Favourite Memphis set to progress
It’s round two of the Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby with ante post favourite King Memphis back in action.
What really stands out though, despite this early stage of the event are the number of fiercely competitive heats with with three or four of the sextet very difficult to separate in terms of recent form.
Swords Rex has 10 races on his card for eight wins. The two defeats were on his first look at the track, and then in last year’s Derby Final for which he started at favourite. He won from trap three in his first round heat, but he found no issues with the orange box in last year’s semi, which was a considerably tougher contest than this. He is lightly raced this year and can improve form last week’s run.
Havana Top Note is running at around 150 metres beflow his optimum but was a fraction unlucky last week (T2) in what was his first sight of the track. That experience and the draw on the rail should see him safely through.
Scaglietti (T1) last week, didn’t show enough last week to suggest he can win this. Garry the Arb did well to qualify last week after being badly crowded, though it isn’t the first time that he has found his share of trouble. Whoever finds the least between the two, three and four, should qualify. 5-1-3
Betting guide: 4/9 Swords Rex, 6/1 Havana Top Note, 6/1 Scaglietti, 12/1 Gary The Arb, 12/1 Tullymurry Jenga, 22/1 Savana Aurora
Trap four was reckoned to be a stumbling block for Newinn Syd last week though he absolutely pinged it. Unfortunately, for him, he had a 28.85 hound in his wake and a lack of race hardness caught him out. Expect a decent sub29.00 one week on and that should be good enough.
Wrighty ran Droopys Clue to a short head in the Juvenile Classic and well capable of going several rounds in this event. He ran well last week (T4) and would take advantage if Syd misses his kick.
It looks a flip of the coin for the third qualifying slot with the powerful McNeil (T2 last week) set to run on. But given the draw, and her record for always being thereabouts, why not Queen Dusty? 1-2-6
Betting guide: 1/1 Newinn Syd, 4/1 Wrighty, 5/1 McNeill, 9/2 Queen Dusty, 12/1 Bombay Zero, 12/1 Fair Joe
Derby favourite King Memphis has five wins and two seconds from seven races at the track including this track record equalling run (T4) last week.
He is generally a ‘decent’, rather than spectacular tracker though in increasing accleration to the bend is something to behond. The Puppy Derby winner should have too much class in here but this is FAR from an easy heat.
Druids All Go pushed Swords Rex all the way, Burj Khalifa reached the semi last year, and Nowitsmyturn looks capable of ‘a very low 29’. Youngsters Droopys Priority and Keefill Maverick should both go on to successful careers; the latter was particularly unlucky in ‘the most early paced’ heat of the first round.
Betting guide: 4/11 King Memphis, 13/2 Burj Khalifa, 7/1 Druids All Go, 7/1 Nowitsmyturn, 25/1 Keefill Maverick, 33/1 Droopys Priority
Four heat winners in this one including the defending champ Gaytime Nemo who showed class and trackcraft in equal measure last week. Observers of the Holland kennel will be expecting some further improvement in the second round.
Kennelmate Faypoint Susie was clinical in her opening round, and if they were betting on ‘who leads up’ the strapping female would possibly share favouritism with Ballymac Senan who clocked 28.80 just one race before King Combs recorded 28.86 but in a very different style.
Something has to give and the percentages suggest that the two on the outside should get the clearest of runs. Which of the two Holland runners will dominate the inside? A glimpse at the odds tells you all you need to know. 5-6-1
Betting guide: 5/2 Gaytime Nemo, 11/4 Faypoint Susie, 10/3 King Combs, 7/2 Ballymac Senan, 5/1 Bockos Thunder, 33/1 Emmybell Boy
Likely favourite Road Exile could not have been more impressive in last week’s heats, though he clearly looks at though the 500 metres is at the end of his range.
His obvious danger is Cooliogold (they clocked identical times last week, before the going allowances) who took full advantage of his draw inside King Capaldi to win well. Maxine Locke’s runner has bulked up considerably in recent weeks as he hopefully fulfills the promise he showed as a pup before injury.
Bluejig Baron is a faster dog than his recent formlines suggest. Will he get long enough though to run himself into form? 4-5-2
Betting guide: 13/8 Road Exile, 2/1 Cooliogold, 6/1 Blake Delight, 11/2 Bluejig Baron, 11/2 Rapido Bob, 33/1 Stay Large
One of the races of the round with three of the fastest hounds to the third bend in Britain and Ireland combined.
Connections were concerned at last week’s draw in four for King Capaldi and the draw probably cost him in the contested against Coolio Gold. At his best though, he is a sub 4.00 sectional runner who led brother King Memphis to the final stride in December’s Puppy Derby Final.
To date De Lahdedah hasn’t won as much as he might for a dog with his outstanding ability. The quickest hound over Shelbourne’s 525 trip in the last four years (27.78) took full advantage of a gap on the rail to get on the bunny last week and that would have done him the world of good. Will need to trap better than that and negotiate a route around the outside of King Memphis if they both come away. That is easier said than done.
