ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY PREVIEW: Barry Caul previews the quarter finals of the English Greyhound Derby staged at Towcester on Saturday.
SATURDAY
Heat 1
1 Proper Heiress
2 Epic Ace
3 Underground Gold
4 Droopys Aladdin
5 Bubbly Hogan
6 Ballymac Iroko
🟪 Verdict: What a way to kick off the quarter-finals, with new track record holder Epic Ace installed as the 5/4 favourite to remain unbeaten in the event. The John Kennedy-trained runner broke well last week and proceeded to turn his heat into a procession. Powering to the line, the son of Signet Ace stopped the clock in a record-breaking 28.14. Ace has improved his early sectionals in every round, but he will need his trapping boots on once again as he is surrounded by professional performers.
Proper Heiress is another who remains unbeaten in the competition and, most importantly, has secured the inside draw. If Heiress can reproduce any of the sectionals he has shown over the last few weeks, he should be capable of at least holding Ace into the opening bend and, if doing so, it could really become race on.
It is far from a two-dog affair. Youngster Underground Gold really caught the eye last week. He lost a couple of lengths near the second bend and was forced to check slightly approaching the last turn. Gold does have a bit to find on the clock, but he is capable of getting involved and should not be ignored.
Droopys Aladdin is another reliable type. Aladdin won from this box in the second round, but this draw looks far from ideal and he will need a flyer to clear the inside runners. Bubbly Hogan is giving connections a real thrill, but this is his toughest task to date and it feels as though he may need a little luck. Ballymac Iroko completes the line-up. Well drawn as the sole wide seed, he will be finishing strongest of all and, despite his likely big odds, he could be hard to keep out of the frame.
A tricky race for punters, but the draw just swings things in favour of Proper Heiress for me.
Selections: (1-3-6)
Heat 2
1 Sole Focus
2 Scooby The Lady
3 Gaytime Clyde
4 Ballymac Duffle
5 Priceless Romeo
6 Swift Magnison
🟪 Verdict: Ballymac Duffle produced an outstanding performance last week to come from last to first and claim victory. At one stage qualification looked in doubt for Liam Dowling’s charge, but he stormed home to get up on the line.
Sole Focus has once again drawn the red jacket but is likely to go off at a big price and may need luck, with Scooby The Lady looking set to take his ground in the early yards. Scooby was impressive last weekend when flying from the boxes and making every yard. She has lightning sectionals and looks a very likely leader. While she will need to improve on last week’s time, she must be respected.
Gaytime Clyde is a pacey greyhound but can miss the break. Clyde has a big engine, but another sectional in the 3.90s could leave him with plenty to do. Ballymac Duffle posted a 4.00 sectional last week and can ill afford to repeat that from trap four. It was a huge effort to get up and win, but as always the standard of opposition improves as the rounds progress, and his current odds of 4/5 make little appeal. I would expect him to go off closer to 6/4 come race night.
Priceless Romeo is a greyhound I like. The draw could suit Romeo and he may turn much closer than usual. He ran well in a hot contest last week and, at 16/1, could be worth a small interest. Swift Magnison has done remarkably well to make it this far. He will go off at a big price, but he showed a good attitude to qualify last week and I wish his connections the very best.
It is difficult to recommend Ballymac Duffle at odds-on. The middle runners can be a shade slow away on occasions and, at the prices, Priceless Romeo could get involved.
Selections: (5-4-2)
Heat 3
1 Donishall Sam
2 Lennies Eddie
3 Droopys Sort
4 Ballymac Deniro
5 Texas Jack
6 Lennies Tank
🟪 Verdict: Lennies Eddie and Ballymac Deniro dominate the betting here, with both impressing last week in either victory or defeat.
Donishall Sam has a perfect draw on the fence for Graham Holland. His future will probably lie over further, but he will be staying on strongly from halfway. Lennies Eddie, in trap two, has a cracking draw. He should have too much early pace for Donishall Sam and looks a very likely leader on the inside.
Droopys Sort trapped much better last week but will need at least a repeat performance if he is to get involved. Ballymac Deniro ran well in defeat last weekend. Deniro has some decent sectionals, but I still feel he lacks a yard of early pace. It is not a heat stacked with early speed, but he may still struggle in the opening stages of the contest.
I have long been a fan of Texas Jack. His win in the opening round has yet to be replicated, but he has run well in defeat on the last two occasions. Trap six runners have generally struggled at the boxes at this track in recent weeks and the return to trap five might just see Jack trap a little better. If he does, he is a major player.
The final runner is Lennies Tank. Tank was another to impress in the opening round but has failed to get seriously involved in the last couple of rounds. He is capable of a huge run, but predicting when it will come is the difficult part. I would not fancy taking him on at his likely big price, but I also find it hard to back him with confidence.
Lennies Eddie has a very appealing draw and can make all at the expense of Texas Jack, who looks overpriced.
Selections: (2-5-4)
Heat 4
1 Goldcash Warrior
2 Strike It Skye
3 Ballymac Ralf
4 Hackney Corner
5 Getup The Boy
6 Slick Sentinel
🟪 Verdict: The final quarter-final sees Ballymac Ralf head the market at 6/4, ahead of Strike It Skye and Hackney Corner on the 3/1 mark.
The strong-running Goldcash Warrior has drawn the red jacket. Warrior is a powerful type who will be finishing strongest of all. He is not devoid of early pace either and could run well at a big price. Strike It Skye won well last week. She broke smartly but was just tapped for a yard of early speed before powering down the far side and staying on strongly. She does lack that extra yard of pace and Goldcash Warrior could prove a thorn in her side on the run to the corner.
Race favourite Ballymac Ralf runs from trap three and, if he starts as he did last week, the rest could be in real trouble. Ralf has good early pace and stays strongly. There is not a huge amount of early speed in this heat and even a level break should see Ralf lead up the inside.
Hackney Corner is a pacey sort. He finished behind Ralf last week and it is difficult to see him reversing the form. Pat Buckley’s runner will need to get the better of Ballymac Ralf in the early yards and that looks a tall order.
Mark Robinson has been delighted with the recent form of Getup The Boy and believes he is really beginning to take to the track. Last year’s Juvenile Derby winner has pace in abundance and should not be underestimated. The ultra-consistent Slick Sentinel also deserves respect. He ran a cracker last week when just caught close home and will surely give you a run for your money once again.
It is difficult to get away from Ballymac Ralf and I think the current 6/4 represents fair value.
Selections: (3-1-5)
Good luck to all connections.
Barry.
