The Ladbrokes Winter Derby might be one of the newest events in the Calender but it has hit the ground running.
Mutated from the Coral Winter Derby at Hove (2019/20), the first Ladbrokes sponsored Wolverhampton based final was won by Signet Ace in 2021. Burnchurch Mick and Coolavanny Shado maintained the standard in the following two years.
The 2024 decider continues to raise the bar as demonstrated with Links Maverick and King Capaldi rated joint favourite and fifth in the ante post betting for the English Derby.
Tom Heilbron is doubly represented in the final by Links Maverick & Bogger Rambo. Maverick is already a triple Category One race winner, one of which was the 2023 Gold Cup over this course and distance.
This is his first competition since returning from stud duties and there are signs that he is returning to the sort of form that saw him record consecutive runs of 27.99, 27.95, 27.70 and 27.86, the latter two being the fastest and second fastest times of 2023. Rambo was an All England Cup finalist with 28.38 on his card at Newcastle and was only a length behind his kennelmate on semi final form. He too is improving with every post lay-off outing.
The KSS Syndicate are also doubly represented with litter brothers King Sydney and King Capaldi in the line-up. This is the first major final for Sydney (drifted 8/1 to 10/1) who is very lightly raced due to a number of setbacks in schooling followed by further issues with tonsils. On all known form he is held by his brother on form, though we are yet to see Sydney anywhere near his peak.
Capaldi is looking for his first Cat One win having finished third in the Produce Stakes and being narrowly beaten by brother Memphis in the final strides of the English Puppy Derby over 500m at Towcester. He was also withdrawn from the British Bred Derby Final at Sheffield having won the fastest semi.
In his puppy year, Capaldi was prone to turning immediately to his left on leaving the traps, though his steering has been less erratic at Monmore so far, though Assistant Trainer Rab McNair acknowledges that being the worst drawn of the five railers is far from ideal.
Eleven months ago Churchfield Syd made a spectacular start to his UK career with some devastating early paced displays (4.24/4.26 sectionals) in the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby over course and distance. He damaged a muscle when five clear of the field in the semi finals. He failed to show the same zip in three consecutive races when well beaten in the Gold Cup by Links Maverick.
However he looked every inch ‘the old Syd’ when going unbeaten through the Kent Derby at Central Park clocking 29.11 and 29.15 (491m) with no lesser dog than Romeo Command in his slipstream. If he was to put together his Ladbrokes Puppy Derby early pace with the additional strength of maturity, Richard Rees is hopeful of an overdue Monmore Cat One success with a dog who has been backed into 4/1 from 9/2.
Aero Sacundai is the highly rated local and the youngest in the field. A long time leader in a top class puppy final at Cork last October, he was picked up in the final strides by Clona Curly who rubberstamped that form in Thursday’s Northern Puppy Derby.
That fabulous early pace was rewarded with two sprint opens followed by a 28.18 open race win over course and distance. The bookies might make him the 10/1 outside though that looks generous given his obvious Category One potential. Speaking on behalf of trainer Richie Taberner, joint owner Stuart Forsdike remained confident of a significant run.
1st semi final: Links Maverick • 2nd semi final: Bogger Rambo • 3rd semi final: King Capaldi
Latest betting: 9/4 Links Maverick, 11/4 King Capaldi, 4/1 Churchfield Sid, 5/1 Bogger Rambo, 10/1 King Sydney, 10/1 Aero Sacundai
The Cat One final is supported by three Category 3 finals in a full card of 12 high quality opens
Golden Jacket semi final card
The quality continues unabated with a fabulous Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket semi final card from Crayford.
The three semi finals are the feature of a high class card which includes the penultimate round of the Busssey Memorial.
The first semi final is the toughest of the trio featuring no less than four heat winners. What a final this would have made!
Quickest of the first round was Coonough Crow who looked like ‘an eight bend Laughil Jess’ due to an incredible display of tenacity and bravery to seize the inside track and refuse to give it up. She shares favouritism with Haka Carlo, arguably the third string of a fabulous litter. The Amanda Jeal owned black looked as comfortable on the small circuit as any of the heat winners and his draw inside the Wallis runner looks a huge plus.
Havana Lover is a multiple Cat One winner whose semi form belies the fact that she can perform at both ends. (This is the bitch that led a Kent Derby semi final from trap to line beating Romeo Command). She has a 12.80 sectional for the 540 trip and in the event of crowding on the inside – more likely than not – she seems the most likely to benefit.
Bubbly Scorcher is another who can perform at either end of the race having clocked a 23.22 sectional when beating ante post favourite New Destity last week but also being a Boxing Day Marathon winner over 874m.
Betting: 5/2 Coonough Crow, Haka Carlo, 3/1 Havana Lover, 6/1 Breton Molly, Bubbly Scorcher, 7/1 Savana Jazz
The second semi final is clearly the weakest of the three with no heat winners so punters may be looking for ‘hard luck stories’ from the first round.
The bookies have Havana Top Note and Tuono Bella very closely matched at the top of the market and it is easy to see why. Liz McNair’s Top Not didn’t look comfortable on the circuit last week – but many don’t when they find themselves in traffic. However, Rab McNair reckons ‘the absolute warrior’ will break better from the middle and like many hounds, he won’t find the circuit anywhere near as tricky with no dogs around him. If he traps in front, the Oxford track six bend track record holder will probably not be caught.
If he doesn’t, Tuono Bella looks the best suited to the distance. The Central Park top heat winner was only narrowly caught by the only hound in training likely to catch her in the final strides last week.
Betting: 6/4 Havana Top Note, 13/8 Tuono, 5/2 Bubbly Inferno, 13/2 Droopys Flotilla, 12/1 Homestead Anna, She Loves You.
The Mark Wallis trained kennelmates New Detiny and Ballymac Taylor head the market in an intriguing third semi final.
Things could have gone so differently for ante post favourite New Destiny had she avoided a first bend bend. From then on she literally found trouble at every turn and did well to qualify. She may not have it all her own way this time either should Queen Pink produce another flying sectional. However, providing the favourite bides her time, she should ample gears to take up the running at some stage early in the second lap.
Ballymac Taylor would ideally prefer at least another half lap but providing she can avoid trouble, could run on to qualify. Defending champ Bellmore Sally is already a legend on this circuit though her biggest rival is Father Time. Dazl Rolex is far from making up the number in another incredibly tough heat to call.
Betting: 13/8 New Destiny, 15/8 Ballymac Taylor, 5/1 Queen Pink, 6/1 Dazl Rolex, 7/1 Bellmore Sally, 14/1 Lamorna Amaze
OPENS
Saturday: Central Park + Doncaster
