ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY: Paul Lawrence and Barry Caul cast their eyes over the second round of the English Greyhound Derby staged at Towcester on Friday and Saturday and also pick out their first round highlights.
What were your eyecatchers from the First Round?
Paul:
Romeo Hanzo was a dog that caught my eye. I didn’t really know too much about this greyhound. He’s come over from Ireland and his trainer Graham Holland’s got a really powerful team.
We’ve already seen Swords Rex run well, he broke the track record, and then his kennel mate Clona Duke went even quicker and broke the track record again. Romeo Hanzo is coming here slightly under the radar, but I really like his all-round pace and I think he stays all right too. His was quite a startling performance in the First Round and he could go very deep in this Derby.
Another one that I did like was Savana Beau. He was a finalist last year and produced a really nice performance in Round One. We’ve talked previously about what you look for in a Derby contender and it has to be a bit of stamina. Savana Beau fits that bill, so he can keep qualifying, which is a trait you need in the Derby.
Barry:
There were plenty of star performances in Round One, but one that caught my eye was Brendan Matthews’ Undulation. She kicked things off in the First Heat on Thursday night and was very impressive in making all on what was her first start in quite some time. After that, it’s scary to think that her trainer thinks there’s plenty more to come.
As I Say, also from the Matthews kennels, was very good as well last week, showing really strong early pace from trap one. I think he’s a chance of going in again this weekend from trap four.
Of course, the star of the First Round was Clona Duke – we’ve never seen a dog run faster around that circuit before. It was a stunning run and he’s rightly now on top of the ante-post betting. He’ll have to be feared throughout the competition.
What are your best bets for Friday’s Second Round heats?
Paul:
In the opening Second Round heats, I’m going looking for some decent value. I went for trap four, in Heat 4, with Havana Allablaze. This dog has got a nice turn of early pace, and while he probably only just gets the trip, I just thought there were some stands types on his inside, who might crowd each other and not get the clearest of passages.
So, I’m hoping Havana Allablaze can rush clear and set up a big enough advantage to hold on. At 8/1, I’m willing to take the chance as I think there’s enormous value there for a dog I’m pretty certain will lead off.
In Heat 6, I like two greyhounds, again at reasonable prices. Romeo Hanzo was a dog that I was really impressed with in Round One. He showed nice early pace and saw the trip out really well and I think he should be able to clear the inside from the start.
I also thought Supa Nova, in trap six, was a big price for a dog that battled on well last time. He could be a saver, each-way or even a dog for the forecast at a big double-digit price.
The last two plays on Friday come in Heat 7, where I thought Savana Top Cat had a massive chance to lead up from the inside trap. He showed good gears last week and at around 8/1, I thought he was a no-brainer to get involved.
The defending champion, Romeo Magico, goes from trap two and I thought he could track round and so I had to have a saver on him. Make him a small win, as we know he’s got class. I think Graham Holland left him a bit fresh last time and he may have just lacked fitness, but I think we’ll see an improved effort on Friday night.
Barry:
I’ll start off with Heat 1 of the Second Round and I’ll go with Brendan Matthews’ As I Say. He’s a very lightly raced son of Broadstrand Bono and Follys View, so he’s well bred. I think he showed plenty of early pace last week from trap one to lead up a dog called Tommys Boss, who’s a dog I’m quite sweet on as well. There is some good early pace in this race with Signet Goofy as well as Whyaye Man, who was good last week when making all. He can be a little bit hit-and-miss at the traps though and I think if As I Say was to trap level, he could show enough early pace to lead. I’m sure he can improve on his performance in Round One.
Later on the card, I’m going to go to Heat 3 and a bit of form that ties in with As I Say. Tommys Boss is the one I like in here. He always shows good, consistent sectional times to the first bend. He’s yet to lead into the back straight on his own and he’s still consistently clocking around 29.40. If he was to get to the lead on the backstraight on Friday night, I do believe he could go a good deal quicker than that. I know the favourite in trap one, Maree Champion is going to be well fancied, but I’m not sure how he’s going to break. So, at around about 11/2, Tommys Boss represents good value.
My final bet on Friday evening is Paul Hennessy’s Boylesports Gift, who goes from trap one in Heat 8. He’s another well-thought-of son of Ballyhimikin Jet, who’s made a good start to his stud career. He ran well here last time when he didn’t come away that well from the same inside trap, and I think with some track experience now under his belt, he could come away quicker. He should go well at around 7/2.
What are your best bets for Saturday’s Second Round heats?
Paul:
There’s some brilliant racing on Saturday night and I do fancy that some of the short-priced ones will oblige, so once again I’m really searching for a bit of value.
I’ve come across one in Heat 11, where I’ve gone for trap four, Ballyhimikin Leo, at a big price at 6/1. In the same heat, I’m also going to bet Slick Sikina in trap five. They met in the First Round last week where their draws were reversed. I just felt that Ballyhimikin Leo ran really well but he got knocked about a bit, while Slick Sakina stumbled at the start. She’s the Oaks champion of course and has plenty of speed. She’s also just coming out of season, so I thought she could put that run behind her. At 6/1 Ballyhimikin Leo and 4/1 Slick Sakina they looked the two in the race to get stuck into.
In Heat 14, I’ve gone for another big price one in Savana Beau in trap one. Trainer Diane Henry has been slowly ticking him over. He reached the final last year, so we know he loves the track, and he loves the red jacket as well. He is also a bit of a staying type, so I could see him tracking the frontrunner and if they get into a speed battle in the lead, it’ll play into his hands.
Barry:
There looks likely to be plenty of short-priced favourites on Saturday night at Towcester, and around four or five of them might just be odds-on.
I’m also trying to find a bit of value and I’ve gone for one in Heat 13, a bitch called Ballyhimikin Mel. She was impressive last week, when winning in a time of 28.92s and I think there’s more to come.
McNeill is the favourite for Paul Hennessy, and although I was sweet on his chances and I still do think he’ll go a long way in the competition, he’s very short for me at 10/11. He’s only won three races in his career this dog, and two of them were an A3 and an A4, so for win purposes I’d be keen to oppose him.
Paul and I do agree on what we’ll call the ‘Good Thing Treble’ on Saturday night. That kicks off with Swords Rex who goes in Heat 10. He was incredible last week and the week before that when breaking the track record.
The dog who subsequently broke Swords Rex’s track record is Clona Duke and he goes in Heat 12 from trap three. He only seems to have Ballymac Finn to worry about from trap one.
If those two can get their starting right, they look nailed on.
Finally, to complete the hot pot, Ballymac Mario goes in Heat 16. He again looks to have only one to beat in Ballymac John, who in fairness was very good last week, but I think if Marino can start like he did last time, he’ll prove very hard to beat.
At the time of recording, the ‘Good Thing Treble’ is around about 5/2.
Best bets for the Second Round?
Paul:
Friday
Heat 4: Havana Allablaze
Saturday
Heat 14: Savana Beau (EW)
Barry:
Friday
Heat 8: Boylesports Gift
Saturday
Heat 13: Ballyhimikin Mel
Barry & Paul’s Saturday night ‘Good Thing Treble’
Saturday
Heat 10: Swords Rex
Heat 12: Clona Duke
Heat 16: Ballymac Mario
