Heat 17 see’s the 2018 Derby runner up, Droopys Verve running from trap 2. There is no doubting the class of Verve, he is a Rolls Royce of a greyhound who has proven he enjoys the challenge that Nottingham as a circuit provides. It’s questionable though does he quite possess the same amount of early pace as he did last year? My view is that he doesn’t yet he is absolutely surrounded by runners who both trap well and have early. Indeed Ballymac Miscula and Desperado Dan drawn in traps 3 and 4 respectively, not only have early, but will both be looking to move across to the rail at the earliest available opportunity. Punters seems to be hesitant too, with Verve having drifted from odds-on early in the week to slight odds against on Saturday early prices. Verve’s class should see him qualify, but for a dog likely to be crowded early, we must look elsewhere for the likely winner. King Lennon, who has also drifted slightly (from 3-1)has impressed me greatly during his trials at Nottingham. He’s been gaining good experience of the track and has improved with each run. He does lack a yard of early pace, but he is one of the strongest greyhounds in the competition in the second half and if he can hold his pitch until the second bend, I expect Lennon to power on home from that point onward’s. Verve can escape the crowding on the inside and use his class to qualify in second whilst Slippy Cian can take the third and final qualifying slot.
Heat betting: 11-10 Droopys Verve, 3-1 Slippy Cian, 7-2 King Lennon, 12-1 Desperado Dan, 16-1 Ballymac Miscula, 33-1 Wildfire Legend
Heat 18 and Priceless Blake, trained by Paul Hennessy, can have the Irish flags waving. Blake is much better than the bare form of his first look 29.66 (+40) trial last week when finishing beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Jaytee Taylor. He has shortened in the betting from 7-4 earlier in the week. From what looks a good draw against the rail, he can hold his pitch, turn in front and that should be enough. Oi Oi Upenalty running from trap 5 for Hayley Keightley can catch pigeons and can run on for second. Kingsbrook Glynn is a bit of a dark dog for Kevin Hutton, he has little in the way of early pace but from the third bend home he fairly motors. He can claim the third and final qualifying place.
Heat betting: 6-4 Pricless Blake, 3-1 Kingsbrook Glyn, 10-3 Oi Oi Upenalty, 8-1 Front Edge, 10-1 Killieford Banjo, 40-1 Ballydoyle Misty
Heat 19 sees Roxholme Butt stepping back in trip to contest the Derby and though he has a tricky enough looking draw to contend with, I expect the race could be set up for him and he can come through late to score. Liberty Hawk is well placed to lead on the rail if trapping, he’s in the capable hands of ex Bolton racing manager Alan Bellis, he’s been getting plenty of experience around Nottingham in recent weeks and he can put that to good use to qualify. Shaneboy Paschal can run on to take the third qualifying place for trainer Kevin Boon. On the outside of the track are two bitches that I really like. Loher Honey performs with credit on a regular basis around Nottingham but will need something similar to her last time out sectional of 498 to get to the front here, if she doesn’t, she simply isn’t qualifying. Wider still in trap 6 is a bitch I really like in the shape of Patrick Godfrey’s Arthur Noodle. I cannot really understand the middle seeding on this bitch, to me she’s only ever shown herself as being a railer, maybe a trap three runner at worst. Given the amount of rails seeded greyhounds in the competition, this bitch is likely to find herself drawn much wider than is ideal on each and every time she runs, unless she takes an absolute flyer, she’s in serious trouble of clearing her rivals from what looks a perilous draw.
Heat betting: 9-4 Roxholme Butt, 5-2 Arthur Noodle, 9-2 Liberty Hawk, 6-1 Loher Honey, 7-1 Shaneboy Paschal, 40-1 Move Over Padre
Heat 20 and Droopys Nadal can make every post a winning one from what looks a good draw in the most open betting race of the event so far. Nadal had always shown a good amount of early pace for Angela Harrision, though connections always felt that he would improve as he matured and that has been well founded. Showing a lot more stamina during his recent Scottish Derby campaign, reaching the final and far from disgraced in fourth place, he’s no longer a ‘one trick pony’ and he can prove that again here. Badminton Jet and Antigua Vows can fill the two remaining qualifying positions.
