Brindle to bully them in the Coral Silver Standard

It’s a big weekend for the David Mullins kennel with March On Freddie in Irish Derby action tomorrow.

While March On Freddie at Shelbourne is huge for the kennel tomorrow, his litter brother is the red-hot favourite for the Silver Standard tonight. The winner of five straight over 400m, he has hit form with a vengeance.

He only won one of his first nine career races before this unbeaten run, taking off since. 23.61 was the semi-final winning time last week for the 38kg hound, a mark that will be hard for his rivals to match.

Speaking of his brother, he is in the care of Rachel Wheeler for his Boylesports Irish Derby tilt. Wheeler bred Freddie so he has gone back to his first home. Freddie is pictured below this morning with Julie Mullins on the left and Wheeler on the right.

Boylesports Irish Derby starts tonight

The first 13 heats kick off the opening round, starting at 7.34 this evening.

The Irish Derby is a typically deep renewal this year. Ante-post favourite Bockos Diamond is in action in heat two this evening at 7.48. That should set the tone for the evening with a string of the top runners on both nights being wide seeds.

Carrick Aldo (8.18), Seven Beach (8.32), Dynamic Force (9.06) and Bombay Pat (10.39) are some other wide runners who are towards the head of the betting before the competition kicks off.

Phil Milner’s Keefill Maverick has drawn a very tough heat at 10.08 this evening. It is going to require a massive run but Milner and team need to be given a huge amount of credit for giving it a go. The lack of English representation is disappointing so fingers crossed that he can make the trip worth it and qualify.

We have the thoughts of Barry Caul with a complete guide to the opening round as well as some ante-post tips of our own for the Irish Derby.

Gone To The Dogs – Live! Tipping

There is a free to enter tipping competition which is open to everyone. All selections will be settled at SP and there are cash prizes for the top three! £250 to the winner, £150 for second and £50 for third! Just fill in the entry form and get your selections in before 17:30 when the competition will close to entries.

We have a runner-by-runner guide to the big one, the PGR Champion Stakes already live on the site. As a further help, a visit to our friends at Greyhound Stats shows that 62.23% of the Romford opens in 2024 have been won by one of the inner three traps. That leaves four, five and six winning just 37.77%.

Star Sports have this outstanding offer tonight. Once the show prices are out, they will lay any dog to win £1,000! Win only bets apply for this offer and full T&Cs apply.

Bresbet Steel City Cup

Entry to Sheffield is free on Sunday for one of their top cards of the year.

The sponsors bet as follows for the £11,500 Category One decider.

1/2 Wicky Ned 3/1 Links Maverick 13/2 Union Rebel 11/1 Romeo Cypher 16/1 Farneys Willie 25/1 Bombay The Joker

There is also a human race for charity to kick off the card. Organised by Rose Draper, it was won last year by Gone To The Dogs presenter Dani Jackson who has been ‘training’ hard to defend her crown. She will face Rob Crawford, Grace Cawthorn-Wilson, Andrew Mascarenhas, Levi Prescott-Jackson and Matt Hamilton.

Open racing recap

Action last night from Hove, Newcastle and Swindon.

At the first named, Ower Smasher took advantage of the red jacket in the Coral Stayers Final for June Harvey.  Droopys Pivotel was a very smart winner for Maxine Locke in 29.03. That was one heat of a dual distance competition, the other heat going to Patrick Browne’s Rapido Ali.

Jason Heath had a double courtesy of Burrows Sapphire in the Coral Standard Trophy and Seomra Power in a maiden stayers. The former looked to have a tricky draw in two but he overcame that in style.

We mentioned the recent improvement of Jimmy Fenwick’s Skeard Josie yesterday and she took advantage in puppy company at Newcastle. Trouble behind extended her winning margin but her early boot probably had it won for her in any case.

Slingshot Sam was the quickest of the night over 480m for Brian Fairbairn with a 28.46 success. Other winner on the night were Ballymac Sargie for Tom Heilbron, Droopys Niece for Angela Harrison, Toddys Turbo for Garry Hamilton and Whatever Next for Carl Jackson.

At Swindon, Barry Johnson’s Chelms Skint produced a hat trick winning run in 28.19, the fastest 476m race of the night. Kevin Hutton mopped up the other three opens. Coppice Warrior and Southfield Petal scored over four bends while Coppice Ronnie won the sprint contest.

Stats

  • Barnfield Joker – 5.12 Crayford – 6/12 in the red jacket at the Kent track.
  • Jobbrruda – 8.16 Harlow – 6/11 in D2 races when sporting the red jacket.
  • Lissatouk Dave – 8.50 Clonmel – 7/11 when running in an A2.
  • Shoot First – 8.56 Sunderland – 5/10 in A1 from trap one.
  • Over Easy – 9.09 Harlow – 11/14 in stripes.

Opens

Friday: Romford

Saturday: Central Park ♦ Perry Barr

Sunday: Sheffield