ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY: Paul Lawrence and Barry Caul cast their eyes over the third round of the English Greyhound Derby staged at Towcester on Saturday with their best bets on BETDAQ …
Heats 1-3
Paul:
We kick off with a real hotpot in Heat 1 (6:20pm) in the form of Swords Rex, who goes up against Ballymac Finn. Swords Rex is at the top of the ante-post market and Ballymac Finn is a dog that I’ve backed ante-post. We haven’t quite seen the best of him yet, but I think the switch to trap three might just give him the impetus to get out of the boxes. I marginally fancy Swords Rex in his current form to come out on top, but he is a bit short at the prices, so Ballymac Finn might be the value bet at around 3/1.
I fancy a shock in Heat 2 (6:35pm). Faypoint Susie has been running well for John Mullins. She’s got plenty of speed this bitch, and I think she can only go one way and that’s forward. I’m quite sweet on her at a juicy price. I’m waiting to see Beepers Lariat trap, because he’s showed all sorts of pace after he breaks moderately, but I just think he could be on the backfoot if Faypoint Susie outstarts him. Of course, track record holder Clona Duke has a major chance, but I just thought the value would be trap two on top of one.
Heat 3 (6:50pm) could be a messy affair. Signet Otis is in trap one and he could cause a bit of bother for Romeo Command, who’s a dog that needs room to operate. Innfield Billy will be edging into him from trap three as well, so it might be best to look at the outside four. I think Boylesports Gift is the most likely winner. He’s probably going to be moving into about lane three from four, and the two inside him could collide, so he should get a clear run. I’ll side with Boylesports Gift and have a little interest on Tommys Boss too.
Barry:
Heat 1 looks a match between Swords Rex and Ballymac Finn. The market heavily favours Swords Rex, he’s odds-on at around about 4/9. There’s not much to separate them on their Irish form, but Swords Rex has taken his form to a new level since he’s gone over for the English Greyhound Derby and he’s hard to oppose.
There’s another Graham Holland hot pot in Heat 2, in the form of Clona Duke. I don’t think he has a great draw in trap four though, with the likes of Brinkleys Magic on his inside, while Faypoint Susie in trap two can also go up quite strongly, so he will have to be on his toes. I give Beepers Lariat in trap one a chance. I thought he ran well behind Swords Rex last week and I think he can go up better than he has done in previous weeks. At around 11/2 he makes plenty of appeal.
On the betting at least, Heat 3 looks a match between Boylesports Gift and Romeo Command. However, the more I look at this race the more I give Tommys Boss a chance. He’s around about 14/1 and he can go up better than he did last week, when he just got to the lead from Maree Champion but failed to hold off that rival down the back straight. The early pace here looks to be between Tommys Boss and Boylesports Gift, but at 14/1, Tommys Boss could represent real value.
Heats 4-6
Paul:
Heat 4 (7:10pm) looks a straightforward task for Ballymac Marino, who’s been impressive since he arrived in Towcester. He won his First Round heat by over nine lengths and then in the Second Round he trapped okay, showed that early dash to the corner and won by over three lengths. I think he’s been blessed with his ideal draw in the middle in trap four. He should be able to pop out and make all.
I’m interested in Heat 5 (7:30pm), where I like Romeo Hanzo on the inside. He’s a dog that probably doesn’t ideally want to be wearing the red jacket. However, he did wear red in a trail stakes prior to the competition proper and got away with it. I think he’ll be all right here as Aero Arran is on his outside in trap two and he’s got more staying power than early pace. I’d also like to quickly mention Forest Icon in trap six. He’s got a nice amount of early pace, so he could be prominent and if there was some crowding on the inside, you might want to have a small interest in him at a juicy price.
In Heat 6 (7:48pm), I thought the pair to focus on were the inside two. Gaytime Nemo really caught my eye last time out. As we know Faytime Susie is a bitch I really like and Gaytime Nemo was very unlucky against her. Undulation is the main danger here from box two. She edged off quite violently from trap three in the First Round, but in the Second Round she maintained her pitch better. I think as she’s coming out of season and getting fitter and stronger, she’s learning to race the bends much better. I don’t think the others have much chance of winning, but I’d like to think Savana Beau, last year’s finalist, could qualify from box four.
