English Greyhound Derby first round - Thursday results
Wimbledon welcomed all greyhound racing fanatics across the radar on Thursday night to come and witness the opening round to one of the most anticipated events on the calendar, an event which some claim to be even better then Christmas. Yes indeed, it’s none other than this year’s English Derby.
Williamhill.com are the proud sponsors of this year’s Derby, and while the competition prize may have been reduced to £75,000, that still remains a hefty pay-packet for the lucky greyhound's connections.
The Derby also sees the start of the Williamhill.com trilogy series which will provide the winner a chance to win a further £25,000 bonus if landing a victory at the William Hill Classic at Sunderland, while a further £50,000 will be applied if the winner goes on to produce a treble, winning The William Hill All England Cup at Newcastle.
Heat 1 – 19:46
Eye Eye Pickle (28.48)
Swift Planet (28.78)
Lenson Bolt (29.37)
Champion trainer Mark Wallis’s Eye Eye Pickle made all, flying out of trap one, moving wide early and was never threatened at any stage. Dean Child’s Swift Planet held second throughout the opener. Tony Collett’s Lenson Bolt looked in danger of elimination after being baulked wide at the first bend but battled on to steal the last qualification spot.
Heat 2 – 20:02
Westmead Bond (28.38)
Deanridge Imp (28.90)
Slick Robert (29.31)
Legendary trainer Nick Savva, who has won the Derby on four occasions, was represented by Westmead Bond in heat two, which was pretty similar to heat one, Bond pinging to make all from trap two. Deanridge Imp was second up, also giving trainer Childs his second qualifier. Irish raider Pat Buckley’s Slick Robert caused a delay to the race when it was discovered he was wearing a jacket with a prohibited logo and this had to be removed. He was crowded on the run up but managed to qualify.
Heat 3 – 20:18
Loyal Rebel (28.61)
Faypoint Man (28.68)
Blonde Banjo (28.98)
Loyal Rebel trapped well and had no problems in crossing the mark, whilst Faypoint Man started slowly due to crowding but came with a strong run to take second for Buckley. Blonde Banjo was second to half-way, and took third to give Wallis his second qualifier.
Heat 4 – 20:34
Archaton Pine (28.80)
Tranquil Time (29.45)
(only first two qualified)
This race was always looking to get messy with all unseeded runners. Archaton Pine showed the best pace up from trap six and took first, whilst the field all bunched early with Paul Hennesy’s Tranquil Time emerging second, and favourite Droppys Bradley, who started slowly and could not make up the time and only managed to take third in a race which only qualifies two, unlucky.
Heat 5 – 20:51
Bubby Totti (28.86)
Bosscroker (28.96)
(only first two qualified)
Heat five would also only see two qualify, but was a race of five runners, a race won off the back, and in tremendous last to first fashion by old timer Bubbly Totti. Bosscroker gave Chris Allsopp his first qualifier taking second. Early leader Monleek Cowboy was destined not to survive and could only finish third.
Heat 6 – 21:09
Westmead Scolari (28.82)
Glynscross Mal (28.87)
(only first two qualified)
Westmead Scolari provided another victory from the back end, slow away from trap five, this suited the side runner who made up for lost time and took first by half a length. Glynscross Mal had pinged but was beaten for pace by Shams Star who was clear down the back before tiring badly. Mal found himself back in front to take second.
Heat 7 – 21:25
Bandicoot Tipoki (28.26)
Astral Bound (28.84)
Honey Trampas (28.89)
Charlie Lister hasn’t been having the best start to the year, but we all know he's capable of producing Derby champions, already having won four and missing out by three spots last year in the form of Fear Zafonic. Bandicoot Tipoki was the first to represent him and blew away from trap three to set the new track record of 28.26secs to take first.
Astral Bound turned and stayed second. Honey Trampas needs to sharpen his trapping, but survives, going into the next round.
Heat 8 – 21:42
Yahoo Jamie (28.55)
Moneygall Obama (28.94)
Rainham Giles (29.15)
Yahoo Jamie gifted Lister with his second victory, trapping and racing to a fastest sectional so far with 4.72sec. He moved to the middle from trap six and was a comfortable near-five lengths winner.
Moneygall Obama and Rainham Giles go through.
Heat 9 – 21:58
Droopys Joe (28.65)
Judicial Pause (28.75)
(only first two qualified)
Droopys Joe trapped the slowest but battled to the front down the long run in beating Judicial Pause by just over a length (28.65sec). Judicial Pause flew out of trap two and settled for second, holding off Stemart Knut.
Heat 10 – 22:14
Krug Ninety Five (28.72)
Sevenheads Bay (28.87)
Barnfield Rocky (28.98)
Heat ten provided a big blow for the sport and disaster for the Imperial Kennels as it put ante-post favourite Eye Onthe Storm’s racing career to an end. His vet reported part of the bone had shattered like glass. But the dog is comfortable and in good hands. The Greyhound Derby gets moments like this, but life goes on, as did the race, which saw Krug Ninety Five take first, Stevenheads Bay take third and Barnfield Rocky who originally had the lead to take third.
Heat 11 – 22:30
Broadstrand Bill (28.83)
Fear The Blue (28.86)
Deanridge Ammo (29.04)
Broadstrand Bill trapped reasonably well and was gifted with early crowding on the field which provided him with all the room in the world to take advantage to finish first. Seamus Cahill’s Fear The Blue ran on well to be only beaten by a neck, whilst Deanridge Ammo took third.
Second round draw is noon Sunday. Seeding changes can be made up to and including the third round draw. The second round is next Friday and Saturday.
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