Heat betting: 7-2 Antigua Vows, Badminton Jet, Forest Alan, 4-1 Droopys Nadal, 11-2 Maries Darkie, 16-1 Deanridge Ashton
Heat 21 and a race that contains electric early pace from top to bottom. Seaglass Phantom is a dog that possesses massive pace, but has been visibly easing at the bends when in company and this has proven to be his downfall on more than one occasion since he destroyed a high class Juvenile field at Sheffield earlier this year. He could make the draw pay, but with so much pace in the race, it would take a brave man to bet him with any confidence. Queen Beyonce is coming back to her best after a lay-off. She’s also been trapping much more consistently in trials than previously, that should serve as a warning to all. This bitch could go a very long way in this Derby. The selection though is with Liam Dowlings Irish raider Ballymac Anton. Recording 29.41 (+20) off the back of a 4.99 split on what was his first and so far only look at Nottingham recently was some effort. He can squeeze his way around the bend in front and hold off the persistent challenge of Beyonce with Daniel Brabon’s well drawn Trade Fudge taking third.
Heat betting: 15-8 Seaglass Phantom, 9-4 Ballymac Anton, 11-2 Queen Beyonce, 6-1 Trade Fudge, 10-1 Gettin Up, 50-1 Kilmessan Puma
Heat 22 is a tricky affair in which selecting the winner is no easy task. Ballymac Tas is a classy bitch for Liam Dowling and will be aiming to make it a quick fire double for the Irish trainer if Anton has obliged in the previous race. She isn’t guaranteed the clearest of passages though with the under rated and early paced Swift Jim to her immediate left. Jaytee Taylor has shortened in the betting this week and is likely to start favourite. But he too has masses of early pace to clear on his inside, not only in the shape of Quantum Leap to his immediate left, but in the race as a whole. This really is a race to watch, though the token selection goes with Jim due to the draw. Tas and Taylor can qualify.
Heat betting: 6-4 Jaytee Taylor, 5-2 Ballymac Tas, 9-2 Swift Jim, 6-1 Sidaz Jet, 8-1 Quantum Leap, 16-1 Deadly Storm
Heat 23 and Skywalker Logan, an Irish greyhound superstar who recently won the Irish Cesarewitch at Mullingar can emerge victorious on his UK debut. Logan recorded a sensational 29.27 (+20) on what was his first and only look at the track so far last week in a trial. He has shortened in the betting this week. Under race conditions, such a clear run won’t be always guaranteed but he’s a class act. Early prices have him just this side of odds against, however it’s difficult to see him going off anything other than odds on at the track. Holdem Zidane, a credit to connections and a multiple category one finalist never knows when he’s beat, he can claim second with Graham Hollands Romeo Rumble in third.
Heat betting: 5-4 Skywalker Logan, 7-2 King Idol, 9-2 Holdem Zidane, 10-1 Romeo Rumble, Ballymac Reds, 14-1 Swift Sabbath
Heat 24 can go the way of Patrick Janssens Lenson Whelan who has shortened a quarter of a point in the betting. A semi finalist in the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial recently, he has trialled well since joining his new kennel. A 2977 (normal) trial on the 9th May advertises his pace well and with Ballydoyle Frank to his immediate inside, he has no excuses for not taking command of the inside immediately. Ballydoyle Frank can run on strongly for second whilst Droopys Nirvana looks well placed on the wide outside to take third.
Heat betting: 6-4 Lenson Whelan, 3-1 Ballydoyle Frank, 6-1 Droopys Nirvana, 13-2 Rockmount Ozzy, 12-1 Pond Ricardo, Stoneparkwarrior
Heat 25 sees a belated Derby debut for King Turbo and he can land this race in style. Bramble Milburn can set the early fractions from his trap 5 draw for Steven Anderson and he can hold on to qualify, but I expect a comfortable success for Turbo. Formidable is a pacy sort for Diane Henry and though he’s likely to be denied the clear lead he’d desire, he can still take the third and final qualifying slot.
Heat betting: 4-6 King Turbo, 7-2 Formidable, 13-2 Jelly Flood, 7-1 Bramble Milburn, 25-1 Pond Osteria, 33-1 Comeonyoubees
Heat 26 is yet another hot race but it is with Magical Bale whom I’m siding. Bale looks well drawn against the rail and if coming away in his usual fashion he looks sure to be extremely tough to beat. He’s down as the kennel second string for this Derby in the eyes of many, but not myself. He has the ability to win from the front or behind, he is extremely well balanced for a dog of his size and runs a bend as well as any dog in training. He’s capable of producing a time much faster than his 29.56 (+20) trial, that should serve as a big warning to his rivals in this heat. If he needed any help at all it will surely be granted with Master Reed likely to take an immediate step off from his draw in trap 2. Originally a wide seed for much of his career, connections have now decided upon a rails seeding for the greyhound. Having watched near enough every race this greyhound has competed in, I’m not sure I can fully agree with that assessment. Bale looks plotted for victory whilst King Dylan and Geelo Blissful can join him in the draw for the second round.
