STAR SPORTS GREYHOUND DERBY BLOG 6

STAR SPORTS GREYHOUND DERBY: In her sixth weekly countdown blog to the big race, Julie Collier has news on tickets selling well at Nottingham, new Derby format welcomed by Graham Holland, 192 the Derby limit and trials hotting up.

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➡️ With just 9 weeks to go until the Star Sports Derby starts, Nottingham have reported that tickets are selling well! In fact, as of Monday, there was just one table of 8 left in the restaurant! Admission, racecard, champagne reception and a 5 course meal is priced at £130 per person. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET ODDS

➡️ Irish trainer Graham Holland believes the new format of the Star Sports Greyhound Derby at Nottingham is a great idea saying ‘we’re delighted Nottingham have decided to drop that quick run of the Tuesday quarter-finals – it’s a good idea that makes sense on welfare grounds alone. One run a week will be be appreciated by those with better, faster dogs.’ LATEST STARSPORTS.BET ODDS

➡️ With it being confirmed that this years Star Sports Derby entries will be capped at 192, it will be interesting to see how many entries are put forward. One man with plenty of potential runners is Pat Buckley who is planning on bringing a big team over from Ireland. They include one of last years ante-post favourites Droopy’s Davy, the 2018 Derby hard luck story Bona Gin, Burgess Bucks who is a half brother to Rinsing Brandy and Tyrur Harold and an exciting March 2017 pup called Tullig Footpad. Son and Assistant Trainer Jack Buckley says ‘this team as a whole is probably one of the strongest going into a Derby we’ve had.’ The Buckley’s will again reside with June and Tony Harvey in Southampton for the duration of the Derby. I am sure the Harvey’s are ready for the craic! LATEST STARSPORTS.BET ODDS

➡️ The Irish may well be confident of their chances of pinching the Star Sports Derby trophy but the Monmore Puppy Derby is staying put, courtesy of David Mullin’s Troy Zico. Irish raider Toolmaker Me Dad went off the 4/6 favourite for trainer Robert Gleeson, but he stumbled at the start and it was the Mullins youngster at 6/1 who took control of the race by the 2nd bend. A surprise to some, but not to David who told me at Romford the night before the race that he gave him a great chance. This Puppy Derby in particular is always such a great yard stick for the year ahead and the May 2017 son of Droopys Jet and Lithuanian Paula now looks a big runner for Nottingham. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET ODDS

➡️ Trial sessions at Nottingham look set to get hotter and hotter over the next few weeks. A few notable names were having workouts on Monday night before racing with Liz McNair’s Winter Derby winner King Turbo clocking the fastest time over 500m, 29.76 and Matt Dartnall’s Rising Brandy stopping the clock over 480m at 28.52. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET ODDS

➡️ It’s not been the best of weeks for Matt Dartnall as owner Nic Jeal has decided to move his dogs. Antigua Romeo and Antigua Vows are, so far, the biggest losers in the Star Sports Derby book. Dartnall’s loss is Mark Wallis’s gain as the Antigua’s joined the Champion Trainer on Monday. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET ODDS

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LATEST VIDEOS

CRAIG MORRIS

Craig Morris, assistant trainer to Hayley Keightley with his early views on the big race.

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RICHARD HARKNESS PREVIEW

With just over 3 months to go before the Star Sports Greyhound Derby gets underway, RPGTV pundit and former Derby-winning part-owner Richard Harkness gives his early thoughts on the contenders this year and tells us who he will be backing anti-post.

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ANTIGUA ROMEO

Nic Jeal has enjoyed much success in his relatively short time as a greyhound owner. Now he has new purchase Antigua Romeo aiming to be a real contender in this years Star Sports Greyhound Derby. Here, his trainer Matt Dartnall tells us more about this May 2017 son of Romeo Recruit and why he is expecting a lot of improvement over the coming months.

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RISING BRANDY

Rising Brandy was nothing short of stunning in the 2018 Star Sports Greyhound Derby. But after winning his quarter final, connections were devastated to find the dog was lame at the pick-up with a shoulder injury that kept him off the track for six months. His trainer Matt Dartnall tells us how he is now on the road to recovery and how realistic a chance he is for the 2019 Derby.