GREYHOUND PREVIEW: Barry previews three semi-finals of the Northern Puppy Derby from Newcastle on Thursday. Also included is a preview of the Winter Derby at Monmore on Saturday as well as the Gold Cup semi-finals from Shelbourne Park on the same night.
ARC Northern Puppy Derby (Thursday)
Semi-final 1
- 🟥 Ballymac Lucia
- 🟦 Greenwell Crazy
- ⬜ Inca Lexie
- ⬛ Sunnyside Trish
- 🟧 Annadown Alice
- 🔲 Greenwell Tyson
Verdict: Ballymac Lucia is destine for a bright future over further in time, but she still holds big claims in this event. She broke smartly last week before being outpaced to the bend she was all of seven lengths off Deliveroo at halfway but flew home to cut the deficit to just under two lengths at the line. She has an excellent draw this Thursday and will be hard to contain if turning in a handy position. Greenwell Tyson can improve on what he has achieved so far but it should be plain sailing for Ballymac Lucia.
Semi-final 2
- 🟥 Westside Butch
- 🟦 Toolmaker Quick
- ⬜ Ballymac Axel
- ⬛ Sunnyside Jayden
- 🟧 Droopys Deploy
- 🔲 Deliveroo
Verdict: A strong heat. Irish raiders Toolmaker Quick and Droopys Deploy boast some smart Irish form and the pair are expected to step forward from their initial outings. Deploy is probably the quicker of the Irish duo but does need to brush up his starting. Deliveroo has a perfect draw and done little wrong last week. He looks sure to be on the premises and looks set for a trouble-free run. Ballymac Axel just got the better of Westside Butch last time out and Butch once again looks to have the better of the draw. Droopys Deploy has always been held in high regard and I think he will step up considerably on last weeks run and prove to good for Deliveroo.
Semi-final 3
- 🟥 Broadway Shay (Vacant)
- 🟦 Nothing Mad
- ⬜ Fraser
- ⬛ Yahoo Maizy
- 🟧 Innfield Pepe
- 🔲 Swift Bullseye
Verdict: Broadway Shay has been reported a possible non-runner. Yahoo Maizy and Swift Bullseye look the two to focus on in here. Maizy impressed in the opening round and has now won five of her last six starts. She led early last week for a comfortable success and has an excellent chance to make all here. The danger is Swift Bullseye. The lightly raced son of Coolavanny Hoffa has climbed through the grades around here in recent weeks and is another who will be looking to make all. Despite needing to find a few lengths on the clock on last weeks running, you get the impression Swift Bullseye has scope for more improvement and just gets the nod over Yahoo Maizy.
Monmore Winter Derby
Semi-final 1
- 🟥 Droopys Suprstar
- 🟦 Queen Georgie
- ⬜ Droopys Extragud
- ⬛ Scooby The Boss
- 🟧 Longacres Magic
- 🔲 Proper Heiress
Verdict: Droopys Suprstar and Queen Georgie both got up in the dying strides to with their respective heats last Saturday. Georgie, a 5/6 chance and Suprstar an 18/1 shot were chalk and cheese for punters and bookmakers alike. I doubt we will see a 5/6 shot in here but Queen Georgie will have her supporters. Six inside runners will line up in this semi, but we have seen on many occasions when we have six railers, the place to be can often be the outside! Proper Heiress has never been drawn out this far in his career but has won two from four when drawn in the black jacket. Longacres Magic will head to the fence and with Scooby The Boss not blessed with much in the early pace department Heiress could just get a decent run. For me Magic has more early than Queen Georgie and they could come together on the run to the corner. It’s a game of opinions but I can see Heiress getting a decent run to the corner and he is certainly quick enough to make them all go.
Semi-final 2
- 🟥 Romeo Steel
- 🟦 Kilmore Dancer
- ⬜ Jet Stream Angel
- ⬛ Gary The Arb
- 🟧 Aayamza Sydney
- 🔲 Millbank Boiler
Verdict: Kilmore Dancer displayed big pace last time out but will need to sharpen up his mind. For me he wasn’t straight forward, and I was surprised he wasn’t marked as awkward. I don’t like to see it happen to dogs and he has been given a second chance. I’m sure he will be a little more focused this Saturday. He will have to come from behind again and that is far from ideal. Gary The Arb and Aayamza Sydney are two of the most remarkably consistent greyhound currently running in the UK and must be a joy to own. It wouldn’t surprise me to see both make the final. For win purposes I would have to side with Romeo Steel. He has a good chance to lead here and can make every yard. Steel ran well after a slow start last week and can gain revenge on the wonderfully consistent Gary The Arb.
Gold Cup Shelbourne Park
Semi-final 1
- 🟥 Ballyhooly Bruno
- 🟦 Phoenix Memphis
- ⬜ Da Bold Falcon
- ⬛ In Good Time
- 🟧 Kerogue Lady
- 🔲 Carrick Aldo
Verdict: Carrick Aldo turned in a huge performance last Saturday evening on a bitterly chilly night at Shelbourne. His 28:25 run (-0.15) was the fastest run of the night and he now stands alone at the top of the outright market. He has a good draw to work from and with a level start he should lead up Kerogue Lady in five. Phoenix Memphis is expected to lead up the inside runners but will need luck to hold of some big finishers in here. Da Bold Falcon, Ballyhooly Bruno and In Good Time will be doing their best work from halfway but its unlikely any of those three will turn better than third. Its hard to see anything but an Aldo victory but the remaining runners all have genuine hopes of qualification. I will side with the excellent Aldo to make all and see off Da Bold Falcon with Phoenix Memphis hopefully hanging on for third.
Semi-final 2
- 🟥 Hawkfield Blue
- 🟦 Jim By Two
- ⬜ Cheque For Cash
- ⬛ Grangeclare Lady
- 🟧 Seven Beach
- 🔲 Lemon Joey
Verdict: Early pace is the key to the second semifinal with most of the runners capable of leading with one of their better starts. Hawkfield Blue was a game winner last week when just getting the better of Grangeclare Lady in the shadow of the post. Seven Beach has a far from ideal draw on the outside of Grangeclare Lady and the same can be said for the improving Lemon Joey. The value here could be Cheque For Cash in three. He put in an excellent display on his return to action at the start of the month and ran well after missing the break last week. He does boast a 1.98 sectional around here and has gone under 28:00 in the past. He is a much better greyhound when getting to the front and has good form over 550 yards. The break is crucial and if Cash can repeat his best break he could just nip around in front and prove very difficult to peg back.
All the best,
Barry.
