Betfair Official Blog

Clash of the Titans - will it happen?

Jonathan Hobbs of the Racing Post ponders the who, what, when and where of what would be the biggest race of year...

SO will they get it on? Can connections decide a date, a distance, a track - and prize-money issues?

We are, of course, talking about the mooted match between Spiridon Louis, Bubbly Kate, Head It On Jordan and, it seems, Westmead Aoifa. The latest edition of the 'The Dogs', greyhound racing's magazine programme on Sky Sports, raises the possibility of a four-way clash. It followed on from a Muttley article in the Racing Post which, in turn, followed on from a suggestion from Betfair's Steve Saward.

In most worlds, money talks and we could get it on. But there are reputations to remain intact and - in the case of Spiridon Louis especially - other targets to occupy the minds of connections, namely the St Leger and the chance of Greyhound of the Year honours.
The first-named target at Wimbledon really is an intriguing proposition and one in which he could revel. The four-round schedule will pose no problems, neither will the trip and, while he might just be tapped for speed, as the going gets tough.

Bubbly Kate's connections will be confident of reversing recent Belle Vue form with Spiridon. Paul Young's bitch was taken out of an intended engagement at Walthamstow last week with a 24-hour bug, and has been pencilled in for Belle Vue on Tuesday.

Head Iton Jordan has proved a brilliant bitch for her owners Steve and Tony Race and her handler Danny Talbot. Hugely experienced, an 'on the bunny' Head Iton Jordan is a match for all, her performance recently at Sheffield a case in point.

And what of Westmead Aoifa? When she chased home Roxholme Girl in last year's Select Stayers at Nottingham, I felt Nick Savva's bitch was the natural successor to Mark and Hayley Keightley's superstar. But she has been largely kept to six bends, with Romford's eight bends and 750m the exception.

A four-way battle would be fantastic, but where would it be held. Coventry's 880m would be ideal, but so too Walthamstow's 880m, or 835m for that matter. And what about 790m at Peterborough as a happy medium?

The bigger the race, the bigger the stage, so Wimbledon must enter the thoughts of connections, especially with it being on the Sky schedule in the coming weeks. But then, as with all the remaining Sky fixtures, agreement might have to be reached between sponsors.
Clearly, TV is important. If it's to be a lucrative occasion, and not just a race to settle any arguments, and agreement cannot be reached on track and/or sponsor on a 'Sky' night, then why not stage it as a one-off on Sky Sports News? Or as a 'ninth' race on the night from A N Other track? That way, the host sponsor is appeased, and the 'away' backer of the match gets their money's worth. And both benefit from what is likely to be one of the highest profile nights of the year.