BARRY’S GREYHOUND PREVIEW: It’s a big weekend for the rising stars of greyhound racing, with the opening round of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby at Shelbourne Park and the semi-finals of the Juvenile Classic at Towcester. Let’s take a closer look at the best of the action.
Towcester – Sunday
Two semi-finals of the Juvenile Derby headline Towcester’s Sunday afternoon card. The first semi gets underway at 2:42, and ante-post favourite Romeo Alliance looks ideally drawn in trap one. A son of former English Derby winner Romeo Magico, Romeo Alliance was hugely impressive when making all from this box last time out and will be very hard to beat if reproducing that effort. His litter brother, Romeo Ability, rates the main danger, but it’s hard to look past the exciting favourite.
The second semi looks far more open. Not So Steady has been running consistently well without quite getting his head in front. He ran a cracking race behind Romeo Alliance last weekend and won’t face anything of that calibre in this heat. His early sectionals stack up well in the context of this race, and he’s a strong fancy to finally get his reward after a string of solid efforts. Bowmers Wildcat has good early pace and could be prominent from trap six, while Droopys Poker remains unexposed and might sneak a place at a big price.
Shelbourne Park – Friday
The Time Greyhound Nutrition Puppy Derby gets underway at Shelbourne Park on Friday evening and has attracted a top-class entry. The Celtic Cooling Refrigeration & Air Conditioning unraced stake champion Ballymac Stud is expected to go well, while Droopys Painting is another big name likely to feature.
The first of eight opening-round heats kicks off at 7:34 and will be broadcast live on SIS.
Ballymac Mint and Sunshine Sioux look the two to focus on in the opener. Ballymac Mint won by a remarkable seventeen lengths last time out and is likely to start favourite, but Sunshine Sioux is an improving performer, and I fancy him to edge out the favourite in the opener.
The unbeaten Sallagh Curley will have plenty of supporters in the second heat, but this highly promising youngster will need to be special to lower the colours of Carrick Scholsey on his Dublin debut. Solo And Go is another with claims.
Heat three sees the much-talked-about Droopys Painting in action. He lived up to the hype with a flying 28:13 debut success but took a heavy fall next time out, so it remains to be seen whether that’s left a mark. Glengar Silent, who landed a hot puppy event last weekend, could be the safer option.
In heat four, Swords Style, who finished behind Glengar Silent last time can bounce back. With a good draw on the rails, he could get the better of the improving Happy Jet.
Heat five might be the race of the night. Droopys Faithful made a hugely impressive debut last week and can only improve. Ballymac Tibet, winner of the Champion Plate against all-age opposition, will be flying home from halfway. This sharp 525-yard trip may be a touch short for him, but he’ll be hard to hold if he gets racing room. Toolmaker King, who impressed recently around Cork, could represent value. With his early pace, he could make a bold bid from the front.
Coloursaregreen ran well in the final of the Celtic Cooling Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Open Unraced last week and this looks like a good opportunity for him to return to winning ways. Upper Horgan has some smart form at the track and can’t be ruled out.
Heat seven looks wide open, with Lamrock Ace and Droopys Montana likely to be involved.
Lamrock Ace has solid winning form around here and just gets the nod. Droopys Montana ran well on Dublin debut and should improve for the run.
In the final heat, all eyes will be on Ballymac Stud. He dead-heated in last week’s Celtic Cooling Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Open Unraced final and will take some stopping if repeating that form.
All the best,
Barry
