The first meeting since the Derby and we welcome back our top performer on the night Glenn Day from Derby sponsors Star Sports. With Sam and Martin broken, Glenn stepped in and produced a £121 profit.
We also welcome back champion trainer Mark Wallis who went with a £100 all-in punt on one of his own dogs last time and came unstuck. He has gone with a similar strategy but promises to do better.
Jim Parker, best known for his ‘Pieman’ prefix makes his first appearance representing the owners.
Representing the media is freelance writer Jason Craddock, a prolific contributor to Greyhound Star over many years but a casualty when the GBGB business committee attempted to wipe us out by removing our grant.
The rules remain unchanged – the placing of a fictional £100 on the SKY card, singles or multiples.
Full form is below tips
GLENN DAY (Star Sports – bookmakers)
7:26 – Forest Chunk: After narrowly missing out on a berth in the ‘Classic final itself Forest Chunk has a great chance to gain compensation. Although he may be lead early the race make up suggests he will turn prominent and I fancy him to pick up the leaders and win handsomely.
7:43 Shellam Delano: Another who just missed out on a spot in one of the nights big finals, Delano will prove a tough nut to crack if, as I suspect, he benefits from the step up to the marathon trip. After putting up Slick Strauss in the Dorando Marathon on Derby finals night I am loathe to desert Patrick Janssens blue and white stayer but i think Shellam Delano possesses the neccessary class to collar the likely leader with at least 2 bends to run and win comfortably on marathon debut..
8:33 Droopys Expert: Despite two big finals on the card and plenty of quality I am looking forward to this puppy final more than any other. In fact I have not looked forward to a race as much as this for as long a I can remember. Droopys Expert and Roxholme Nidge look to be two dogs destined to dine out at the very top table and I was massively impressed with both dogs in reaching the final. However I have fallen in love with Droopys Expert during this tournament and I cannot desert him tonight. He will need to start better than he did last week but if turning prominent he can use his phenomenal back straight pace to pick up probable leader ‘Nidge and claim a first (of many, I’m sure) title.
PUNTING: £30 double Forest Chunk (11-8) & Droopys Expert (betting 1-1) £70 win Shellam Delano (betting 10-11)
JIM ‘PIEMAN’ PARKER (Owner)
A very interesting if difficult card at Sunderland tonight. Think the track gets a bit of unfair press, but certainly in competitive opens an early lead is paramount.
7:31 – Shellam Delano: A long distance race that 3 dogs stand head and shoulders above the rest. Last years TV trophy hero will be tough to beat as reaching her peak, but for me the experience of Delano of the track will prove crucial tonight.
8:16 – Walk The Talk:This dog is possibly the fastest dog around when getting it right as I witnessed at Romford, and having watched the heats on Saturday if he does get it right this draw could be perfect. He’s often switched to other tracks between races, but the short gap between heats and final, that wasn’t an option this time.
9:08 – Newinn Shadow: This dog was extremely unlucky last year not to win the Peterborough Puppy Derby, and I have followed his progress since that day. Obviously an early lead is essential, but from for me a perfect trap draw he may well be gone by the second bend.
PUNTING: £25 win trixie: Shellam Delano (10-11) , Walk The Talk (7-2), Newinn Shadow (15-8)
JASON CRADDOCK (Media)
7:11 – Coolavanny Smash: Sunderland wouldn’t be a track where I would try to pick too many winners. Its a bit ‘trappy’ and if you don’t get clear you are a million.
I quite like Shellam Delano in the marathon but I am going for just one bet with Coolavanny Smash.
This was the dog sold for massive money at Shelbourne sales, somewhere in the region of €35K and so far he has been a disappointment. But he went well in sprint and six bend trials and I think he could be too good for these.
MARK WALLIS (Trainer)
8:51 – Swift Hansel: Annallesse Thompson has handled Swift Hansel brilliantly throughout the competition and I can see him leading all the way.
We know how fast Cloran Paddy is but he isn’t the quickest away and is too short for me for a dog not guaranteed a clear run. Conversely, looking at the betting and the form, you can be sure that Hansel would be a lot shorter price if he was in a more high profile kennel.
Best of luck to Annallesse. It is great to see a young trainer doing well and if she wins tonight, she could continue to kick on from there.
PUNTING: £100 win Swift Hansel (betting 9-4)