Heat betting: 4-5 Magical Bale, 7-2 King Dylan, 5-1 Geelo Blissful, 10-1 Burgess Doc, 20-1 Slaneyside Sylvy, 25-1 Master Reed
Heat 27 can go the way of Harry Williams North East raider Pond Adonis. One of the strongest dogs in the competition, he is destined for a career over six bends. He will have to play his cards right around the opening two bends, however drawn in his preferred red, he is perfectly placed to do so and can prove too strong in the latter stages. Clonbrien Swift and King Cash can take the two remaining qualifying spaces whilst given the nature of the draw, recent Scottish Derby Champion Braveheart Bobby could be a shock casualty at the first hurdle.
Heat betting: 9-4 Clonbrien Swift, 11-4 Braveheart Bobby, 4-1 King Cash, 9-2 Pond Adonis, 12-1 Innocent Times, Jacks Tornado
Heat 28 can see the kennel’s first string Roxholme Jim lead home Dorotas Woo Hoo and land a forecast for Hayley Keightley. Jim is a young improving greyhound, already a Steel City Cup finalist, who is now developing a nice touch of early pace. The make up of tonight’s race is far from ideal, but if he can box clever he can set sail for victory from the first bend onwards whilst Woo Hoo, who carries some battle scars from the peak of his career, would then be booked in for a clear passage on his outside. Bubbly Cougar is a strong running type and can fill the third place slot.
Heat betting: 7-4 Roxholme Jim, 5-2 Dorotas Woo Hoo, 6-1 Affane Buck, Craigland Jack, 10-1 Payyaway Kane, 12-1 Bubbly Cougar
Heat 29 see’s Mark Robinson’s 2018 Irish Derby Champion Ballyanne Sim head into traps. I wasn’t too impressed with his 480m trial around Nottingham however and though likely to improve, I’m prepared to take him on with Gerry Holian’s Doona Buck who showed lightning early pace when recording 29.71 (+10) off the back of a 4.97 split in his latest trial. Cushie Jet and Lightfoot King can qualify and second and third.
Heat betting: 5-2 Ballyanne Sim, 4-1 Cushie Jet, 9-2 Doona Buck, Lightfoot King, 13-2 Uncle Wexford, 14-1 Martinstown Hope
Heat 30 should see Peter Cronin’s Lemon Express dominate from the outset and in this particular race that should be enough. King Diamond isn’t the strongest runner in Liz and Rab McNair’s team but he can follow him around in second to qualify whilst Jill Llewellin’s local Nidderdale Lark can qualify in third.
Heat betting: 8-11 Lemon Express, 7-1 Kind Diamond, Nidderdale Lark, 8-1 Boylesports Boom, Deanridge Kane, 20-1 Colston Pearl
Heat 31 can go to Peter Harnden’s big priced local hope Salacres Punch. This is a big step up in class for this stunning looking fawn dog and he will find tonight’s opposition a different proposition to that which he faced when winning two recent trial stakes. There aren’t many dogs faster to the third bend in this competition however if this dog traps and that will be a negative to the chances of a few in this field if he does so. Supporters will be looking over their shoulders on the run for home but Punch can hang on in there from the fast finishing Droopys Gold and Heathlawn River.
Heat betting: 6-4 Boylesports Xtra, 5-2 Droopys Gold, 6-1 Sparta Master, 8-1 Heathlawn River, Macaroon Cruz, 10-1 Salacres Punch
Heat 32 should go to the Graham Holland trained and Len Ponder owned Lenson Blinder. He didn’t immediately look too well suited to this Nottingham circuit but he’s improved with each look. There probably wouldn’t be any improvement needed upon his run when finishing second behind Droopys Expert in a recent trial stake, however if any was forthcoming, he could simply run away with this final heat of the first round. Panther can chase him home for second whilst Pat Rosney’s Newinn Banger looks set to tread his usual path around the outside and can qualify in third.
Heat betting: 1-2 Lenson Blinder, 3-1 Panther, 10-1 Newinn Banger, 14-1 Bull Run Button, 25-1 Hometown Hero, 33-1 Fieldview Wonder
