GREYHOUND PREVIEW: Barry previews the second set of the English Greyhound Derby heats at Towcester on Friday.
Heat 11. An open heat to kick off Friday night. Arthur Cornflake has not raced since November of last year and his recent trials have been a mixed bag. Ballymac Axel was very impressive in the opening round of the Kirby Memorial at Limerick and his latest trial around here was full of promise. He looks to have a big chance in here. Another with a chance is Missile One. He won well around here back in April and faced some tough opposition recently against the likes of Yorkie Ollie and Cheap Sandwiches. Ballymac Axel will just get the nod for me over Missile One.
Heat 12. Not one of the stronger opening round heats and the early lead looks crucial in this. Start The Mixer has only had the five starts and has faced some stern tests in a couple of those runs behind Lennies Desire and Hello Diego. He faces nothing of that caliber in this heat and should go well if breaking on terms. He has yet to run from the one box and that is a slight concern. Hopes Ompaloompa looks to be the main danger.
Heat 13. Ballinabola Jim was unlucky not to make the Irish Derby final last year. Big Jim was in prime position to qualify before injury struck at halfway. He has been nursed back to full health by Brendan Murphy and returned to action recently where he made the final of the Shelbourne Open 600. Jim now switches to Pat Buckley for the Derby, and he has been around the track before. This year’s prep feels a little rushed but if he can get past a round or two you will see him improve. The lightly raced Toolmaker Quick could be the one in here. He displayed real promise early in his career in Ireland and his recent trial runs have been well above average. Ballymac Kobe is respected from the inside box.
Heat 14. The defending champion De Lahdedah returns to the scene of his greatest triumph, twelve months after a comprehensive win in the final he bids to retain his title for owner/trainer Liam Dowling. It’s safe to say his recent Irish form has been well below his best but he moved well around here in a recent trial and he obviously loves the place. It’s not the strongest of heats and the current 4/7 available about De Lahdedah looks about fair. The Other Boss can follow him home.
Heat 15. Romeo Steel has the best recent form on offer but getting the better of Faypoint Harvey on the run to the corner could prove problematic. Harvey has posted sectionals of 4.06 4.07 and 4.08 on his last three starts and has a rapid 3.39 sectional for the 550-yard trip in Shelbourne. Any of those runs would make life difficult for Romeo Steel. Newinn Dejay is not without a chance here. He runs on strongly and could benefit from any crowding on the inside.
Heat 16. A bit of a punter’s minefield in this one. Keefill Goose has been excellent around here in recent weeks and come here in top form. Boylesports Blue can mix it with the very best and has an ideal draw on the fence. Kilmore Dasher made it to the final of the Blue Riband around here and has clocked 28:77 in the past. Singalong Molly ran a cracker last Saturday night when second in the final of the Shelbourne Open 600. All these greyhounds are capable of fast starts and it just looks like a lottery to me.
Heat 17. The excellent March On Freddie has an ideal draw to work from in heat seventeen. Freddie ran a cracker behind Bombay Pat here in April and ran well to win at Hove last weekend. Sole Mio made it to the final of the Kirby Memorial at Limerick recently and is open to any amount of improvement as the competition progresses, but it might be a bit soon to expect him to get the better of March On Freddie. Burrows Charm has some good form at the track and can get involved, but I am quite sweet on March On Freddie in here.
Heat 18. Antigua Kestrel was one of the fancied runners to go all the way at this stage last year. He has been running well over the past twelve months making it to the final of the Eclipse at Nottingham, the semifinal of the Olympic at Hove and the semifinals of the Arc at Central Park. His recent trial was encouraging, and he sets a good standard. I do feel he is beatable here and I would be sweet on the chances of Droopys Pivotel. He has run well around here in the past, making it to the semifinal last year and his latest run over two bends was eye-catching. Dynamic Force is much better than his latest run and can go up fast if breaking well.
Heat 19. Romeo Empire will be hard to beat in heat nineteen. He has an ace draw on the fence and has avoided all of the big ones. Indian Bonnie is another with a good draw. There is no runner in five and Ballymac Lucia lacks a yard of early pace, Bonnie should qualify but if Romeo Empire repeats any of his recent race/trial efforts he should prove too good for his rivals and come home in front Indian Bonnie and Ballymac Lucia.
Heat 20. Slick Sentinel will be looking to make one of his flying starts in heat twenty. He posted a rapid 3.95 around here last month and has 4.00 (twice) and a 4.01 on his card. Sentinel has won nine times over c&d and can put that experience to use. Scooby The Boss will be doing his best work from halfway and will be impossible to keep out of the frame. The evergreen Romeo Command got the better of Slick Sentinel in a trial here recently, but I fancy Sentinel to reverse the form.
Heat 21. The final heat on Friday night can go the way of Long Fellow at a bit of a price. Long Fellow has been running well around Oxford, and I get the impression this track may suit him better. He can break well on occasions and if finding one of his better starts he could make all. He had a couple of runs around the track at the back end of last year and that should stand to him. One Slick Jamie has some decent form around Kilkenny and rates the main danger.
Good luck.
Barry.
