‘EP’ rules in the Derby

Whether it is trap draws, seeding, the chances of trouble in racing, or even to a surprisingly large extent, winning time . . . . nothing matters more than early pace. That is the clear message from the data that has emerged from the Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby first two rounds.

The devil is in the detail. In the graphic below, we have produced the winning lines from all 31 first round heats based on the running style of the winners themselves. To help break it up, we have coloured coded the race comments to put them into groups.

The biggest group by far are the ‘always led’ group in green. You may note that there are 18 of them, and in every case, they led throughout, including clocking the quickest sectionals in their respective heats. All but four went to the winning line first time in less than 4.10. You might even extend that 19 all-the-way leaders but for Crafty Shivoo being briefly headed following a 4.08 sectional.

Basically, if you lead, you stand a 58% chance of winning.

The second round tells a very similar story.

 

George Bradnock

Thanks to Perry Barr RM Martin Seal for the following:

” I just wanted to notify everyone of the death of George Bradnock, who passed away this morning, aged 75, following a long illness.

“Known by everyone simply as ‘George The Bread’, George had been involved in greyhounds for at least thirty years, as was his father before him, and was a popular face delivering greyhound feeds, equipment and sundries, as well as his loaves of bread, to trainers scattered around the Midlands.

“George trained Clonee Express to win a raft of four bend opens around Perry Barr and Hall Green in the late noughties, and along with brother and co-owner Malcolm, turned down an offer of £20k for the big white and brindle.

“Rarely seen without a smile on his face and a spring in his step, George had a true passion for the sport, and would help anyone without a second thought, a rare commodity in this day and age.

“George made an awful lot of friends in his lifetime and will be sorely missed by each and every one of them. Our thoughts are with his family.”

OPENS

Tonight:  Hove   ♦   Newcastle   ♦   Swindon

Friday: Romford

Saturday: Central Park  ♦  Doncaster  ♦  Monmore  ♦  Oxford  ♦  Perry Barr  ♦  TOWCESTER

Sunday:   Crayford   ♦   Towcester