GREYHOUND PREVIEW: In this week’s preview Barry looks at the semi-finals of the Romford Puppy Cup on Friday, the Kent Derby Trial Stakes at Central Park on Saturday, and in Ireland it’s the quarter finals of the Irish Laurels from Cork.
The semi-finals of the Romford Puppy Cup look to headline the weekend’s English action. There is also decent quality action at Central Park with the Kent Derby on the horizon. Perry Barr also has a good card on Saturday. In Ireland, its quarter final time in the Irish Laurels while at Shelbourne Park it’s the semi-final of the valuable Paddy Merriman Memorial 525 and the semi-finals of the Yvonne Barry Open 600.
Romford Puppy Cup
Fire and Ice was favourite prior to the opening round of the competition and remains at the top of the market after an impressive opening round win. He is currently best priced 2/1 to win the event and a shade of odds on (5/6) to win his semi-final this weekend. Fabulous Livia chased him home last time and is again drawn on the inside of the favourite. She ran well last week but must start better if she is to get involved. The main danger should come in the shape of the inform Golden Bullet, the son of Dorotas Wildcat (who coincidentally is really catching the eye at stud of late) has won his last two starts and seems to be improving. Fire and Ice looks the one to be on but does looks short enough. The favourite should score here at the expense of Golden Bullet.
The second semi-final is due of at 20:18. Theres not much early pace on the inside in this heat and the eye is drawn to Swift Underwater after his victory last week. I’m still not convinced he has the early pace to win a competition of the nature and for me he looks like he may be suited by a stiffer test. Newinn Souly ran well last weekend despite not getting to the front and if he can master Gingers Prince on the run to the corner, I think he can break the twenty-four second mark. If doing so he will be hard to beat and he looks one of the better bets on the card for me. Droopys Maybe will have her supporters from the inside box but must improve her starting.
Our ante post selection On The Banks goes in the last of the semi-finals at 20:36 and I see no reason to oppose him in this. He has been ultra consistent in the last couple of weeks and with a level start should manage to wrestle the rails from Ritz To Rubble on the run to the corner. Roanna Mamba is another who is running consistently well and looks a big danger in five. I’m hoping the inside line can give On The Banks the edge and he can just prevail at the expense of Roanna Mamba. Only the top two will qualify from each of the three semi-finals to next weeks decider. Best of luck to all connections.
Central Park
With the Kent Derby not too far away at Central Park it’s unsurprising to see some starts take to the track this Saturday night in preparation for the big once which will conclude on October 25th. There are few bigger names in the UK than King Memphis and he returns to race action for the first time since finishing down the field in this years English Greyhound Derby final. Memphis has been kept ticking over and his recent trials have been encouraging. His litter brother King Combs line up next door to him in this but if Memphis is anywhere near his best, he should take this in style. Havana Top Note and King Sydney clash later on the card and I would just side with Havana Top Note to get the better of Sydney. Syd is returning to action after a fall, and despite moving well in a couple of recent two bend trials I would rather be with Havana Top Note on this occasion.
Irish Laurels
Its quarter final time in the Irish Laurels and the unbeaten Droopys Bookem goes in the first quarter. Bookem is now four from four but does have a tricky looking drawn to contend with this weekend. The youngster has come from off the pace to score on all four career starts but as the competition progresses the level of the opposition rises. On this occasion I will give a chance to Drombeg Rio to make one of his better starts and hopefully make all at a big price.
Heat two looks the heat of the night with four last time out winners facing off. The Other Kobe returned to near his best last week when tracking smartly to assume the running at the opening turn before going on to post a very impressive 28:28. If in similar form that could well be good enough. It will not be easy with the like of High Trend (last years winner) Evolution and Romeo Taylor all in opposition something must give, and you would imagine the winner of this contest will need to do everything right. We haven’t mentioned Grangeclare Lady in one, the daughter of Susie Sapphire was electric last week, has the best of the draw and can surely only improve given her age. It looks a cracking heat and I’ll certainly be taking a watching brief.
Crafty Shivoo has once again been done no favours by the draw but its hard to oppose her in her current form, Faypoint Harvey is better than what he has shown so far in this event, but it is hard to look past Shivoo.
The final heat looks a real cracker and early pace is the name of the game. Road Exile never got to the front last time but ran well to qualify and has a massive chance if he can produce one of his better breaks. Get Up Melad and Tinahue Pappone where both impressive all the way winners last time out and will be looking to employ similar tactics but I will just side with Road Exile.
All the best
Barry
