It’s Derby time folks. Opinions, arguments, winners and losers and what better place to highlight them all than a souped, hyped up, totally OTT Derby Tipsters Challenge?
As befitting an event of this magnitude, this isn’t your regular challenge. It isn’t even a challenge on steroids. This event is fueled by a level of performance enhancement last seen in a Lance Armstrong urine sample. More needle than the John Lewis haberdashery department. Twelve have volunteered (been threatened, bullied or blackmailed) into this. There is no trophy or big prize fund, just a shot at glory or risk of certain humiliation and guaranteed ridicule.
The Dirty Dozen (actually only 11 – Nasher has now been recognised as a national treasure) are split into ‘trainers’ and ‘others’. (Technically Rab McNair isn’t a trainer though his lady boss sometimes lets him think he is).
It has often been suggested that trainers are the worst judges in the game and aiming to prove the point are a motley crew of n’er-do-wells and misfits (and national treasures) including three of the star performers in the regular Tipsters Challenge.
Beyond that, other little niggles look guaranteed. Wright v McNair, Harnden v Pierrepont and anybody spotting Nathan Corden in the Nottingham paddock.
So a reminder of the rules – a £100 imaginary pot per meeting with a maximum of three selections, singles, doubles and trebles.
Seconds out. . . . fight, fight, fight!
Nathan Corden
Deanridge Rapid (Ht4 T1) trialed extremely well and looks to have a plum draw in his heat. £30 win
Geelo Josh (Ht5 T4) strong runner with early pace in very hard heat but could potentially be finishing the best. £30 win
Knocknaboul Syd (Ht7 T3) another one who trialed well straight from the boat. Expect to improve and lead from the front. £40 win
Rob Crawford
Today is like the first day of big school, I have gone from being the big fish in my primary school pond, but now I am mixing it up with the great and the good (and no doubt the not so good) of the greyhound world! I just hope that those fifth formers Wallis, Janssens, et al don’t steal my lunch money!!
So we have finally arrived at day one of the first round heats of The Derby, which back on those cold April evenings, when we joined with our neighbours to applaud those going above and beyond the call of duty seemed inconceivable, but at last we are here.
There are a number of stand out greyhounds running today, is today about picking the competition winner as a whole or finding dogs that look contenders in their heats, personally I think the latter. Remember the great Salad Dodger only got his nose in front during his 2014 Derby campaign and that was the race that mattered in the final. But saying that you would hope that a real contenders would be able to win their first round heat.
First up, in Heat 2, one of the Irish raiders, Black Parachute (Ht2 T3). I know that Graham Holland thinks a lot about this dog, and he has had that all important look round Nottingham and was in tremendous form throughout the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate competition, so he should be firing on all cylinders. With in my opinion only Ted Soppitt’s Waikiki Lad the one he has to beat.
Then Alison Kelly-Pilgrim’s impressive looking dog Deanridge Rapid (Ht4 T1), who seems to have warmed to Nottingham and progressively improved in trials, with relatively slow starters on his outside should get to the bend first for a make all win.
Lastly, in the last heat, and what is probably my most tentative selection of the evening as he will be having his first look around Colwick Park tonight is Roxholme Kristoff (Ht8 T5). He was outstanding during his 3 Steps To Victory campaign, setting an Owlerton track record over the 480 metre trip en route to his crown. I think that he has the potential to go far in the competition and I will be kicking myself if I leave him out of my selections. £100 treble
Paul Gebhard
Jazzers Man (Ht 1 T6) after 24 races at Monmore (11 wins 5 seconds) he has his first ever race at another track, his 29.82 first look at Notts shows that he can run, looks to have a nice make up in 6 and isn’t short of early £30 win.
Winetaven Curly (Ht3 T6) the 20/1 available in places this morning is simply too big for a dog with his C.V. who is a different competitor when berthed in the stripes. £20 win.
Catunda Logan (Heat 8 T3) recently been competing with the elite over 4 bends, I think he could be over priced because of the presence of Roxholme Kristof who although he is obviously very smart this is a different task to the 3 Steps to Victory, if we were being asked to also pick a short priced lay of the day he’d be my one (“send for the men in the white coats” I hear you say!) £40 win. £10 treble.
My first choice to be outright Champion is Gonzo, can I also wish good luck to Mister Brentford because a user of my local pub owns a leg or whatever of him.
