A 3-round competition worth £2500, it is a highlight of the year for businessmen Nathan and James Corden and they are eagerly excited to crown a new winner of their competition following on from Getwiththetimes and Antigua Sugar in previous years.
The trap draw was completed after racing last week by punting legend Jerry Croxford and it promises to be a highly competitive affair with each greyhound previewed by James himself below.
TRAP 1 – One Day Scooby
A January 2021 son of Droopys Sydney who is the first of 4 finalists purchased from the Towcester ‘Pre-Derby’ Sales back in March. On the day, he trialled in a slightly slower time than expected when posting 30.20. However, his Irish form included a rapid 28.40 at Limerick and his purchase has proved to be a shrewd decision by connections. Previously named The Other Rudolf, the strong running dog has looked at home at Nottingham and has already won two Open Class races at the venue. He heads into the Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes final as a general 9/2 shot but it is perhaps thought that there is a big run waiting to happen from this fella.
Sale: £4200 Towcester ‘Pre-Derby’ Sales
Vendor Jennifer O’Donnell: “Rudolf was always a lovely dog. He showed great promise starting off but due to his size it took him a little bit of time to learn to track but has since been running great in the UK. I’m delighted for his connections and wish them all the best in the Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes final on Saturday night!”
TRAP 2 – Savana Top Cat
A January 2021 dog by Dorotas Wildcat and Drive On Betsy, who is also represented by Romeo Command in the Derby final, Top Cat has continued his excellent form from when previously with Patrick Janssens and now with Oxford-based handler Chris Hamblin. The sole Online Auction representative in the Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes final, he has won 3 of his 5 races for his new connections and goes into tonights final as the only unbeaten greyhound. There aren’t too many as consistent as Top Cat with the 29.50 barrier broken 9 times at the venue and I can see him taking control of the race at the first bend with a smash break from the lids in tonights decider.
Sale: £14,300 Online Auction
Vendor Dave Firmager: “Top Cat has always shown the promise of a top Open dog. He is a model of consistency and one we very much liked however you can’t keep them all! Best of luck to Kevin in tonights Greyhound Trader Final and we’re looking forward to what will be a great nights racing!”
TRAP 3 – Coppice Trophy
A young Laughil Blake dog from the first litter of super Irish bitch Droopys Curio (who is a dual track-record holder). Formerly named Droopys Trophy, he was another purchased from the Towcester ‘Pre-Derby’ sales after his 30.04 trial. For a greyhound so young, it was an impressive display and he caught the intelligent eye of Tony ‘Coppice’ Brealey as 1 of 3 purchases on the day. Since his purchase, he won on debut at Oxford in 27.14 and in the first round of the Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes he ran incredibly well to come from last to 3rd to qualify for the following weeks Semi-Final which he won in 29.46. Perhaps one of the unlikelier winners tonight, he still thoroughly deserves to take his chance and you cannot rule him out with Kevin Hutton the other side of the lead!
Sale: £8400 Towcester ‘Pre-Derby’ Sales
Vendor Michael Dunphy: “The best of luck to Kevin Hutton and connections of Coppice Trophy on Saturday night! Hopefully he runs well and everyone has a great night! Also thanks to Nathan and his team for selling Trophy at the sales.”
TRAP 4 – Ballymac John
A September 2021 dog bred Ballymac Cashout x Ballymac Arminta who clocked 30.08 at Towcester despite showing huge signs of greenness in his ‘Pre-Derby’ sales trial. Despite the time, he beat a 28.53 SPK greyhound in Ballymac Bar in the trial and has improved rapidly since. After a couple attempts at Towcester, he was aimed at the Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup down in Hove worth £5000 to the winner. Winning his Semi-Final heat in good fashion, he went even better in the Final when pinging from the lids and crossing the line 4 3/4 lengths in front of kennelmate Jacktavern Magic in 29.18. On a high, John followed up this success by winning his 1st Round heat of the Star Sports English Greyhound Derby in 29.11 but unfortunately was knocked out in the 2nd round when encountering bad crowding. He looks set to go off favourite for the Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes Final tonight and could quite possibly add this crown to the early success of the MWD Partnership.
Sale: £17,000 Towcester ‘Pre-Derby’ Sales
Vendor Liam Dowling: “Ballymac John has been a revelation since being bought from the Greyhound Trader sales. He won his puppy stake and has really been running well despite not showing his best in his last two runs. Hopefully we see him back to himself with a kinder draw this week. I’d like to wish the best of luck to Mike Davies, Michelle Connolly, Mark Wallis and all his team! Hopefully John can get the job done!”
TRAP 5 – Rapido Lady
An August 2021 Sparta Maestro bitch who stopped the clock in 29.99 during her Towcester ‘Pre-Derby’ sales trial where she beat 28.69 Waterford race winner Billericay Joe. On the bench, the MWD Partnership were keen to snap up the young lady and their decision looks to be a wise one. Despite not winning in her first 4 races, she then went on to complete a hat-trick of Open Class wins at 3 different venues (Central Park, Hove and Monmore) and beat some likeable types such as Bet Shop Boy, No Rush and Droopys Fidget. She has shown huge early pace in both runs so far in the Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes but perhaps may be stretched by the 500m and is likely be the second-string for the MWD Partnership.
Sale: £5500 Towcester ‘Pre-Derby’ Sales
Vendor Peter Cronin: “We’re all delighted to see that Rapido Lady is showing the potential she showed us as a pup. Her grandmother Vancouver was Bitch of the year in Ireland and it’s nice to see some of those traits coming through for current connections. Best of luck Saturday Night!”
TRAP 6 – Naney Jezabelle
An October 2021 puppy out of Pestana who was purchased after his 29.44 trial over 500m in Sheffield in January when named Easy To Earn. He topped the sales that day at £9200 for the Northern Ireland based breeder Barry Rocks (who also has Easy Razzle competing in the Champion Plate competition in Shelbourne Park tonight) and is repaying on the investment when he lines up from Trap 6 in tonights final. Going through the top-grades at Suffolk Downs, he has won on 3 occasions including in 23.87 in A1 company. In the Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes, he has qualified in 3rd place on both occasions but times of 29.52 and 29.58 are not so dismissive. If he can improve upon his 4.25 sectional, he could be a lively player on the outside.
Sale: £9200 Sheffield Sales
Vendor Barry Rocks: “I’m not surprised this pup has improved with every run! Best of luck to Keith from everyone at the Easy kennels”.
Verdict: I’m delighted with the quality of the field tonight for the Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes which is set to run at 8.05pm. Ballymac John is likely to go off favourite and would be no fluke winner but I am going to select Savana Top Cat as my pick for the race. Drawn in Trap 2, I think he will fly from the boxes and turn the first bend in front. From there, I think it will be hard to catch him with possibly only One Day Scooby capable of a late surge to the line. At 6/4 with Star Sports, he is my NAP of the night.
Greyhound Trader wishes the best of luck to all greyhounds competing and look forward to presenting the winner later this evening on what should be a magnificent night.
