ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY PREVIEW: Barry Caul previews the second night of the second round of the English Greyhound Derby staged at Towcester on Saturday.
SATURDAY
Heat 9
1 Strike It Skye
2 Sole Focus
3 Yorkie Ollie
4 Kellies Emerald
5 Lennies Desire (m)
6 Texas Jack (w)
🟪 Verdict: Saturday night kicks off with Heat 9 at 6:38 and it looks a competitive opener. Texas Jack ran a cracker last week when getting the better of the well-fancied Scooby The Lady. He had shown decent form at Central Park and Monmore earlier in the year and last week’s effort was much more like his best. He handled the track well and has a massive chance of following up. Lennies Desire is capable on his day but needs to put his last couple of runs behind him. Last week was a slight step back in the right direction but he still needs to turn closer. Yorkie Ollie is another with plenty of ability, although he’s hard to predict. The safest option may be the well-drawn Strike It Skye. She ran well behind a smart winner in the opening round and the draw just swings it in her favour for me.
Selections (1-6-5)
Heat 10
1 Optic Pharaoh
2 Droopys Maximus
3 Ballymac Kobe
4 Droopys Berries
5 Kranky Drake (m)
6 Ballymac Iroko (w)
🟪 Verdict: Ballymac Iroko emerged a good winner in the opening round when coming from off the pace to score. That does seem to be his running style, although he can lack a yard of early pace, he may be able to get the better of Kranky Drake on the run to the bend and that could prove crucial. Ballymac Kobe ran well in defeat last time but may struggle from this draw, with Optic Pharaoh likely to edge across in the early stages. Iroko will probably have to do things the hard way once again but the race could set up nicely for him and he looks a confident selection in Heat 10.
Selections (6-5-1)
Heat 11
1 Gaytime Clyde
2 Gav Nificent
3 Droopys Alldeway
4 Faypoint Harvey
5 Naochra (m)
6 Deadly Disco (w)
🟪 Verdict: Gav Nificent caused a bit of a shock in the opening round when getting the better of some big names and he’s sure to have plenty of supporters again. He can improve on last week’s break but will need to if he’s to get the better of Gaytime Clyde and Droopys Alldeway into the bend. Faypoint Harvey looks to have a tricky draw and may need a flying start to get involved. Deadly Disco will be finishing strongly as usual but on last week’s evidence it’s hard to get away from Gaytime Clyde. Drawn perfectly on the fence, a repeat of last week’s run should be enough and he can prove too strong for Droopys Alldeway and Deadly Disco.
Selections (1-3-6)
Heat 12
1 Getup The Boy
2 Vacant
3 Garfiney Warrior
4 Ballymac Duffle
5 Ballymac Axel (m)
6 Bossman Buddy (w)
🟪 Verdict: New track record holder Ballymac Duffle will be all the rage in Heat 12. He was sensational last week and the draw has worked out well once again. He should have too much early pace for Garfiney Warrior, while Ballymac Axel may struggle to live with him in the opening yards. Getup The Boy ran well in defeat last week and shouldn’t be underestimated. He’s a smart greyhound and chased home a good one on his first run here. Bossman Buddy, formerly Lemon Joey, is another talented type who always gives a solid account. Ballymac Duffle should come out on top but at around 1/3 he makes little appeal from a betting perspective. Getup The Boy could outrun his odds and may be worth a small interest in the win or without markets.
Selections (4-1-5)
Heat 13
1 This Approach
2 Toddys Tank
3 Romeo Empire
4 Carrick Fergie
5 Hackney Corner (m)
6 Swift Magnison (w)
🟪 Verdict: Hackney Corner was an impressive winner in round one and there should be plenty more to come from Pat Buckley’s runner. He was held in high regard as a youngster and has been lightly raced in recent months. Former kennelmate This Approach has run well on his last couple of starts and rates a major danger from the inside draw. Romeo Empire was a shade disappointing behind Lennies Tank last week and hasn’t been helped by the draw. The current 4/6 about Hackney Corner is short enough but he is clearly well regarded by the Buckley team and should come on plenty for last week’s run.
Selections (5-1-3)
Heat 14
1 Carrick Scholsey
2 Scooby The Lady
3 Quill Quids
4 Brunch Pal
5 Bubbly Hogan (m)
6 Bluey Bullet (w)
🟪 Verdict: Scooby The Lady ran well last week despite being picked up close home by Texas Jack. She needs to get first run on Carrick Scholsey in the early stages and may just be able to do that. Scholsey is a tough nut to crack when leading but doesn’t always trap as sharply as he did last time and could find himself turning in midfield. Brunch Pal is the model of consistency and will be difficult to keep out of the frame. Bubbly Hogan finished ahead of Brunch Pal last week but that doesn’t tell the full story and there is reason to believe the form can be reversed. This could all come down to the break and if Scooby The Lady comes away running she may lead early and prove difficult to reel in.
Selections (2-1-4)
Heat 15
1 Goldcash Warrior
2 Glengar Kane
3 Ballymac Blanco
4 Singalong Polly
5 Cartoonist (m)
6 Cheap Sandwiches (w)
🟪 Verdict: With Cheap Sandwiches a confirmed non-runner this becomes another five-dog contest. Glengar Kane was an impressive winner last week when getting the better of the useful Getup The Boy. He remains unbeaten and looks a greyhound with a huge future. The battle to the bend between Kane and Goldcash Warrior could prove decisive. It’s hard to see one coming from behind the other, making the early yards crucial. Singalong Polly and Cartoonist will be staying on strongly but one of the inside pair may get loose up front. It’s a tough call but Glengar Kane just gets the nod.
Selections (2-1-5)
Heat 16
1 Swords Style
2 Zenith Pasha
3 Cmon The Brom
4 Zenith Aslan
5 Priceless Romeo (m)
6 Slippery Brian (w)
🟪 Verdict: The final heat of the second round can go the way of Priceless Romeo. I was hugely taken by his run last week when getting the better of Ballymac Ralph and Silverhill Adam. I mentioned previously that we had yet to see the best of Romeo and I still feel there is more to come. The Graham Holland pair of Swords Style and Slippery Brian have done very little wrong since moving to Towcester and both will be popular in the market. There is very little between the trio on their Irish form and at the prices Priceless Romeo makes plenty of appeal.
Selections (5-6-1)
All The Best,
Barry.