Peter Harnden
Waikiki Lad (Ht2 T2) is a nice pacey dog I didn’t think the favourite in the race Black Parachute ran the track great first time and if there was a time to take him on its this time I will do Waikiki Lad in a double with Deanridge Rapid (Ht4 T1). I’ve been impressed with this handsome form from the word go £60 double
My third selection is Troy Firebird (H7 T6). A great trial last time can see him popping out and leading on the outside race. Over 7/2 shocked me £40 win
Patrick Janssens
Jazzers Man (Ht1 T6) was impressed with him at Monmore when he beat Kilara Lion and has a great draw. Deerjet Sydney will go sharp left £30 win
Black Parachute (Ht2 T3) He won his last few races at Shelbourne Park very impressively £40 win
Kilara Lion (Ht3 T1) I think he has a great draw and 5/1 is the wrong price £30 win
Rab McNair
Churchill Holly (Ht1 T2) was very impressed last time bit scared of the one may turn right £30 win
Waikiki Lad (Ht2 T2) right box three may lack a bit of early £30 win
Swift Lettuce (Ht3 T4) showing good early running the track good £30 win £10 treble
David Mitchell
Deanridge Rapid (Ht4 T1) Rapid has certainly lived up to his name so far in a handful of trials for the Allison Kelly-Pilgrim team. He clocked a fast 29.59 and then backed that up with an excellent 29.68 around the Nottingham track. From his draw in one tonight I think he’ll lead the inside line into the turn and from there he’ll quicken clear. Expect a decent run from Savana Cody in trap four but this heat is all about Deanridge Rapid. £40 win
Darbys Ranger (Ht6 T5) The lightly raced Kevin Boon trained youngster has produced some scintillating performances so far at Nottingham and tonight he can take his first steps towards Derby glory. If you look back at his trial on the 14th September you’ll see he ran a 4.96 sectional and it’s worth noting that Mark Pierrepont reported in the Greyhound Star that his halfway sectional was 14.86 which is far superior to a lot of good dogs in this competition. If he brings that sort of run to the party tonight he’ll be away and gone with the others fighting out the places. £30 win
Catunda Logan (Ht8 T4) This is arguably the selection that will cause most controversy, but hear me out. There is no doubting Roxholme Kristof is a special dog, very special actually. The main question I asked myself was this – will Kristof clear Logan? I don’t think he will, that’s just my opinion. Logan is no slouch early and I see him leading this field, if he can get clear off the front they’ll all be chasing in behind. £20 win
Deanridge Rapid & Darbys Ranger £10 double
Steve Nash
Waikiki Lad (Ht2 T2) superb 2019 campaign – which included some excellent runs at Nottingham – was rewarded with a place in this year’s RPGTV Juvenile where he ran a certain Ice On Fire to just half a length. Hasn’t been back to Notts since his Derby Trial Stakes win just before lockdown but Ted Soppitt has kept him ticking over with Newcastle solos and a return to the track he knows so well could give him a vital edge over well fancied Black Parachute. The latter’s superb win on Irish Derby night makes him a big player and is sure to improve for Graham Holland on one trial over C&D, but Waikiki Lad is a class act and loves it round here. £50 win
Troy Firebird (H7 T6) impressed me throughout the East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth and would have gone close in the final with a clearer passage. Showed good stamina there too so Derby trip will suit. Knocked a huge chunk off first Derby prep trial with 29.56 just a few days ago, David Mullins’ dogs are in form, he’s got his favoured stripes and I’m expecting a big run. £50 win
Mark Pierrepont
Deanridge Rapid (Ht4 T1) I have watched all the trials and all the trialstakes over recent weeks and I think Rapid has been a head and shoulders above the rest. That line of form where he beat Blackstone Milo was the best run I have seen in a year when dogs aren’t doing the times so far. And he lost lengths in running. I think he is plotted up in red and looks a great bet in there £100 win
Pat Rosney
Waikiki Lad (Ht2 T2) Slow starter inside him great chance of leading and he’s very hard to beat on the bunny £40 win
Swift Lettuce (Ht3 T4) With sub 5 second sectionals I expect him to make all £40 win £20 double
Mark Wallis
Of our Derby runners I’ve made it clear I think Antigua Romeo has a great chance of getting further than than last years quarter final elimination and he can kick off by winning a very competitive heat 5 and is nicely priced around 4/1 £40 win
In heat 4 I would imagine all the connections of the runners can think they can qualify as it looks a very open race, Deanridge Rapid has posted some good trial times but will do well to clear trap 2 Lastoftheroad who made the East Anglian Derby final, I will take Kevin Boothby’s Savana Cody (Ht4 T4) for Diane Henry to come through and score £30 win
In the last heat I’m going to take on Three Steps victor Roxholme Kristof who may well be happy to just qualify after his exertions on Tuesday, the early paced Catunda Logan (Ht8 T4) could be away and gone. £30 win
Jimmy Wright
Deanridge Rapid (Ht4 T1) Runs from a great draw and in flying form could make all
Darbys Ranger (Ht6 T5) great early good start make all
Knocknaboul Syd (Ht7 T3) smash break make all 3 x £20 win doubles £40 treble
Chilli Akimbo replaces Roxholme Glory
