The Matchbook Maiden Derby continues at Towcester greyhound stadium this afternoon with 4 high class second round heats. Those in attendance for the first round and watching at home on television were treated to some magnificent performances not least the winning efforts of Wide Open trained in Ireland by Brendan Matthews and that of Patrick Janssens Coolavanny Shado. Todays card promises to be every bit as exciting with the aforementioned second round heats supported by a variety of Matchbook sponsored opens and the sole graded affair being a top class A1.
It’s straight into maiden derby action at 157pm and Kevin Hutton’s fast improving Lightfoot Tolu can take full advantage of a plot rails draw. Tolu had to give second best to ante post favourite Coolavanny Shado in last week’s first round heat but the effort was arguably her best yet. Liz McNair’s Havana Robusto is likely to step off from his trap 2 berth and this should give Tolu plenty of space with which to open up in the early stages. In a competitive race a first bend lead for any of these could well prove decisive and with a fair break that lead can go to Tolu.
Patrick Janssens Coolavanny Shado has done little wrong in his career to date and overcame a moderate start with ease in last weeks first round to comfortably lead by the bend. The race was never in doubt and though he did comeback to the field a little in the latter stages that’s to be expected for a greyhound so lightly raced. He can only get stronger and when leading in his races both now and going forward it will take a performance of epic proportions to see him back run. He’s by far the most likely winner but at what will be very short odds I’m opposing him on value grounds if little else with Kevin Boon’s Farneys Maestro. Another pup who has done little wrong in his fledgling career. Slightly slower on the clock last week than Shado but importantly today has the inside line on that rival. Maestro is far from devoid of early pace and if he does trap well he could just about get first run on Shado and that could well prove decisive.
Brendan Matthews Irish raider Wide Open showed that she’s a little bit more about her in the early stages than some may previously have given her credit for. Noted in her early performances on Irish soil to be doing plenty of late work the result of her first-round heat was as good as over after a smash break was turned into a comfortable and ever extending lead. There is a case to be made that such an easy lead might not be as forthcoming in the majority of top class four bend races and though that’s true this is a bitch who has already proven she can win from off the pace. A fair break should see Wide Open laying handy at worst heading onto the back straight and she can take command by the third bend at the latest before pulling away for another comfortable success. This bitch’s future would look to be over six bends but a crack at the Derby itself would appear to be on the agenda beforehand.
Liz McNair’s Havana Lover moved through the gears nicely when landing her first-round heat in emphatic style. Sitting just off the pace she went passed long-time leader Sureiknownothing at the third bend as if that rival was stood still before running on for a 3 3/4 length victory over the fast-finishing Luminous Invader. Today’s second round heat should be run equally to suit with John Mullins Swift Iconic once again looking set to lead. Though the Mullins trained greyhound should come forward for last week’s heat win it will take some effort to hold off Lover who can come through late.
Peter Cronin is a regular visitor to England with his greyhounds and is well adept at knowing exactly which ones to send over. Cape Cloud carries a similar type of cv to many dogs which Cronin has targeted the Derby with in past years. Good form on the card without anything truly exceptional and that applies to the small in stature but big in heart Cape Cloud. Weighing in at around the 28 kilo mark he’s on the small size for a dog but that’s not stopped him putting up some excellent top-grade performances around Shelbourne Park and Waterford back on home soil. His trial here last week of 3001 was acceptable without being anything too flashy but the sectional of 425 is to be noted as considerable improvement is likely to be found on that alone. This BEST ODDS AT MATCHBOOK STAKES over 500m race at 311pm is a winnable race for Cronin’s greyhound and he’s taken to lead early.
The LOW COMMISSION AT MATCHBOOK STAKES over 500m at 328pm can provide Peter Cronin with a quickfire double with his All About Ted selected to smash out and lead all the way. He reached the quarter final of the English Derby here last year before running out a good winner of a high class one off on Derby final night itself. Going on to reach the final of the Irish Derby Ted then went on to land the high class Greyhoundtrader.com race on Winter Festival (Night Of Stars) night at Shelbourne Park in early December. That was the last time we saw Ted in competitive action but he showed himself to be in rude health last week with an excellent 2944 course and distance trial. He’ll need to do it right at the boxes in what is a very hot race but if doing so he can take a first bend lead and hold off the strong late challenge of Patrick Janssens Bockos Belly who also showed himself in good light with the Derby fast approaching with a 2923 trial here last week.
You won’t go far wrong backing Seamus Gaughan runners around Towcester and his Frostys Ten can land a high class A1 at 348pm. The move to trap 5 from his usual 6 is of slight concern but he can sit just off the pace before powering through in the latter stages.
The MATCHBOOK BEST ODDS ON GREYHOUNDS STAKES over 500m at 408pm can go to Peter Cronin’s lightly raced Emilys Jet. Well drawn here for a nice run up the middle of the track he can make every post a winning one and send the Cronin team back across the Irish sea with a treble. Eliminated from the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial at the second-round stage he showed himself to be a pup of the highest class with a 2954 trial effort here last week.
The MATCHBOOK BETTING EXCHANGE SPRINT TROPHY over 270m at 428pm can go to Heather Dimmock’s Orions Belt. A consistent sort in graded sprints around here he likely wouldn’t have to do much if anymore at all than he regularly does. A top-grade winner here in sprint company he can land open race success for the first time. Diane Henry’s Savana Banba makes his career debut and looks a pup of great promise but will likely need further in time and may just find Orions Belt a little sharp over this kind of trip at this early stage of his career.
The MATCHBOOK BETTING PODCAST STAKES over 500m at 448pm can go to Mark Wallis’s ultra-consistent and strong running Balterio. Well drawn on the wide outside he looks sure to turn in a promising pitch and unless Warzone Tom has taken an absolute flyer that pitch can be turned into victory. Tom could well take one of his better starts and if doing so this isn’t a race containing any great deal of early. He’d likely go on to then win but the chances are the middle to inside of this field could well become congested in the early stages and that will simply play into the hands of Balterio who will need no second invitation to come through and land the spoils.
The MATCHBOOK BETTING EXHCHANGE STAYERS TROPHY over 712m at 508pm can go to Mark Wallis’s Aayamza Dream. A high class sort who stays every yard of this trip and further , capable of winning off the front or from off the pace and well suited by this course and distance Dream can land a quickfire double for the Wallis team.
The MATCHBOOK BETTER WAY TO BET STAKES over 500m at 528pm can go to Jason Heath’s English Puppy Derby Finalist Seasons Chelm (ex Enthusiast). A talented greyhound with excellent alround pace the ex Brendan Matthews trained greyhound looks well drawn on the wide outside here and with any kind of break should come through in the second half of the race at the latest to land what would be his first success on UK soil.
The Matchbook Betting Exhange Sprint Trophy over 270m at 544pm won’t take a lot of winning and after a short spell off the track the John Mullins trained Knocknaseed Gem returned to something like his best form with a 1581 winning effort over course and distance last time out. That’s all that would be needed to land what is a moderate enough affair and from a plot draw Gem is an obvious if not inspired selection.
Last but by no means least the BACK AND LAY AT MATCHBOOK STAKES over 500m at 602pm can see Mark Wallis’s Bryce Canyon complete the hattrick. This inexperienced but still improving sort has led all the way when winning over course and distance over the past couple of weeks and in a race not containing too much in the way of early that can once again be the case here. Canyon away and gone to send the punters home on a winning note.
