The ARC Northern Puppy Derby semi-finals take centre stage at Newcastle greyhound stadium these. With 3 semi-finals each of the participating greyhounds will have to be at their best in order to claim a first two placing and with it a place in next week’s £10,000 to the winner final.
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This pup is still green as grass but showed huge pace to go down just 1 3/4 lengths to Fourbet Layla in his heat. The penny was clicking big time in the latter stages and though he’ll improve for some time to come he’s unlikely to go off at such a big price as he will tonight in the majority of his races in the months ahead.
He may end up being beaten well by his extremely talented and much more forward kennel mate Havana Bale Out but at the likely prices back Robusto both win and place and a small each way investment at the 33/1 still available in the ante-post market.
Trainer Liz McNair could well be heading home south with two qualifiers on the van for next week’s big race.
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He may well find himself jostling for position in the early stages tonight with Tom Heilbron’s Fourbet Layla so a chance is taken on Stuart Ray’s Blackhouse Harry who also won his heat last week and was far from pedestrian when recording 2864 (-20).
Harry will need to start well and get around the first bend in front but he won’t be reeled in easily even if Biggy does eventually get clear to come after him. The pair can progress to next week’s final.
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The path looks clear for Mickys to soon take command , something he may well have done anyway but the unfortunate withdrawal from the semi-final of Debbie Calvert’s Maree Poacher who was drawn to his immediate left all but assures that with a reasonable break he’ll be clear by the bend.
Tom Heilbron’s Freedom Alibi can once again chase him down but once again Mickys can hang in tough.
Three heats of the ARC Stayers Vase support the Northern Puppy Derby with the first 2 from each heat qualifying through to a category three £500 final next week.
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Tom Heilbron’s Titan Jim beat the selection here over course and distance in December but Bani had been on and off the card a little prior to that race and I fancy she’ll be bang on for tonight with a few consistent races now under her belt.