GREYHOUND PREVIEW: A busy weekend of action with the opening round of the Irish Laurels at Cork, the Champion Stakes semis at Romford and the Kent Derby semis at Central Park. The Steel City Cup is also at the semi final stage at Sheffield while it’s round two of the PGR Oaks at the new Dunstall Park. BARRY CAUL previews all the BETDAQ action!
Weekend Greyhound Racing Preview
A busy weekend of greyhound racing awaits, with top-class action across several venues. The Irish Laurels get underway at Cork, the Champion Stakes reach the semi-final stage at Romford, and the Kent Derby semis take place at Central Park. Meanwhile, the Steel City Cup continues at Sheffield, and it’s round two of the PGR Oaks at the new Dunstall Park.
Champion Stakes Romford
The first semi-final sees the in-form Gary The Arb chasing a fifth consecutive win from trap one. Belinda Green’s consistent son of Dorotas Wildcat was exceptional when making all last week in a flying 34.75. That run puts him well clear on the clock, and he’d be impossible to beat with a repeat effort.
Tiffield Tarquin is next best on the clock after his impressive 35.05 success last time. A relatively new recruit to six bends, he has scope for further improvement and the advantage of being the sole wide seed. I fancy him to edge out Gary The Arb in a tight finish.
The second semi looks wide open, with slight preference for Untold Paanga. Nathan Hunt’s runner can fly to the corner when on song, and I think the middle draw will suit. If he leads early, little will come from off the pace. Droopys Alldeway is unbeaten in two starts over the trip and will have supporters, but Untold Paanga just gets the vote.
It’s hard to oppose the superstar New Destiny in the last of the semis. She boasts a superb record around Romford, including her runaway victory in this event last year. Equally effective from the front or in behind, she looks poised to reach yet another major final. Kilmore Dancer and Fabulous Sonique are the main dangers, but if New Destiny avoids early crowding with Sonique, she can prove too strong again, with second place likely between that pair.
Kent Derby Central Park
The Kent Derby also reaches the semi-final stage, with Headford Dane and Bombay Pat the standout performers from last weekend.
Zenith Sultan chased home Headford Dane last time and will be fancied to go close again, though I feel he lacks a touch of early pace and could find traffic on the run to the corner. Burrows Charm came from off the pace to score last time but can go up quicker and may get a good early position here. He gets the nod in the first semi.
The excellent Bombay Pat lines up in the second semi. A lightning-fast son of Pestana, he was exceptional last time out and is hard to oppose when breaking well. Romeo Alliance ran a fine race behind him last time, but Graham Holland’s star can take this in style with further improvement expected.
Headford Dane headlines the final semi. He clocked the fastest first-round time when making all from trap one, though he did edge off on the run to the corner. While he’s well clear on the clock, caution is advised at likely short odds. Shore Rd Maximus, Romeo Tomcat, and Burrows Eclipse all possess early pace, so Dane must trap sharply in what looks a fast-starting heat.
Steel City Cup – Sheffield
Sheffield hosts the Steel City Cup semi-finals this weekend, with Romeo Steel flying at present and Chelms Bear continuing his winning run.
The first semi can go the way of Deerjet Rocket for Tom Heilbron. The son of former Irish Derby finalist Run Happy impressed when making all last week and appears to have avoided most of the big guns. He can get the better of Untold Euro.
Romeo Steel looks the one to beat in the second semi. He’s likely to start long odds-on and should have no issues from a perfect draw in trap one. Keefill Goose is the main danger and can make the final.
In the last semi, Chelms Bear can continue his excellent run. He’ll need gaps to appear in the latter stages, but he’s running out of his skin and this race could be run to suit. Droopys Trade, Romeo Ability, and Jacktavern Chief are capable sorts, but Chelms Bear can prove strongest late on.
PGR Oaks – Dunstall Park
The hugely exciting Droopys Kathleen resumed her career with another breathtaking performance last week, taking her record to six wins from six starts and two track records to boot. Trainer Rob Gleeson reports her in rude health, and she should only improve for that outing. Kathleen goes in heat four of round two and should have far too much class for her rivals.
Raebella Bullet ran well behind Kathleen in round one and can get the better of Meenagh Minsk in the opener. Lilys Bullet, our ante-post selection, flew home from off the pace last time and has a great chance to progress in heat three, which features only five runners.
Strike It Skye is a clear second favourite in the outright market behind Kathleen. Mark Wallis’s promising youngster has now won five of her last six starts and runs from trap one in the final heat. She’ll be long odds-on to extend her fine record.
Irish Laurels Cork
Classic action continues at Cork this weekend with the opening round of the Irish Laurels. There are eleven heats to enjoy, and we’ll take a closer look at the action next weekend.
Two runners worth considering at big prices in the outright market are Droopys Patriot (16/1) and Lamrock Ace (66/1). Robert Gleeson thinks highly of Droopys Patriot, who showed flashes of brilliance in this year’s Irish Derby but may not have been 100%. The short break should have done him good, and this track could suit ideally. Lamrock Ace, a wide seed, should get favourable draws most nights. A speedy sort, he’s been running well in top company at Shelbourne Park and could relish Cork’s layout.
All the best,
Barry
