Julie Collier Blog 2: #GreyhoundDerby2022
Is it me, or is it all happening now in the build-up to the Greyhound Derby?
Dogs flying round left, right and centre, Derby contenders winning big competitions, a few coming through who could be anything and the RPGTV Juvenile ahead of us on Sunday which could definitely throw up some clues. I’m also, genuinely, feeling very positive about the chances of the UK runners and I think this blog will show why. I have taken the 6/4 Lofty has put up for a UK-trained winner. An Irish trained winner is 1/2.
πΆ This week I filmed the first of eight kennel features we will be doing at Star Sports ahead of the Derby. Richard Rees has a nice team of dogs headed by Winter Derby champion, Burnchurch Mick. Having recently moved kennels ‘back home’ to Reigate, Richard’s dogs are well settled and he and his son Charlie were excited about the next few months. Hear what they have to say next Wednesday on Star Sports content page: https://www.starsportsbet.co.uk/category/greyhoundderby2022/
πΆ My travels also took me to the kennels of Paul Young this week ahead of his Bubbly Apache lining up in the RPGTV Juvenile on Sunday afternoon. He will be the likely favourite and I have to say, all the kennel, dogs and trainer, were in terrific form! Apache has clocked a 29.05sec round Towcester which I think even surprised connections who are very confident about their Nottingham Puppy Cup winner, ahead of Sunday’s big race. Paul and Steve Fluin (head of the Champagne club syndicate who own the dog) are totally unfazed by the ‘hoodoo’ that no dog has ever won the Juvenile and followed it up with the Derby title, with Youngy telling me, those things always get broken! He’s not wrong. I don’ think Apache winning Sunday will make Lofty any less concerned about his ante-post book having just laid the dog to lose a five-figure sum from one single bet at 33/1.
πΆ Money has also come in for Coolavanny Shado after his 15.53sec sprint trial at Towcester. Those of you who listened to Star Sports first Derby Zoom Room last week, will have heard trainer Patrick Janssen’s explain that Thorn Falcon would still be his first pick for the Derby given he has proven himself at Towcester. That said, there is no doubting Shado’s pace and he now heads the betting at 16/1.
πΆ Jaguar Macie has continued her excellent return from injury sustained in the Oaks last year with a brilliant win in an Arc Northern Flat trial stakes over 480m at Newcastle. Graham Rankin’s bitch broke her hock after winning the Monmore and Northern Puppy Derby as well as the Angel of the North last year. Prior to this outing, she was runner-up to Burnchurch Mick in the Winter Derby. To come back at that level is an amazing achievement and a surprise one for Rankin who truly thought Macie’s career was over. I wonder if the story will continue at Towcester…
πΆ I was in the RPGTV studio with analyst Joe Conneely last week and he tells me that Candyman is ‘absolutely bouncing’. He has put his money where his mouth is and had a bet at 100/1. I’m pleased to tell you that Joe will also be joining myself and Lofty at the Star Sports Derby preview night in Mayfair in May 12th alongside Ian Fortune and Rab McNair! What a night that is going to be. Fair play to Ben Keith – he does things properly and is a huge champion of the sport.
πΆ Chatting to Mark Wallis this week, he is setting his bar high. His aim? To go one better than his good friend and rival Patrick Janssen’s did last year and get the 1-2-3 in the Star Sports Derby final! He has a team of four or five dogs headed by Antigua Storm who is currently a 50/1 chance.
πΆ Kevin Hutton is another trainer with a good team for Towcester and he must be feeling excited at the prospect of taking dogs out of his pet bitch and Irish Oaks winner, Forest Natalee, to the Derby. Signet Denver is just a Jan ’20 pup by Magical Bale and is currently 40/1. Litter brother Signet Otis has already been runner-up in the Blue Riband and won the BGBF British Breeders final this year and is 50/1, as is Signet Ace, a dog out of Natalee’s litter to Laughil Blake and the reigning Eclipse champion. He has been continuing his comeback from injury this week on Kevin’s gallop. Natalee is also in pup again to Droopys Sydney!! Hang on…I feel a kennel trip coming on!
πΆ The Buckley kennel are starting to firm up their plans for the 2022 Derby, albeit with a close eye on what happens in the Kirby. Emma Buckley confirmed that Irish Derby runner-up, Singalong Sally will come to Towcester, despite the competition clashing with the Irish Oaks this year. Her English owner, Gilbert Anderson is keen to see her take her chance in the Derby. Ballinabola Ed should also be on the van. He was mightily impressive winning in the first round of the Kirby at Limerick at the weekend, obliging by five and a half lengths. His 28.23sec winning time was just one spot quicker than Buckley’s homebred Glengar Scholar, who won by a mere ten and a half lengths! Things didn’t go to plan for Bobsleigh Dream in that race but she beat Explosive Boy at Tralee on March 10th and will also be given her chance.
πΆ Keep an eye out for the Star Sports Derby trial stakes in Ireland, both of which will hopefully be live on RPGTV. The first at Shelbourne on their 600 finals night and the next at Limerick to run alongside the Kirby, again, hopefully on final night. We wait for confirmation on that but can confirm trial stakes will run at Towcester on Friday nights and Sunday afternoon’s from April the 8th and there will be additional regular trials throughout April and early May for dogs that need a look round.
πΆ The aim is that Derby final night at Towcester will be bigger and better than last year. Entertainment already confirmed includes mirror men, stilt walkers, animatronic animals, living statues, a photo booth, face painting plus music from the Barn-ettes, an ABBA tribute plus a disco and karaoke towards the end of the evening. Entertainment will run from 3pm to 1am and tickets are on sale at just Β£30 (15-17-year-olds Β£7.50, under 14’s are free.) Fine dining hospitality packages start from Β£150 per adult.
πΆ Confirmation came this week too that the draw for the first round will be streamed live on the Star Sports website from the GBGB offices at 2pm on May 12th. Put it in your diary!! It will be here before we know it and it’s all shaping up nicely.
JULIE COLLIER
#GreyhoundDerby2022