GREYHOUND PREVIEW: After some cracking recent performances, it’s now time for the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob Memorial final, along with the Olympic Final. Mongys Wild and Proper Heiress remain unbeaten heading into Saturday’s deciders. BARRY CAUL takes a look at the best of the action from Hove this Saturday.
Finals Night at Hove
After some cracking performances over the past couple of weekends, it’s now time for the finals of the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob Memorial Trophy, as well as the Olympic Final. Mongys Wild and Proper Heiress were both red-hot favourites prior to the opening rounds of each event, and the pair remain unbeaten heading into Saturday’s deciders. Let’s take a look at the best of the action from Hove this weekend.
Olympic Final
🟥 Underground Arlo
🟦 Missile One
⬜ Proper Heiress
⬛ Table Toppers
🟧 Newinn Deejay
🔲 Moving Force
Verdict:
Although the draw could have been kinder for Proper Heiress, he is impossible to oppose. He has now won fourteen of his last seventeen starts, with two of those defeats coming in an Irish Derby semi and final. His record at Hove is outstanding, with nine wins from ten starts, and he has also won his last four outings when wearing the white jacket.
The current 2/9 about Heiress won’t tempt many, but it is hard to see where the dangers come from. Underground Arlo looks the biggest threat after impressing in the semis, has a good draw, and remains lightly raced, so further improvement is likely. Moving Force ran well in defeat last week but may just lack that yard of early pace to the corner. Table Toppers faces a tricky draw and will need luck. Missile One also ran well in defeat in the semis, but is flanked by early pace. Newinn Deejay got the better of Missile One last weekend, has winning form over four and six bends, and could nick a place.
For betting purposes, I’d be keen to check the price of Underground Arlo without Proper Heiress, which would be my play, but Proper Heiress oozes class. A level start should more than suffice and he would be a deserving winner.
Selections: 3-1-5
George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial
🟥 Mongys Wild
🟦 Ballymac Nova
⬜ Buddys Bullet
⬛ Garfiney Blaze
🟧 Cartoonist
🔲 Deadly Disco
Verdict:
If you fancy it, the double on Proper Heiress and Mongys Wild pays about 2/5. Mongys has landed a plum draw in the final and, if steering clear of trouble, should take this comfortably. That’s no disrespect to the opposition; it’s simply the fact that Mongys Wild is far superior to his rivals.
Garfiney Blaze won this last year and hasn’t had things go his way in the event so far, and he will appeal in the betting without market, as will the rapidly improving Buddys Bullet. Deadly Disco can get involved with a fast start but will need to lead and hope for some trouble behind. It is impossible to oppose Mongys Wild. He has a superb win ratio, is five from five at Hove, and has won twenty of his last twenty-three starts. Garfiney Blaze is put forward in the betting without market, but Mongys Wild could round off a cracking night for his excellent trainer, Mark Wallis.
Good luck to all connections.
Hove Supporting Card
A few others to note on the supporting card:
In the 7:49, Bluejig Outlaw is one to note. The son of Grangeview Ten was hugely impressive on his sole Irish start at Mullingar and has carried little luck in two starts since his switch to the UK. He is surely capable of better and it will be interesting to see how the market goes in that contest.
Rural Pest goes in the 6:59. He went off a red-hot favourite to win this year’s Time Juvenile Derby at Shelbourne Park after going through the early rounds unbeaten. He has some excellent form, including a 28.07 for the 480m trip when beating the classy Droopys Faithful. He later made the quarter-finals of the Irish Derby and was only a 5/2 chance in his heat before exiting. He remains a greyhound of huge potential and should be difficult to beat.
Final Thought
It’s a cracking night’s racing at Hove on Saturday, but the number of five-dog races on the card is alarming. It has sadly become the new normal. Is it a lack of greyhounds? Surely every owner would love to have a runner on such a big night, and it’s disappointing to see seven vacant boxes.
All the best,
Barry.
