Tonight features the three semi finals of the Coral Olympic, supported by a top class card from Hove.
Owner and tipster Paul Gebhard, whose runner Drahbeg Dash was withdrawn off-colour form the first semi offers guidance on the main event, we also offer full form for the other open races
PLUS BELOW- a reminder of the Olympic first round including high quality SIS videos.
Undoubtedly King Sheeran is the best four bend dog in the race and one of the very best in the country (I actually backed him at 66/1 and all rates downwards for The Derby – it is my view that the bends need banking at Nottingham but that’s a discussion for another day), he would also appear to be well drawn outside the usually modest starting Ravens Burger (who actually could be the “dark one” in terms of qualifying if he were to obtain a trouble free run for a change)
As we all know Sheeran has been there, done it, got the T shirt and all this after a serious injury. His litter brother King Dylan is a talented dog in his own righ. He has been known to get off to a good start but more often he does not and is more of a strong finishing type (for example winning over the 575 at Romford coming from last to first). Sadly there is no Drahbeg Dash
General James is a very decent dog but perhaps his 30.26 may be around as fast as he can go (however he could conceivably lead up King Dylan). Finally there is the Hutton trained Kentish Prince. This fella did a calculated 30.30 on his first ever look at the track so you would think he could get that down to around 30 seconds exactly, there are plenty of comments on his card that include “rails” so there could easily be traffic problems on the inside.
To summarise, on all known form you would have to fancy KING SHEERHAN to win this heat. I will suggest Ravens Burger for he forecast.
Latest betting: 4-5 King Sheeran, 2-1 King Dylan, 8-1 Ravens Burger, 10-1 Kentish Prince, 20-1 General James
The loss of Bockos Doomie from the race should give Volcanic Reef a clear run and if this Dimmock trained dog comes out of the second bend in front then he will be very hard to beat. The high class King Lennon can almost certainly go round this circuit in about the same time as Reef and can benefit from the extra room. The Cahill trained Dinner Richnalan may be two or three lengths behind the best in this race on times but does appear to be well drawn and has good early pace. Galloping Moon is a very smart bitch but may find things a bit tough against the boys in this race. Cheeky Bob is no mug either but he too may be hard pushed to qualify in this company. To summarise, it has to be Volcanic Reef from King Lennon.
Latest betting: 1-1 Volcanic Reef, 7-4 King Lennon, 13-2 Dinner Richnalan, 8-1 Galloping Moon, 25-1 Cheeky Bob
This is very hard to sort out (get the excuse in first!), in trap order:- Desperado Dan is better known for his exploits over longer trips but he is wonderfully consistent, is successful from the red box and does have a 29.88 on his card at this track. The local dog Britannia Will can sometimes start well but can win coming from the back too, can he better his best of 30.15. Brynoffa Ben also knows this circuit like the back of his hand and has a best time of 29.90; Forest Alan is yet another with strong track knowledge and has a 29.79 on his card and has been in against some of the best, can be a bit hit and miss at trap rise. Winetavern Curly another that knows his way around the track and he’s also got the label of “potential improver” with an already 29.86 on his card; finally there is Shoot The Bolt who can clock circa 29.90 regularly around here but just possibly no better. To summarise:- I’m going to choose Winetavern Curly on the basis that this lightly raced type can possibly go faster than what we’ve already seen and in the hope that Mr. Simmonds can get the dog to rediscover his trapping boots, to also qualify I shall go with the renowned battler that is Desperado Dan, for trio backers my pick is Shoot The Bolt.
Latest betting: 9-4 Shoot The Bolt, 7-2 Winetavern Curly, 4-1 Desperado Dan, 9-2 Forest Alan, 8-1 Brynoffa Ben, 10-1 Britannia Will
A reminder of the first round
Bockos Doomie and King Lennon clocked the two fastest times in the Coral Olympic first round on Saturday – and there were three and a half lengths between them.
Patrick Janssens’ big white and black powerhouse has acquired the status of Manchester City or Anthony Joshua – they make far bigger headlines when they are beaten than when they win. You attain that reputation by not getting beat.
Saturday night’s 29.80 (-30) run extended his Hove record to 6:6. His Monmore record is 3:3. It is the same at Henlow, which includes a Cat 1 final. At Central Park it is 2:3, the sole half length defeat also coming in a Cat One final. It is only at Nottingham where it falls apart, 0:4.
Understandably, Patrick is hopeful that he can end the year with a ‘Hove 9:9’
He said: “I think he has a good draw in the final. It looks to be the toughest of the three, but loves trap one and I am very hopeful.”
Ominously for the opposition, the highly experienced Janssens believes we are still to see the best of the Henlow Puppy Derby winner.
“When he first arrived we ran him in the maiden competition which he won unbeaten. He was too young, really to run in the Derby, but he took his chance and got to the third round. He went unbeaten at Henlow, then did something similar in the puppy competition at Hove.
“He went out of the Puppy Classic in the first round – and I accept that Nottingham isn’t his favourite track. He went unbeaten to the final of the Kent Derby, led, and got caught. I didn’t say anything at the time, because you sound like a bad loser, but truthfully the dog was only just getting over the cough.
“He then went to Monmore, and won his next four. In one of them, he didn’t lead until the third bend and went on to win by nine lengths in a calculated 27.89. But all the time he was being laid out for the Olympic.
“I really think Doomie is an absolutely exceptional greyhound and that the best is still to come from him. He has 18 races in total in England, he is still only two years and three months old and nearly 37 kilos. Because of the way I train, like Mark (Wallis) no galloping or private trials, everything is in the formlines to see. Our dogs improve over time.
“Since starting out at Hove, Doomie has progressed from 30.00 to a calculated 29.50 last night. I accept that he is draw dependent but his trapping has improved. He needs about three strides before the acceleration kicks in. In his early races, he was coming out behind them. He is now breaking level. I am convinced that next year he will be trapping in front.”
