GREYHOUND PREVIEW: Barry Caul previews the final set of second round heats of the English Greyhound Derby at Towcester on Saturday.
Heat 9. The lightly raced Sole Mio got the better of March On Freddie in the opening round and has already been well supported to go in again this weekend. Sole Mio was a finalist in the Kirby memorial at Limerick last month as to was Pain Barrier who runs from trap one. Pain Barrier has a bit to find on the clock, but the race could be run to suit. Aero Sacundai could be the one to side with in here. I thought he ran well behind Barntick Bear in round one and he has a vast experience edge on his rivals. Sacundai has won numerous open race sprints in the past and could lead this field with a level break, the 5/2 on offer looks fair and I think Sacundai could take a bit of beating in the opening heat of the night.
Heat 10. The excellent Bombay Pat will be all the rage in heat ten. Graham Hollands superstar is two from two this year and should prove a cut above his rivals. Pat did come back to the opposition close home last weekend, but he should be approaching peak fitness this weekend. Teejays Chelms impressed in the opening round and can follow him home.
Heat 11. Barefoot On Fire caught the eye behind Ballinabola Joe in round one and will be odds on to go one better in here. Paul Hennessy’s tracker is blessed with buckets of pace, but he might be worth avoiding at the price. He may just lack a yard of early pace and could find himself in a spot of bother on the run to the corner. I still expect him to qualify but for win purposes he could be worth avoiding. Bubbly Charger is open to much improvement and may be worth a small bet.
Heat 12. Val Tashadelek was one of the most impressive winners of the opening round and has improved since switched to Graham Holland. Val loves the rails, but I think he could really struggle from trap four and he will be heading left on the run to the corner. It could pay to side with Singalong Molly in here. The early 7/2 has been snapped up and she is now a best priced 11/4. Molly ran well in the recent Shelbourne Open 600, and her Shelbourne Park form is far superior to Val Tashadelek. Indian Bonnie deserves a mention, I would certainly keep him onside in this as he should have plenty of room to operate on the run to the corner.
Heat 13. Hard to look past Bockos Diamond in here. Last year’s Irish Derby champion has yet to show his brilliant best so far this season but is still firmly the one to beat. He was exceptional around Shelbourne Park last year and hopefully he will repeat his absolute best this weekend. The fast-finishing Ballymac Lucia can finish well to take the runners-up spot.
Heat 14. Heat fourteen looks wide open but I would be sweet on the chances of Glory Lord. Lord ran a cracker behind Cheap Sandwiches in round one and he can certainly step forward from that effort. Glory Lord is well capable of a smash break, and he will be impossible to catch if leading. He was tried over six-hundred yards in Ireland in the past so will have no problem seeing out this trip. Droopys Trade won well last week but it was a weak enough heat, and he needs to show more on the run to the corner. Romeo Empire has won his last two starts at the track but again you feel he needs to show more on the run to the corner. It looks between the three, but I am more than happy to be in the Glory Lord camp.
Heat 15. A wide-open affair here and it is tough to break down. This could be a three’s the field race come the off and I must admit I struggle to find an angle in this. Cooliogold obviously has the best of the draw, but I just feel there could be more to come from Missile One. It’s a fence sitting race for me, but if forced I will put forward Missile One to come out on top.
Heat 16. The final heat of round two and what a cracking contest it is. Five opening round winners’ clash. Faypoint Harvey got the better of Romeo Steel last weekend and he should confirm the form with that rival from an ideal draw. Jaytee Craze would be better off missing the kick and getting a run after them. Craze will be finishing best of all and should snatch a qualifying spot, but I would be against him for win purposes. Cheap Sandwiches looks like the one to be on. He has the best early pace of these runners and should lead with a level start. He beat a good yardstick in Glory Lord last time and will be tough to beat in here. It was great to see Boylesports Bob return to action with a win, Bob loves it around here and can follow Cheap Sandwiches home.
Good luck to all connections,
Barry.
