet. In her first round race, which is now a five dog heat, Droopys Fidget looks to be the one to beat although she will need to break on the rails and hold Tullig Raven to the bend as those in the middle to wide pitches will find themselves with more room with the five box being vacant.

Doghouse Dazzler – Heat 25 (7:10) Saturday

Doghouse Dazzler, litter brother of Brookside Richie, has been a really good dog for The Doghouse Boys syndicate who have owned him since he was just a few months old and he deserves to take his chance in the Derby. At the kennel, he is a calm, laid back character who takes everything in his stride. Despite his age, he is inexperienced at Towcester with just the recent trial and race form to go on. He had a tough introduction to competitive racing at Towcester having finished third behind Swords Rex in his track record breaking run on 7th May. Now being drawn in the same heat as Romeo Command and Mr Chelm (previously known as Kildare) means he has another difficult race but he has a real chance to take a qualifying spot and book his place in the second round.

Kaluki – Heat 26 (7:30) Saturday

Kaluki has a unique style of running, he has lovely natural early pace, he stays well.

He’s been off for a few months with a couple of injuries which have been really difficult to get him right from. He’s been having numerous treatments, shockwave therapy, laser, ultrasound, swimming.

Kaluki trialed back well at towcester but definitely needed the run. He will also need the run in the 1st round but hopefully his class will help him qualify He hasn’t had much luck of late but hopefully that can change. His first round race is quite open and he will benefit from the five dog heat. Deelish Frankie is the market principal and will be the one to beat.

Longacres Nutty – Heat 27 (7:48) Saturday

Longacres Nutty was previously known as Ballymac Drama and raced in Ireland until January this year. She has settled in well at Pat’s kennel and she is a happy girl at home. Since making the switch to England, she has won at Monmore over the 4 and 6 bend trips and posted two race wins at Towcester, one of which came in the semi-final of the Maiden Derby back in April. She has shown that she can break well from the boxes and has plenty of early speed. Her recent win at Monmore over 630m means that she will see the Derby trip out well although she does do her best running when off the front. Although she is more than capable of winning from red, at Towcester she has had more success when drawn middle with a trial and two race wins from trap 3. In her heat she will be in an early battle for the lead with Bombay Zero in the blue and Bens Lad in the black who also both like to do things from the front.