The sponsors Star Sports reckon there won’t be much faster than Clares Rocket’s 28.77 track record throughout the remainder of the Derby and are backing up their judgement with some 11-10 (28.70-28.79).
They then go 6-4 on a 28.60-28.69 quickest and 3-1 on a sub 28.60 run.
To rewind a thought on this site of a few weeks ago, a line through the Sheffield 480m records suggests a 95 spot difference which would equate to the Towcester 500m clock of around 28.54. Of course there is no guarantee that it would be broken in the Derby.
One other interesting point though, Clares Rocket clocked a 5.20 sectional on his first look at the track, half a length faster than his split in his record breaking run. Also, there has only been one open race when the going has been above (+10) . . . so far. That 6-4 looks quite tempting.
First round heat winners
| 28.77 | (+10) | CLARES ROCKET | Holland | 1/6/17 |
| 28.85 | (+10) | DROOPYS BUICK | Harrison | 1/6/17 |
| 28.85 | N | KING KID | McNair | 1/6/17 |
| 28.93 | (+10) | COLLEGE PARADISE | Dowling | 1/6/17 |
| 28.99 | (+10) | MURRAYS ACT | Boon | 1/6/17 |
| 29.00 | (+10) | DANZEY EXCEPTION | Hodson | 1/6/17 |
| 29.00 | (-20) | BUBBLY BLUEBIRD | Young | 2/6/17 |
| 29.02 | (+10) | SHANEBOY FREDDIE | Boon | 1/6/17 |
| 29.06 | (-20) | DOROTAS WILDCAT | Hutton | 2/6/17 |
| 29.07 | (-10) | DROOPYS ACROBAT | Cahill | 2/6/17 |
| 29.08 | (-10) | BALLYMAC MATT | Dowling | 3/6/17 |
| 29.08 | (-10) | PRICELESS BRANDY | Hennessy | 3/6/17 |
| 29.10 | (-20) | BLACK ZACK | Res | 2/6/17 |
| 29.10 | (-10) | KING EDEN | McNair | 3/6/17 |
| 29.12 | (+10) | RUBYS RASCAL | Wallis | 1/6/17 |
| 29.15 | (-10) | PACEY BAMBI | Young | 2/6/17 |
| 29.17 | (-10) | DROOPYS WILBURY | Buckley | 3/6/17 |
| 29.19 | (+10) | GARYVOE BOBBY | Holland | 1/6/17 |
| 29.20 | (-20) | CLORAN PADDY | Lister | 2/6/17 |
| 29.22 | (-20) | FWESHFROMTHESESH | Herbert | 2/6/17 |
| 29.26 | (-10) | SWITHINS BRAE | Cronin | 3/6/17 |
| 29.26 | (-10) | VANCOUVER SHEA | Black | 3/6/17 |
| 29.29 | N | MINGLERS TOURE | Wallis | 1/6/17 |
| 29.30 | (-10) | BRINKLEYS KNG | Cahill | 3/6/17 |
| 29.33 | (-10) | BARRICANE TOMMY | Janssens | 3/6/17 |
| 29.36 | (-20) | CARLOS COURT | Wray | 2/6/17 |
| 29.39 | (-20) | BUBBLY TURBO | Young | 2/6/17 |
| 29.44 | (-10) | FOREST CON | Cahill | 3/6/17 |
| 29.45 | (-20) | MAIREADS SPRING | Black | 2/6/17 |
| 29.65 | (-10) | SALLOWS FORD | White P | 3/6/17 |
| 29.68 | (-20) | SHANEBOY STYLE | Boon | 2/6/17 |
| 29.73 | (-10) | MONEYPOINT BRAE | Philpott | 3/6/17 |
