EMILY WALLIS: Welsh Greyhound Derby Semi-Finals

The Star Sports Welsh Greyhound Derby reaches the semi-final stage this Saturday night at Valley Stadium, with three semi-finals deciding who lines up in next week’s final.

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 STAR SPORTS WELSH GREYHOUND DERBY ANTE-POST 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Last week provided us with some interesting racing, and there were a few surprises in the heats which meant the ante post market had a slightly different look about it when it went back up on Sunday.

🐶 Our original outright favourite, Anglesey Milo, went off 4/11 in his heat but just couldn’t quite get a run at any point in the race and looked in danger of not making it through. However, he didn’t give up and managed to just grab that vital third place when the line came and will take his place in the semi-finals. Nathan Hunt would have been happy with the performance of his runner as it was his first run back after a short break and he should come on for it. The draw perhaps hasn’t been too kind to him though, he has trap 2 again but it’s a decent race and he’ll need to come away and get himself into a better position at the bend.

🏆 He is now second in our ante post market, first in the betting is now Clongeel Bono, a local runner for trainer Christian Darch. He knows the track well and has had plenty of graded racing around there but he has been in scintillating form lately winning seven of his last nine races, five of those being in open races! So, if there’s a dog in form, it’s certainly him and he was comfortably the fastest heat winner last week winning in 27.94 calculated. He was 14/1 ante post before the first round and is now our 7/2 favourite. Two more runs like that and he could be our winner.

🏉 The only trainer to win multiple heats on Sunday was former England Rugby player, Mike Burton. He had three entries in the competition and has two in the semi-finals both of whom won their heats. Yesterday, I sat down to talk with Mike about his runners in the competition and his love for greyhound racing and how he got into the sport being such a successful rugby player and playing all over the world. It’s an interesting chat and his passion and love for greyhound racing shines through.

STAR SPORTS WELSH DERBY: Mike Burton Interview

🐶 His first winner on Sunday was Magical Hawk who has taken a little while to come to hand but Mike thinks the win on Sunday could give him some more confidence. In my opinion, this was the trickiest heat and he just managed to hold off a progressive type in Sawpit Signature, who was originally second in the outright market. He also has a better draw on Saturday going from trap 1, Mike Burton told me that this is exactly what he wants.

🐶 His second winner was impressive for different reasons! Face The Storm was forced wide at the first bend and, going into the backstraight, found himself last and well off the pace. He made up eye-catching ground and ran those last couple of bends so well to not only get up to win but go on and win by three and a half lengths! He is known for racing over six bends but seems to be thriving at Valley at the moment over both distances having won his last three races all at the track.

🐶 Donna Davy had just the one entry in the Welsh Derby but would have been delighted on Sunday to see her greyhound, Fastlane George, win his heat comfortably and book his spot in the semi-finals! He is another local dog in brilliant form having won four of his last six races, most of those have been over the sprint distance at the track but he handled the step back up in trip very well using his early pace to his full advantage to get to the front early and stretch them out. He won by six lengths, getting closest to him in second was Ballymac Madgie, a very good staying bitch and multiple Category 1 finalist for Shaun Gresham.

We now look ahead to the semi-finals which should be just as competitive as the heats, only the first two in each will have a place in the final so all the greyhounds will want to be at the top of their game.

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1️⃣ Semi-final 1:

The first semi-final looks very competitive and there are plenty in with a chance. Anglesey Milo, as mentioned, takes his place in trap 2 here and will have to contend with Dan Brabon’s, King Floyd on his inside. These two were drawn the other way round for both the heats and final of the recent British Bred competition that Anglesey Milo went on to win but King Floyd has nice pace to the bend so Anglesey Milo will want to be a little livelier than he was on Sunday.

Blackstone Ten will go from trap 3 for Monmore trainer, Craig Marston. He won his heat on Sunday at 16/1 and this was the same heat as Anglesey Milo so he already has winning form over him and could be a danger again.

Trap 4 sees Sawpit Signature, he was second in the betting before the first round but missed his break and found trouble. He did show lovely early pace regardless though and is a progressive type for trainer David Hunt.

This is a race with plenty of early pace and one I am looking forward to!

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2️⃣ Semi-final 2:

This looks to be probably the nicest semi-final to be drawn in, however it still looks competitive.

Shaun Gresham has both of his runners in this with Ballymac Madgie in trap 1 and Pyro Man in trap 3. Pyro Man went off a huge 33/1 in his heat and almost pulled off a big surprise only losing his heat by less than a length.

Old Road Villain is also an interesting runner, he has plenty of Irish form but has only had the few races at Valley so far in his UK career so we can still expect some improvement from him but he already seems to have taken to it well and was also only beaten less than a length in his heat by Blackstone Ten.

Face The Storm also lines up here in trap 5 again, Mike Burton will be hoping he doesn’t give himself too much ground to make up like he did last week but he will be coming home very strong and connections to those in front will be looking to see where he is!

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3️⃣ Semi-final 3:

Finally, we have the third semi-final, which will decide the final two spots in the final. We have four of the six heat winners in this semi-final! Those are Magical Hawk, Clongeel Bono, Fastlane George and Romeo Victor.

We also have Hoholetsgo in trap 2 who led for a long way last week until being picked up by Face The Storm. She is an extremely well-bred bitch by Droopys Sydney and Singalong Sally and this will be just her third race since May, so she is entitled to come on from last week.

They look to be drawn well in this heat; it’s another one I can’t wait for!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 It’s sure to be a brilliant night at Valley as we build up for next week’s finals night. To all connections, the best of luck!

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