Williamhill.com Greyhound Derby first round
Heat One
The opening race of this year’s Derby sees two dogs that met in the Blue Riband at Hall Green earlier in the year pitted against one another. EYE EYE PICKLE, trained by champion trainer Mark Wallis held Lenson Bolt by five lengths that day, but the selection ran a slower split and profited from Lenson Bolt finding trouble in running. However, Lenson Bolt has an unfavourable draw this time around and should qualify but will find it hard to stay with Eye Eye Pickle down the back straight. Swift Planet ran a storming trial round Hall Green three weeks ago and his profile suggests he is improving with every race; he may be able to split the two high profile runners.
Bettor.com prediction – 1 + 3 + 5
Heat Two
Scottish Derby finalist Westmead Bond lines up for Nick Savva but despite making the Shawfield final, where he was beaten by 11 lengths, never really performed to the standard that the achievement suggests. It could prove profitable to side with BEAD THE BISCIUT (nap), who ran very well on his first outings at Plough Lane, clocking an average of 28.80secs in his two trial races. Slick Robert, who is unbeaten in four starts, also should go well for Irish raider Pat Buckley.
Bettor.com prediction – 5 + 3 + 2
Heat Three
Personally, getting involved with odds-on favourites is something that doesn’t appeal, but if there was ever a short-priced favourite to side with FAYPOINT MAN (nb) fits the bill. The selection has a Causeway Cup final and Irish Derby final to his name, meaning he is on a different level of form to any of his rivals in this heat. This will be his first open race around Wimbledon, but his trial suggests that he will take to the track well, clocking 28.54secs, which puts him six or seven lengths ahead of the field. Usually doubts surrounding odds on favourites centre on the trap start, but Pat Buckley’s charge has been slow away only once from 24 races, which scuppers any thoughts of him fluffing his lines.
Bettor.com prediction – 3 +2 + 4
Heat Four
A couple of interesting runners line up in heat four, with preference going to ARCHATON PINE over Droopys Bradley, however the latter may be the one to side with later in the competition. Droopys Bradley possesses a huge amount of the attributes that you look for in a Derby contender – early pace, an unexposed profile and has the scope to improve with every race. At 80-1 he looks like a fantastic proposition in the back-to-lay market, although this race may come too soon for him as he bumps into the selection who won the Gold Collar final last year. He’s been given a dodgy draw but should outpace the slow-starting five dog to be in command down the back straight.
Bettor.com prediction – 6 + 4 + 2
Heat Five
Probably the most competitive heat of the night despite only five runners, with feasible arguments made for all the runners bar Fortune Kingdom. The verdict goes to BOSSCROKER, who comes here on the back of a surprisingly successful Blue Ribbon campaign where he only narrowly missed out on a final spot.
Bettor.com prediction – 5 + 1
Heat Six
Carly Philpott will be looking for Shams Star to continue his lightning trap starts in heat six, but may lack the stamina to see off the in-form WESTMEAD SCOLARI for Nick Savva. Scolari ran a creditable third in the Scottish Derby and has been given a great draw in trap five inside the slow-starting Romeo Maldini. The three aforementioned dogs should have too much in the locker for their rivals and this looks a great opportunity to chance your arm at some combination forecasts and tricasts.
Bettor.com prediction – 6 + 1 + 5
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