The Ladbrokes Winter Derby over 480 metres at Monmore gets underway tonight with the first of six heats from 6.48pm. The competition is only in its infancy but that hasn’t stopped it becoming a mainstay on the open race scene. The competition oozes winners and finalists all over the place.
The Winter Derby has an Essex Vase winner, an All England Cup winner, a Blue Riband winner, an Angel Of The North and Northern Puppy winner and a Three Steps To Victory winner to name a few. There are winners and major finalists all over the heats.
As it is so good it’s rude not to give it the ‘Robs Round Up’ treatment. True to form I’ve endeavoured to find out more about four including three who are making their Monmore race debuts.
Three Steps To Victory winner Savana Eruption is making his Monmore race debut is the opening heat at 6.48pm. Trained by Towcester’s Diane Henry the February ’19 whelp is having his first race since last September. The son of Droopys Jet and Volcano has shown all is well in his four comeback trials at Towcester and Monmore. In a recent spin over C&D he clocked a good calculated time of 28.36. With his style of running he is always going to have to do it the hard way but will be hard to keep out of the frame.
Diane on him said: “His trial time was very pleasing. He beat Antigua Storm by 2 ½ lengths. If he gets a clear run I think he is as good as any four bend dog out there. With his style of running though he will have to do it the hard way.
“He is a very classy dog and we have been very patient with him. His time of 15.91 at Towcester over 270 metres was very good as was his first four bend trial there of 29.39 over 500 metres.
“You can write his St Leger form off at Perry Barr as we now know he wasn’t quite right. He is now. “He is not a natural stayer and 660 metres is as about as far as he wants. After the Winter Derby we are going to tuck him away for the Derby.
“He is in a tough heat but being in with pacey dogs is a plus. He has to ideally get a clear run from behind to chase them down.
“He is very capable but it is his first race since September. He has trap three and that is perfect for him. Traps three or four are his traps, even trap five is okay for him. “
Savana Eruption has caused a difference of opinions with the ‘bookies’. Some are as short as 9/4 for him to win his heat while others are around 10/1. He is 33/1 with sponsors Ladbrokes to win it outright.
East Anglian Derby finalist Aussie Captain goes in heat three for trainer Patrick Janssens at 7.24pm. The Greyhound Derby quarter finalist is making his Monmore race debut after one recent trial over C&D. In that trial the son of Ballymac Matt and Madabout Hannah clocked a good time of 28.69.
Since his arrival on these shores he has been running against the best and holding his own. He reached the Derby quarter finals, finished sixth in the East Anglian Derby final at Yarmouth and made the semi-finals of the Olympic late last year at Hove. He will be expected to improve on his trial over C&D and the drop to 480 metres could prove beneficial to the early paced sort.
Patrick on him said: “He is in a tough heat but has a good draw [trap one]. It’s where he wants to be. The track and distance will suit him.
“He clocked 28.69 for a first look and that was good enough for me. He will improve lengths for that look. I think he quite good enough. He has enough early and 480 metres is his distance.
“There is a lot of early in the race and hopefully he will get a run to the bend. If he doesn’t lead he will struggle.”
Ladbrokes are top price 11/4 for the pacey sort to win his heat while William Hills are top price 12/1 for him to take the outright spoils.
The Champagne Club Syndicate know what it takes to win a category one competition and have two of their charges competing at the Wolverhampton circuit tonight.
First up is Bubbly Bollinger in heat four at 7.44pm. Last years Winter Derby semi-finalist is back and will be hoping to go at least one better this year. The October ’18 whelp last raced last July when winning the Bockos Doomie memorial invitation at Hove over 515 metres. The son of Loughteen Blanco and Droopys Ant has shown all is well in his comeback trials at Romford and Monmore. In a recent trial over C&D he clocked a good time of 28.43. He gets all of the 480 metres at Monmore and will surely be making his presence felt in the latter stages.
Head of the Champagne Club Syndicate, Steve Fluin on him said: “He won the Derby Plate last summer at Towcester and the Bockos Doomie Memorial at Hove. We would have preferred trap one and not two but he [Starcash Henry] does have bundles of early pace. Hopefully he will follow them around and come home with a rattle. He is a strong running dog.
“He picked up a shoulder injury and his trials are showing he is almost back to full fitness. He is good enough to win his heat but the main thing is to qualify as it is first race since last summer.”
Ladbrokes are top price 10/3 for the Derby Plate winner to take his heat while William Hills are top price 28/1 for him to lift the trophy.
After one trial over C&D Bubbly Apache has with many been installed as ante post favourite to win the category one competition. In that trial the October ’19 whelp clocked a very impressive time of 28.27. The son of Loughteen Blanco and Droopys Berry goes into the competition having won the Arc Puppy Classic at Nottingham over 500 metres last August unbeaten.
He then reached the final of the Eclipse where he finished fifth after early bother. He is clearly very classy and his recent trial over C&D has shown he has taken to the Wolverhampton track. He has bundles of early and the 480 metres trip tonight should be ideal for him.
Steve on him said: “He won the Nottingham puppy classic and in that final he beat Coolavanny Aunty who won the Essex Vase at Romford recently. Knowing that, his form in that competition holds up. He is a very fast starter with loads of early pace.
“After reaching the final of the Eclipse we decided to give him a rest. We gave him a couple of sprints at Towcester in preparation for the Derby later in the year and one over 400 metres at Romford in case we decide to go for the Golden Sprint with him. He has had a recent look over 480 metres at Monmore. He has had sighters all over the country and is back to full fitness.
“Youngy [Paul Young] thinks he is in top shape and has got him where he wants to be. It is a very tough heat against Jaguar Macie. If we clear the outside and she clears the inside it could be a great race to watch. Qualifying is the main thing. It isn’t all about those two as the other four all have chances as well.
“They are both going into the competition in good shape. It’s a very strong competition and we are looking forward to it.”
Paddy Power are top price 6/4 for the Arc Puppy Classic winner to win his heat while several firms are 6/1 for him to win another category one competition.
