The Stan James Blue Riband- first round preview
Tonight will see Hall Green open its gates to punters across the nation, inviting them to come witness the opening heats for the Stan James Blue Riband cup, a competition which is, arguably, the best four-bend competition to be seen so far this year.
The field of 36 taking part in six heats tonight should create for some exciting races, but one dog in particular to keep an eye on is Eye Onthe Storm (7-2 favourite). The Mark Wallis-trained dog has a magnificent record and is also the current track record holder at Hall Green’s 480m. Storm will definitely be out to bag his first major competition of the year, and not to mention the £7000 first prize.
Heat one - 20:05
The ante-post markets have suggested Dalcash Scolari stands a strong chance to be first in clearing the mark tonight. Scolari is 2-1 favourite, generous odds in my opinion seeing he had a great run last week at Doncaster, defeating Fear Zafonic by more than seven lengths. He would have to be my recommended banker for the day.
T1 - Hidden Sky, T2 - Romeo Impact, T3 - Dalcash Scolari, T4 – Lodgeview, T5 - Clonee Express, T6 - Freedom Emma.
Heat two - 20:20
Jogadusc Ace and Sleeping Urban are joint-favourites at 3-1 for heat two. The occasion will mark the first major competition of the year for Wallis’s Ace, although he has been running at Sittingbourne and Wimbledon and will be ready to sprint once the traps are released.
Sleeping Urban took The Hall Green Maiden Trophy last year, clocking a time of 29.17secs, recently he has been slightly off form, which tempts me quite a bit to place a lay bet down on him tonight.
T1- Sleeping Urban, T2 - Jogadusc Ace, T3 - Moneygail Obama, T4 - Farloe Reason, T5 - Romeo Active, T6 - Karma Obama.
Heat three - 20:35
Westmead Osprey (16-8) is the current favourite against the field in heat three, Osprey’s last race was at Sheffield across 500m, where he clocked 29.28secs to take second. Wallis’s Eye Eye Pickle (5-2) and the return of Head Iton Ellis and Lenson Bolt should create for an exciting race.
T1 - Eye Eye Pickle, T2 - Head Iton Ellis, T3 - Westmead Osprey, T4 – Bosscroker, T5 - Lenson Bolt, T6 - Boomtown Princess.
Heat four - 20:50
Greyhound of the year Fear Zafonic (6-4) is a clear favourite in heat four, will be up against kennelmate Bandicoot Tipoki (7-4). The Charlier Lister duo should qualify through to the next round with ease, although you never know on the occasion, we all know what happened to ante-post favourite Jordansoilution in the opener of the Bettor.com Scottish Derby.
T1- Barnfield Rocky, T2. Fear Zafonic, T3- Bandicoot Tipoki, T4- Not Now Bertie, T5- All That Noise, T6 - Klockwork Kyla.
Heat five - 21:05
Gilbeyhall Jake (9-4) is the favourite to cross the mark, his last race saw him represent trainer Seamus Cahill in the Betfair Trainers’ Championship, a race in which the likes of Fear Zafonic and Dalcash Scolari were present and could only take third in 29.90secs. Jake has never run on the track at Hall Green before and my tip would be to lay him.
T1 - Coolavanny Rock, T2 - Sparklee Bernie, T3 - Gilbeyhall Jake, T4 - Frisby Fontenblu, T5 - Greenacre Josh, T6 - Carden Bert.
Heat six - 21:20
They always say save the best till last, and the night should showcase exactly that. Eye Onthe Storm (4-9) will be making a trap one start and you should expect to see him qualify with ease. I would be very surprised to see him not make it through to the next round.
T1 - Eye Onthe Storm, T2 - Wombourne Jack, T3 - Ballymac Ace, T4 - Roo Come On, T5 - Foulden Vieri, T6 - Driving Up Ben
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