Barry:
In Heat 4, the unbeaten Ballymac Marino has been excellent in the competition so far. Liam Dowling did report his dogs to have been under a bit of a cloud last week, so if there’s more to come from him, then this does look like a penalty kick. Of the opposition, I suppose Drive On Lad, who hasn’t really got his starting right yet, could represent a bit of value in the without market.
There doesn’t look to be much pace in Heat 5, and that should see Romeo Hanzo race clear into the back straight from trap one. He was picked-up close home by the freak that is Brinkleys Magic last week, but I wouldn’t be too disappointed with that run, because that rival has all sorts of pace. I expect Romeo Hanzo to win this at around 6/4.
Heat 6 looks a cracking race. Gaytime Nemo was one of the real eye-catchers in the Second Round. He did an awful lot wrong but still ran a remarkable race to finish second. I’d give the Brendan Matthews pair Undulation and As I Say a big chance. I still think there’s a big run to come from As I Say, but he’s got a horrible draw, outside his kennel companion, in trap three. The best drawn dog for me is Savana Beau. He hasn’t got the early pace to go with the inside trio early on, but he will be rattling home, so last year’s finalist at around 6/1 is of interest. It’s Gaytime Nemo for me, but I’m sure Savana Beau will qualify.
Heats 7 & 8
Paul:
I think Heat 7 (8:05pm) could represent another great opportunity for Signet Goofy. He’s not necessarily been breaking brilliantly well, but he’s been showing electric early dash into the bend and he’s dominating his races. There are some other strong runners in the line-up. Jacktavern Bella, where will she turn? She’s more of a six-bend bitch. Cochise has been a bit of a revelation in this Derby so far, but I fancy Signet Goofy can get to the front, inside the other early-pacer, Burj Khalifa, and set up a race-winning advantage.
The eighth and final heat (8:26pm), looks a really tough race to assess. We’ve got Fabulous Azzura, who we’re waiting on to show her Oaks form from last year. She’s been coming out of season and we’re just waiting for her to go bang. She might have lacked a bit of fitness last time and could come on a ton for that. She would be the selection at a juicy price. Romeo Magico will be close up, and if there are any vulnerabilities from Fabulous Azzura, I’m sure he can come through and pick her up. I’d go dog one on top of two in this.
Barry:
Heat 7 is a real head-scratcher. We all know that Signet Goofy is going to lead, but will he be good enough to hold on? The question is: what’s going to get first run at Signet Goofy? Maree Champion has a great draw in trap one, we know Jacktavern Bella will be steaming home and Burj Khalifa also looks well-drawn in six. He got to the final of the Puppy Derby at Towcester last year. I think he runs this place well and put up a good performance last week. He’s the one for me that will follow Signet Goofy, and I think he will pick him up if he gets within a few lengths of him down the back straight.
In the final Third Round heat, we see the defending champion Romeo Magico line up. He’s been incredible so far, going unbeaten in the first two rounds. If you look at the head-on from last week, the running he had to do to get clear into the first bend, and then the devastating pace he showed to pick up Undulation down the far side, he’s very hard to oppose.
Overall Best Bets for Round Three
Paul:
Heat 5: Romeo Hanzo
Barry:
Heat 2: Beepers Lariat
Ante-Post Greyhound Derby Bets
Paul:
Signet Goofy – 21 with BETDAQ
He’s blessed with electric early pace.
Romeo Hanzo – 26 with BETDAQ
He’s been a dog that’s really caught my eye.
Faypoint Susie – 41 with BETDAQ
It’s about time a bitch won the Derby again, and I think she’s absolutely flying.
Barry:
Swords Rex – 4.5 with BETDAQ
If someone put a gun to your head and told you to pick the winner, he’s the most likely.
Beepers Lariat – 34 with BETDAQ
I fully expect him to qualify on Saturday and that’s what it’s all about at this stage.
Tommys Boss – 100 with BETDAQ
He’s a huge price and if he gets through this weekend, you could be sitting on a nice ticket.
