The Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes is back for its third instalment now, and whilst it is a shame not to see the the reigning champion Antigua Sugar not return due to being engaged elsewhere, we still have a great stake with 24 deserved greyhounds competing and I am looking forward to presenting what will be a new winner come Derby final night on July 1st.

This looks a competitive affair with Rapido Lady likely to go off favourite after three successive wins in OR company. She beat some nice types in her latest wins at Hove and Monmore and she will be coming into the race with a bit of confidence. However, she looks like a lady who needs to lead and I’m not sure she will against Gizmo Smasher. A dog with a bit more experience, he can often produce a ping break and his recent sprint trials of 15.94 and 15.93 suggest the early pace is still there. A £3300 purchase from our Towcester Sales back in July 2022, he will better a 4.27 split from his recent 500m trial next time and he can also do it from behind if required. As an outside selection and one to watch, I think Makeit Hoops could be one to take a chance on. A full-brother to UK superstar Maree Champion, he was purchased from the Online Auctions off a 28.99 Galway win and as an August 2021 dog I feel there will be more to come from his 29.87 debut performance.

Whilst connections seem pretty sweet on Four From Two, I am going to select Savana Top Cat as my winner here and he may even be my selection for the competition outright. Purchased through our Online Auctions for £14,300 by Towcester boss Kevin Boothby, I really like this dog who is as consistent as anyone around the venue. 8 wins and 5 seconds from 18 starts is some achievement and if producing any sort of time like 29.34 he may prove too good for the rest. Four From Two is obviously the main danger in the capable hands of Seamus Cahill. He has OR winning form to his name at Hove since being purchased in the Online Auctions and his 29.58 trial last week must be taken seriously. Fridays Awesome can take third place with what looks a nice draw on the outside.

One Day Scooby is my selection for Heat 3. A greyhound purchased from this year’s Towcester ‘Pre-Derby’ Sales for £4200, it was a bit of a surprise he wasn’t entered in the Derby itself but here he is now off the back of a couple of OR wins at Nottingham and he should be well primed for this race starting at 20:26. A race full of quality, Romeo Salvo and Milton Lango won’t make it easy for my selection and neither will the early paced Deanridge Skippy who showed he is ready with a 23.99 trial at Romford last Friday night. Bramble Joe Mae must also not be ruled out despite being a 100/1 outright chance. He made the final of the red-hot Michael Fortune Memorial ON1 stake at Enniscorthy this year which has now produced an Irish Oaks finalist in Glengar Martha and to clock 28.65 at the venue is an incredible run that very few are capable of.

All eyes will be on Ballymac John in Heat 4 who is the outright favourite at 13/8 with Coral, thanks to James Pryce’s quick compiling. Already a winner of the Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup at Hove, he beat Arkady in Round One of the Derby and was unfortunate not to qualify in the Second round. He is a greyhound with huge early pace but also an engine to match and I think he could run out a convincing winner here. Second place may go to Makeit Epic, who was a £1800 purchase from the recent Oxford Sales and her latest trial reads a magnificent 29.58. Just a November 2021, who knows what is left in the tank with her and she is one to watch closely.  Salma Alma, Magical Camilla and Swithins Teejay are all OR winners who can compete for third. I wouldn’t be surprised if Swithins Teejay put it up to the favourite to halfway but I think the son of Ballymac Best is more suited to the tighter Oxford venue in truth.