The RPGTV English Puppy Derby semi finals take place at Towcester racecourse this evening the first of which see’s the greyhounds head to traps in the evening’s opener at 609pm. Mark Pierrepont previews –
Brendan Matthews UNDULATION headed across the Irish sea with a lofty reputation having already recorded a flying 2824 around Shelbourne Park when destroying top grade opposition by fully 9 lengths early in November. She backed up the promise shown when finishing runner up in her first round heat with an impressive second round success when recording 2920. Despite the clock being more than decent there was still room to believe that the further look around the circuit will bring her on even further and despite being drawn wider than she’d like out in trap 6 she’s selected to take a flyer and get round the bend in front. King Ezra did what he had to do when landing short odds to take his 3 runner second round heat for Liz McNair but the main danger to the selection could come in the shape of Frank Gray’s improving Makeitkingkaiden who backed up the promise of his first round heat run with an even better performance in the second round albeit in defeat behind Romeo Command.
UNDULATION (t3 left of shot) wins from Queen Gaga (t4).
RPGTV Puppy Derby 2nd Round.
Towcester 23rd December 2022
Photo: © Steve Nash
The second semi final at 628pm will see Patrick Janssens ROMEO COMMAND sent off at short odds and it’s difficult to see anything but another impressive win for a young greyhound looking to complete a five timer and maintain his unbeaten record since arriving on UK soil. His 2899 winning effort in the second round was the fastest time of the competition to date and the fact that there is still plenty to come off that if he can get his trapping together marks him out as a prospect of the very highest order. Going forward that lack of natural trapping ability may become an issue but just an average enough start here should see him in a menacing position by the time they head onto the back straight at the latest. Brendan Matthews Coordination is another youngster who as yet has plenty to find in the trapping department and given his huge 40 kilo frame maybe that particular sphere will never be his strong suit but he’s plenty of pace and can no doubt only improve for regular running. As with his kennel mate in the first semi final he has to overcome a draw much further out that he’d like but a fair break should see him in a handy pitch heading round the turn and he can run on for second behind Command. The Janssens second string Fabulous Lynx has proven a little shy of the winners enclosure since an always led victory here early in September but is never far away at the finish and can claim a qualifying place in the final.
ROMEO COMMAND comes home clear in his second round heat of the RPGTV Puppy Derby, clocking 28.99.
Towcester 23rd December 2022
Photo: © Steve Nash
