GREYHOUND PREVIEW: Barry previews the first set of the English Greyhound Derby heats at Towcester on Thursday.
Heat 1. Jaytee Craze has won around here in the past and can get favourite backers off to a winning start on Thursday evening. Paul Hennessys tracker has some good course knowledge and he can put that to good use.
He ran well in the recent Easter Cup at Shelbourne where he was withdrawn with a slight niggle at the semifinal stage. His recent workouts suggest all is well and he can get the better of the former Irish trained Droopys Bookem.
Heat 2. Tiffield Tarquin has impressed with his recent trial efforts and has a perfect draw out in six with no runner in five, he is still quite lightly raced and I’m sure we have yet to see the best of him. Untold Rufiyaa won the IGOBF National Puppy stake at Shelbourne late last year and has only had the two starts since. He is better than we have seen on his trial form and can certainly go quicker than his recent 4:17 sectional. Bubbly Charger impressed when making it to the final of the Kirby Memorial at Limerick and he too can go quicker than his 29:21 trial spin. On this occasion it could pay to side with Untold Rufiyaa.
Heat 3. Recent Maiden Derby winner Hello Diego has certainly taken to Towcester as his three from three record would suggest. Diego has a perfect draw to operate from on Thursday and looks like the one to beat. Teejays Chelms was electric in his 270m trial at the track on Apr 25th but his 29:31 over the Derby trip was a shade disappointing. Teejay posted 28:78 back in March and has a serious chance if he can get back to that sort of form. I will just side with Teejays on this occasion and do not ignore Ballymac Rapid, he will improve with each run and is no back number.
Heat 4. Droopys Trade arrives here with a big reputation and will be one of the shortest price runners of the opening round. He is from an incredibly fast litter, and it is best to ignore his recent trial on May 3rd. Its one of the softer first round heats and he should confirm form with Arthur Job who looks a nice type going forward for his young sire Coolavanny Hoffa.
Heat 5. One of the races of the night. Proper Heiress has been sensational around here in recent weeks in both trials and races. He has now won his last six starts and will be looking to make all once again. Irish tracker Randolph Scotts is a greyhound I really like. He moved well on his first look at the track in a two-bend trial earlier in the week and will improve for this outing. Its probably a bit much to ask Scotts to get the better of Proper Heiress on this occasion but he is one I think will go a long way in this year’s competition and is high on my ante post list.
Heat 6. The big clash of the evening is undoubtedly in heat six where Wicky Ned and Bockos Diamond clash. The pair dominate the market and its 10/1 bar the classy duo. Bockos Diamond suffered defeat for the first time in sixteen starts when he finished third behind Proper Heiress back in April, but he will surely step forward from than outing. He was electrifying in last years Irish Derby and hopefully he still retains all his ability. I greatly respect Wicky Ned, he too is a smashing greyhound, but Bockos Diamond is one of the best I have ever seen and hopefully he can show just how good he is this Thursday.
Heat 7. Gary The Arb is one of the most consistent greyhounds in training and must be a pleasure to be involved with. He comes here after a handful of impressive trials at Hove and should be primed for this. In truth he has managed to avoid most of the big guns and should prove too good for Droopys Perfect who can put up a decent show.
Heat 8. This could be a 3s the field race come the off. Ballymac Pebb just heads the betting at the time of writing, but it looks wide open to me. The Graham Holland Pair of Swords Don and Riverside Pingu have some high-class Irish form and cannot be discounted. Prince Naseem is another who has some strong form around Shelbourne Park and now has his first start for Maxine Locke. I will grab a seat on the fence for this one, but if forced to make a selection I would suggest there is far better to come from Swords Don.
Heat 9. Val Tashadelek is a different proposition when racing from the red jack and he has an incredible draw to work from on Saturday with trap two vacant and Savana Mongys in three not the quickest in the early yards. This looks like a huge opportunity for Val to get to the front and he is capable of a big run if he does so. Maireads Prince was running well at Shelbourne prior to his move to the UK and looks like the main danger. Youngster Romeo Wildcat is a dog with a bright future but needs to sharpen up his starting. Val Tashadelek, a strong fancy.
Heat 10. Irish Derby runner up Cheap Sandwiches has returned to action in top form and look a penalty kick in the final heat of Thursdays session. He impressed in his first run of the year when getting the better of Keefill Goose and he can step forward from that run. Glory Lord posted a huge run when winning a quality open 525 at Shelbourne recently. Glory Lord can flash from traps and if he does, he will be very tough to peg back. The 9/2 on offer about Glory Lord is fair, but Cheap Sandwiches should have too many gears.
Good luck.
Barry.
