GREYHOUNDS: The English Derby begins on Thursday and we preview all 10 races below.
Heat 1 18.35
1 Aussie Captain
2 Scooby Prince
3 Narcos The Great
4 Skywalker Forte
5 Savana Eruption (Middle Seed)
6 Trionas Travel (Wide Seed)
Verdict: A decent opener, Trionas Travel has been flying at Perry Barr lately and posted a good trial effort around here recently, he is perfectly drawn in six. Irish raider Scooby Prince won the Irish National Puppy stake at Shelbourne Park late last year and made the final of the recent Kirby memorial final at Limerick. Savana Eruption, Aussie Captain and Skywalker Forte have all won around here in the past, while Narcos The Great can go up strongly.
Selection: Scooby Prince
Heat 2 18.50
1 Jaguar Macie
2 Beatties Syd
3 Bockos Belly
4 Hoodoo Brown
5 Savana Camino (m)
6 Cochise (w)
Verdict: Plenty of strong runners in this, Bockos Belly made the semi finals of this event last year and seems to be returning to something like his best. Jaguar Macie won the ARC Northern Flat Final at Newcastle in March and is perfectly drawn in one. Savana Camino has plenty of course knowledge and is sure to finish well. Irish challenger Hoodoo Brown may only have the one win to his name, but he is a dog with unbelievable pace and power. He performed minor miracles to win at Shelbourne Park recently and his recent trial was a step in the right direction.
Selection: Hoodoo Brown
Heat 3 19.10
1 Ballyblack Speed
2 Innfield Trojan
3 Make Noise
4 Goldies Perryman
5 Farneys Buster (m)
6 Drumcrow Brent (w)
Verdict: One of the more open heats, Drumcrow Brent is well drawn as the sole wide seed and his recent 16:07 trial was impressive. Ballyblack Speed and Goldies Perryman have some smart form around here and should be involved. Its unwise to rule out Innfield Trojan in two. Preference is for Drumcrow Brent in six, he has raced in much better company and the draw is ideal.
Selection: Drumcrow Brent
Heat 4 19.30
1 Spinosaurus
2 Eske
3 Hello Hammond
4 Bryce Canyon
5 Sporting Chile (m)
6 Billis Tudor (w)
Verdict: Spinosaurus and Hello Hammond are among Ireland’s best when they have room to operate. Spinosaurus has improved his trapping recently and is a major player here considering his draw. Hello Hammond has exceptional pace, but his trapping can be his achilles heel. The one to beat is undoubtedly Sporting Chile. The recent track record holder is obviously in the form of his life and course knowledge will stand to him.
Selection: Sporting Chile
Heat 5 19.48
1 Swift Iconic
2 Deelish Frankie
3 Hellofakerfuffle
4 Antigua Cuddles
5 Conamara (m)
6 Moanteen Linford (w)
Verdict: Recent Maiden Derby winner Hellofakerfuffle will be popular here but there is plenty of early pace on his inside. Swift Iconic is well drawn in one and looks a likely leader. Any trouble in behind will aid his cause. Deelish Frankie could get a lovely run into the race and has some smashing recent form around Monmore and Hove.
Selection: Deelish Frankie
Heat 6 20.05
1 Im To Blame
2 Jaguar Gerry
3 Chelms Chris
4 Lautaro
5 Ballymore Border (m) 6 Amaze Me Seb (w)
Verdict: Lautaro will be all the rage here for last year’s winning trainer Patrick Janssens. Impressive in his recent trial, the son of Droopys Sydney is expected to come through this with flying colours. Ballymore Border was exceptional when winning the Dublin Cup at Shelbourne late last year in a brilliant 28.11 and is a dog with plenty of potential. Amaze Me Seb is another runner with plenty of pace and power, and should not be too far away at the business end.
Selection: Lautaro
Heat 7 20.26
1 Chelms Fred
2 Da Bold Freddie
3 Dapper Rodney
4 Knocknaseed Gem
5 Droopys Goodtime (m)
6 Little Seven (w)
Verdict: Da Bold Freddie has shown huge promise in his short career to date. A semi-finalist in the recent Kirby Memorial at Limerick Peter Cronin’s charge displayed enormous potential in a recent trial around here and a repeat of that effort would make him hard to beat. Chelms Fred in one could be a major obstacle however, a dog blessed with early zip he is drawn to try make all and could be a tough one to peg back. Knocknaseed Gem is another who can go up strongly and Dapper Rodney always gives you a run for your money. Droopys Goodtime in five will be finishing fastest of all.
Selection: Chelms Fred
Heat 8 20.45
1 Ballymac Fairone
2 Bockos Leah
3 Havana Robusto
4 Skywalker Barry
5 Freedom Sky (m)
6 Antigua Bigun (w)
Verdict: The Irish have a strong hand here led by last year’s finalist Ballymac Fairone in one. Bockos Leah in two is a bitch with real potential and one of my best bets for outright honours. Graham Hollands charge has displayed massive gears in her brief career to date and has the potential to improve further during the competition. Skywalker Barry is one of Ireland’s top chances and can mix it with the best. However, I feel Bockos Leah could go a long way in this year’s Derby and I fancy her to make all here.
Selection: Bockos Leah
Heat 9 21.04
1 Antigua Hope
2 Bubbly Bollinger
3 Magical Duke
4 Savana Scrappy
5 Chubbys Jet (m)
6 Priceless Jet (w)
Verdict: Former track record holder Priceless Jet will go off favourite here. A dog who has consistently raced against the best around for the last couple of years and is capable of doing it both off the front and from behind, he should take this with a half decent exit. Antigua Hope is improving following her season break and could follow him home.
Selection: Priceless Jet
Heat 10 21.20
1 Sandwood Buster
2 Milton Pepe
3 Castell Cuddles
4 Savana Beau
5 Signet Goofy (m)
6 Ninja Kerry (w)
Verdict: Milton Pepe ran better than the placing suggests in the recent Derby trial stake around here behind Sporting Chile. He should lead up Sandwood Buster in one and try make all. Signet Goofy is another who will try ‘catch me if you can’ tactics, but he has stamina doubts. Stamina will not be an issue for Savana Beau who will be finishing best of all.
Selection: Milton Pepe
Weekend’s Best Bets.
Towcester Thursday: 18:50 Hoodoo Brown, One unit win
Towcester Friday: 20:45 Coolavanny Calvn, One unit win
Towcester Saturday: 19:10 Deadly Showtime, Two units win
English Derby Ante Post
Deadly Showtime One unit each way @ 40s
Bockos Leah One unit each way @ 50s
