After five weeks of racing, it has come down to one race to decide who wins this years Greyhound Derby WRITES ROB ABREY.
Last year taught us any of the six can win it and the final remains wide open. It is the supporting card however that receives my attention tonight.
On the supporting card there are some greyhounds making their Nottingham debuts, some returning after lengthy periods and some running over a different distance for the first time. In keeping with what regular readers expect in Rob’s Romford Round Up, I have endeavoured to find out more about some of them for this one off Nottingham round up.
It is practically tradition to have a ‘Bubbly’ dog on the supporting card on Derby final night.
This year is no different with two representatives for the hundred strong members already booked to go tonight.
Both trained by Romford handler Paul Young, first up is Bubbly Spark in the BresMed sprint trophy over 305 metres at 7.03pm. The lightly raced April ’17 is making his two bend debut tonight after his previous five runs over four bends at Henlow. The son of Barefoot Bolt and Energise has shown bundles of early when reaching the final of the Henlow maiden derby unbeaten over 460 metres. In the final though he missed his break at the start and finished last. He has had plenty of trials over C&D and in his last trial clocked his best calculated time of 17.84.
Head of the Champagne Club syndicate Steve Fluin on Bubbly Spark said: “Myself and Paul [Young] like him, he has a bit of class about him. 305 metres is a bit on the short side but he has searing early pace. He is very fit and well and if he hitting the front will be very difficult to catch.
“He reached the final of the Henlow derby but picked up a little injury. He is fit and well now. At the moment 450 metres is his top whack but in time may possibly get 462 metres for the Yarmouth derby.
“Trap six is a nice draw for him. Hopefully he will ping the lids and lead into the first bend.”
Corals are top price 10/1 for him to win on his Nottingham and sprint race debut.
In the following race, Bubbly Majestic steps up to the plate for the Champagne Club syndicate in the Star Sports British bred trophy over 500 metres at 7.21pm.
The September ’16 whelp has race experience at Nottingham over C&D back in October last year. He had three races over the 500 metres course finishing third twice and second. The son of Aero Majestic and Aero Babooshka has won over 575 metres at Romford so can get tonight’s trip.
Steve on him said: “The race is a tough one. He is not the fastest away from the traps but is a runner. He is a long shot contender. We would have preferred nearer the rails than trap five but he seems to break better from outside.
“We always support derby night and look forward to it every year.”
Several firms are offering 14/1 for him to claim the British Bred trophy tonight.
Regular readers of ‘Rob’s Romford Round Up’ will know all about Bramble Milburn.
Trained by Newcastle’s Steven Anderson, the March ’16 whelp reached the final of the Golden Sprint at Romford over 400 metres earlier in the year. In that final the son of Farloe Blitz and Swift Vicki finished last after trouble at the first bend. Tonight he races over 305 metres at Nottingham for the first time in the Rising Brandy at Stud trophy at 8.33pm. He moved well in a recent trial at Sunderland over 261 metres and goes into tonight’s race in fine fettle.
Steven in him said: “It’s a tough sprint, that’s for sure. He has got early but is not a natural sprinter. He just doesn’t get the longer distances brilliantly but is not an out and out sprinter. We thought we would enter him and give him a part of the Derby night.
“He has been earmarked for Sunderland later on.
“We’re in it on Saturday to give it a good go. He is fit and well. He hasn’t raced since the Derby but did a good time over 261 metres at Sunderland in a trial.
“He is very unlucky with his trap draws. He is a three dog really but five will be okay for him.”
Corals are currently 13/2 for the Laurels and Golden Sprint finalist to win tonight.
Anyone who follows the Northern open scene will definitely know who Droopys Live is.
Trained by Angela Harrison who has Droopys Expert in tonight’s show piece final, the May ’15 whelp is making her 500 metres debut at Nottingham. In the English Derby Oaks trophy at 9.30pm the daughter of Tullymurry Act and Live Queen has run at Nottingham before over 480 metres winning on both occasions. She has an ultra impressive win strike rate of 50%. From 62 starts she has won 31 times. The Ryan Holmes three steps to victory winner these days is predominately over six bends but tonight drops down to a stiff four bend affair. She is in fine fettle with three wins from her last six starts.
Angela on her said: “She’s been a really good bitch. She will not get 680 metres plus so thought we would put her over 500 metres in a bitches only race. 500 metres is a little gallop to her!
“She turned four years old last month and is still running really well. We are happy with the draw. Trap one is perfect for her.”
Skybet are 11/4 top price for her to win the English Derby Oaks trophy tonight.
Headford Maurice, trained by Yarmouth handler Kevin Boon is a two time category one finalist over longer trips.
Back in December last year the January ’17 whelp reached the final of the Essex Vase at Romford over 575 metres and in February contested the final of the Golden Jacket over 714 metres at Crayford. The son of Tyrur Big Mike and Headford Maura showed his versatilely when reaching the third round of this years Derby. Tonight he goes over 730 metres, his longest trip to date in the Star Sports trophy at 10.35pm.
Kevin on him said: “We are trying him over the trip to see how he does. I was a little disappointed with his run over 680 metres last week and think he can go better. I’m hoping he will stay.
“He got to the third round of the Derby. He is a strong dog. We hope he gets in front and holds on as we don’t know if he gets it yet. If you don’t try you don’t find out. He has trap five on Saturday and we are happy with that.”
Skybet are top price 7/1 for him to do the business tonight.
It’s brilliant that the Dorando marathon still takes place every year on Derby finals night even though it’s not at White City any more, the scene of athlete Dorando Pietri 1908 Olympic expolits.
It’s a yearly tradition that I for one love and hopes it will continue for years to come. Savana Winner, trained by Henlow’s Diane Henry will be trying to add her name to the long list of former Dorando winners at 10.50pm. The August ’16 whelp is already well adept over eight bend trips winning the Ladbrokes TV trophy over 874 metres at Crayford.
The daughter of Ballymac Eske and Old Refrain also came within a neck of claiming the Ladbrokes Cesarewitch final. Tonight’s distance of 905 metres will be her longest race but baring in mind she runs on late it should not be a problem for her.
Diane on her staying star said: “The trip should be easy enough for her. It is right up her street. She has had two trials around Nottingham leading up to Saturday. I have been eyeing up the Dorando for some time. The Crayford runs were leading up to the Dorando.
905 metres is what I wanted to see her in. This will be only her third race back from injury but showed in the Cesarewitch she is ready.
“She has stamina to burn. She starts off slow but changes gears. She is exciting to watch.
“She is going into the race fresh and with track knowledge. She is in trap three and I love her in that trap. I’m confident of her ability. She can get herself in a battle but can stay out of trouble early on as well. She is a strong runner that will get every metre. I’m really looking forward to the race.”
Skybet are currently 6/5 top price for Davana to live up to the second part of her name.