Churchfield Syd was eliminated last week. Well he appeared to be after the first 20 metres. There is very little between him and Capaldi on their best form and barring any more drama at the traps, could go a long way in this event. 2-4-6
Betting guide: 13/8 King Capaldi, 7/4 De Lahdedah, 3/1 Churchfield Syd, 7/1 Droopys Vivacity, 25/1 Coppice Trophy, 33/1 Beatties Sparkle
The three Irish runners dominate the market and in terms of their reputation on the other side of the water, it is impossible to oppose Clonbrien Treaty.
The Irish Leger and Easter Cup winner is the Derby second favourite and with his ability and seeding, a place in the final would appear the bare minimum that connections might hope for. This is what he did last time out in his favourite striped jacket. Expect him to progress from that run.
Both Superfast Gorden and Jaytee Etienne were quicker than Treaty last time out. In fact, there was only a length between (before allowances) them but from very different running styles.
Gorden (T1) made most of the running in his heat before being reeled in by King Combs. Etienne played the chaser by giving a start and a beating to Newinn Syd. 6-3-4
Betting guide: 11/10 Clonbrien Treaty, 5/2 Jaytee Etienne, 3/1 Superfast Gorden, 6/1 Kilara Roberto, 28/1 Jetstream Breeze, 50/1 Salacres Negocio
There are four heat winners in here but it is the Irish trio which once again dominate the betting.
Although The Other Kobe heads the market after a fabulous and dominant first round run, we are going to oppose him with Glengar Martha who has both the sectional and winning clocks on her side from the first round. Very few hounds break 4.00 during the course of a Derby, Pat Buckley’s blue did so with disdain.Basically, he just looks better value.
None of which will undermine the chances of John McGee’s Hawkfield Blue. He was a 3/1 chance when making every post a winner in the first round. You cannout underplay a 28.82 run though his draw on the outside of The Other Kobe is not ideal. 6-2-4
Betting guide: 4/5 The Other Kobe, 11/4 Glengar Martha, 7/2 Hawkfield Blue, 12/1 Savana Top Cat, 28/1 Wolf Moon, 66/1 Vixons Bagheera
Bring on the Coronation
The opening round of the Coral Coronation Cup takes place at Romford this evening. The traditional winter event is back with a summer slot for the second time in three years
Ante post: 5/1 New Destiny, 13/2 Miami Bullet, 8 Droopys Eunice, 14 Baywatch Bullet, 16 Bell Royale, Fabulous Sonique, Ranchers Wolf, 18 Allowdale Cazoo, 20 Ballymac Johnjo, Lemming Force, Minnie Bullet, Romeo Hotshot, Cooladerry Dust, 25 Annual Bono, Golden Palace, 28 Ballintee Noshow, Ballymac Diana, Hazelhill Coco, 33 Princess Athena, Untold Paanga, Zebedee Fourteen, 50 Deadly Jet, Tromora Rex, Urry Up Rosie, 66 Ashowood Bocko, Bonville Jet, Droopys By Amile, Joes Sagar, Leeview Glory, Roxys Bullet, Senahel Pikachu, You Two, 100 Swift Radiantly, Underground Roxi, 150 Dick Turpin, 200 Bubbly Ranger
A far from an ideal start for the ante post favourite New Destiny – drawn on the rails – and may be worth opposing. Zebedee Fourteen may represent better value 3-1-2
An absolute cracker of a race. The two-three-four all met last time out with Droopys Eunice prevailing. Hard to oppose her though Baywatch Bullet looks a real danger back over a preferable distance. Minnie Bullet is a former Essex Vase finalist who runs the track well. 4-1-3
Bussey Memorial winner Allowdale Cazoo hasn’t been able to dominate in her last two outings but could take advantage here. Princess Athena was loaned to the McNair kennel for Judgement Night and ran a cracker. They think a lot of this lady. 5-2-1
Mark Wallis’ trophy haul at London Road is at a different level to any other trainer. In Ranchers Wolf, he may have another ‘Romford type’. If so, we will see a glimpse of it tonight. Essex Vase fourth Romeo Hotshot is the obvious danger. 1-3-5
Miami Bullet was the Sheffield Racing Office’s idea of a ‘Three Steps’ winner after an impressive 480 run. It didn’t work out but he is back on home sand and drawn on the rail. Can’t oppose.Several in the line-up lack course experience, Ballymac Diana isn’t one of them and a three quarter length defeat of Garfiney Blaze in a trial at Towcester only enhances her credentials. 1-5-4
Ballymac Johnjo wouldn’t be in the first wave of big names in the MWD Partnership team but with a draw in six and one of the easier heats, this looks well within his grasp. Essex Vase winner Roxys Bullet has been a bit off the pace in recent runs. But back in red, he looks the danger. 6-1-4
OPENS
Saturday: Central Park ♦ Doncaster ♦ Monmore ♦ Oxford ♦ Towcester
