EMILY WALLIS: Greyhound Derby Countdown Blog 3
EMILY WALLIS continues her countdown to the 2023 Star Sports Greyhound Derby. The first heat is now just hours away !!! …
Welcome to my third blog …. Just look at that countdown clock above !!
⭐ We are now just hours away from the hare being sent on its way for the first heat and the #GreyhoundDerby2023 officially getting under way tonight. It’s going to be an action packed few days with 32 heats to get stuck into and enjoy and before we know it the field will be halved and we’ll know all the dogs that will be taking part in the second round!
⭐ The draw took place on Friday and it seems to have worked out well for most. The top dogs in the betting have mostly avoided each other as well as been spread out over the three evenings, every night we have the best in England and Ireland to enjoy watching and each heat is filled with class that you will not want to miss. We don’t have long to wait to see the defending champion Romeo Magico (pictured below) in just the second heat tonight, he was third in his first round heat last year proving at this stage it really is all about qualification. Also on Thursday night Swords Rex runs in the last heat, on Friday we see stars such as Clona Duke and Brookside Richie and on Saturday all eyes will be on Fromposttopillar, of course these are just naming a few of the highly fancied runners but there is serious talent coming from every trap on each of the nights.
⭐ As mentioned last week, the special markets are always another fantastic aspect of the Derby and Star Sports now have plenty to get stuck into on the website including the top Hove trained dog, the nationality of the winner, the top Droopys dog, the top bitch and more but one I found particularly interesting was the top Mark Wallis trained runner to progress the furthest! Ballymac John is deservingly favourite after impressing us in his short career so far but Newinn Ranger looks value at 7/1, he won well on debut and finished in front of some very talented dogs on his second start but has a very tricky draw inside Fromposttopillar, again qualification is key!
⭐ The market is now up for the GWA Media Tipping Challenge and favourite is defending champion Ian Fortune at 12/1, it could prove a fair price especially if we do have an Irish winner but I’m hoping I prove to be a big price at 33/1 – I am competitive and will be giving it my best shot! It will be interesting to follow and Derby tipping competitions are always great and there’s a few on social media to get involved with.
⭐ There hasn’t been any trial stakes to enjoy since my last blog but a lot of the dogs have had a spin round Towcester in trials over the weekend and anyone has been able to watch them on Towcester’s YouTube which is fantastic. Saturday saw the largest trial session with just under 60 trials taking place, quickest was Undulation in 29.32 (-30), and close behind was Romeo Command in 29.33 and Ballymac Johnjo (both -30). On Sunday before racing Paul Young’s team all went round the quickest being Bubbly Cherokee in 29.35 (-20) and after racing there was some impressive trials but the quickest by a fair way was Fromposttopillar in a very fast 28.75 (+10).
⭐ John Mullins sends out one of the largest teams of all the trainers with 10 of his dogs taking their chance in the competition, his team is headed by Signet Goofy who was a semi-finalist last year. He seemed to have been slightly underrated last year as many thought he wouldn’t stay the 500m trip but he won every round until he was just denied a place in final coming fourth in his semi-final. He’s only had a handful of races this year but won very impressively on Judgement Night at Perry Barr, a race that definitely could have been a Category 1 final and he should be ready for a good campaign this year in the Derby. You also can’t forget Mr Chelm who, when known as Kildare, led the final last year for Peter Cronin but let Romeo Magico up his inside down the back straight and had to settle for second. We perhaps haven’t seen quite the same level of form since he became Mr Chelm but this has proved to be a competition he has thrived in and will be coming on every round if he does qualify. Another member of John’s team I will be keeping an eye on is Faypoint Susie, currently 25/1 in the top bitch market, she had a nice win in Tralee before coming over to John and won a trial stake well in 29.09 on her last start.
⭐ The Derby is often a test of the trainer just as much as it is of the dogs. You need to qualify through all the rounds but you don’t want to peak too early, it can be a tough six weeks and one flat run could see a dog’s Derby dreams shattered. There’s multiple trainers this year who have been there and done it, we have been lucky enough to win it twice, Patrick Janssens achieved the ultimate goal in 2021, Kevin Hutton in 2018, Seamus Cahill in 2017, of course Graham Holland last year and Paul Hennessy certainly knows a thing or two about winning the Derby. Will we see a different trainer put their dogs name on the trophy this year? There’s every opportunity and it’s what every trainer in the sport dreams of achieving.
⭐ In terms of a standout heat it’s incredibly hard to choose just one, I said in my blog last week that everyone would want to avoid Fromposttopillar in the draw and that race is certainly filled with class. Savana Bailey in trap 1 has some nice Irish form to his name and has improved in all his trials at Towcester, Droopys Clue really made a name for himself in a puppy competition at Hove before just getting it wrong in the final but as a very young dog it would have been good experience for him and he is one of very few dogs to go under the 29 second barrier at Hove in a trial last week, Beepers Lariat impressed in a trial stake and is another one that will be improving as a young dog, Fernandes for Brendan Mathews has been trialling well at Shelbourne, Newinn Ranger is hopefully another progressive sort with a big future and then of course there is one of the ante-post favourites Fromposttopillar. It’s safe to say anyone in that race would take third place right now!
⭐ Tuesday night saw the Star Sports Greyhound Derby Preview Night take place in Star’s brand new shop on Curzon Street in Mayfair. It was a fantastic night with lots of great greyhound people, Ben Keith (pictured below) gave a brilliant welcome before the panel gave their thoughts on which dogs will go well. It really built the excitement for the Derby even more and all the different opinions on the dogs and the likely winners is another special aspect of the Derby. The dinner to go with it was delicious too!
⭐ Unfortunately since the entries closed there has been 15 withdrawals leaving us with a fair few five dog heats, perhaps the most notable withdrawal being Hopes Paddington. Although there are five dog races they are still by no means easy and all trainers will still not be taking a third place spot for granted. However, amazingly in heat 4 a qualifying spot is guaranteed with Clona Uriel being withdrawn a few days ago and Boylesports Vic withdrawn Tuesday night it is now only a three dog heat, connections will enjoy sitting back for a week knowing their greyhounds will be going to the traps in the second round.
⭐ It might be a Bank Holiday Monday (again!) but the show keeps on rolling with the second round draw which again is being broadcast live from Towcester via Star Sports https://www.starsportsbet.co.uk/draw/. Check out the draw from 1pm.
⭐ It really is going to be a fantastic few days racing hopefully blessed with some good weather, I know I can’t wait for every heat and to everyone connected with a runner, good luck!
I’ll be back next week,
EMILY WALLIS
📷 Thanks to Steve Nash Photography for feature image.
⭐ FULL RANGE OF SPECIALS & FIRST ROUND HEATS PRICED UP CLICK HERE ⭐
Ben Keith introduces #GreyhoundDerby2023
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