Derby Betting / Editor / 14 May 2009 / Leave a comment

The Derby has to dominate as The Lord weighs up the prospect of Classic success for the 48 dogs remaining in the competition. Keep reading for the eyecatchers ahead of Saturday's third round...

The Derby has to dominate as The Lord weighs up the prospect of Classic success for the 48 dogs remaining in the competition. Keep reading for the eyecatchers ahead of Saturday's third round.

There still seems to be all to play for as the Derby reaches crunch-time with a possible three runs in eight days which will sort the men from the boys, or the ladies from the girls.
Boherna Best is back in the picture after a massively improved second-round show, so too Ninja Jamie, although the last-named did get away to a rare slick exit to win his hot qualifier.
But both could feasibly win the Derby, although consistency is now the order of the day.

A cursory look through the heats last week provides the following pointers:

Greenwell River was superb in front, but is proving to be the sort whose best is shown when able to dominate.

Cabra Boss is going to be difficult to keep out of the frame, so too Barnfield Slippy. The pair keep wide and out of trouble.

Better dogs in front will put pressure on Shelbourne Aston's finish, although the Irish raider's kennelmate CASTLEHILL PAT has scope for improvement after a troubled run and preparation. The week's grace will have helped him.

Toosey Blue and Lenson Express are honest performers but the fear remains whether they have the legs to last it out in Classic competition. Both are now four years old but lack nothing in heart.

LENSON SMOOTHIE looks a nice sort with scope, who could creep under the radar, while one of the fastest dogs in training just must be Bandicoot Tipoki. But the word is well and truly out now!

Wise Thought continues to make things tough for himself by starting slowly and running wide, while Farloe Reason can be expected to come away better than he did in the second round. Does that make him a threat to Ballymac Ruso and Boherna Best in a red-hot third round heat on Saturday?

KINDA READY is beginning to look the real deal, as is Windy Millar. Of the pair, the former might just have the more scope as the least experienced of the two. But both are coming to fever pitch nicely.

JA MANN showed he could do it at both ends, being an unlucky second in the second round, as was his compatriot DROOPYS NOEL. Both are ready to step up even further.
Watch out also for FABULOUS QUEST. Win or lose in the third round, she took off in the second round late on and looks back to her enigmatic best.

All still have Fear Zafonic to beat, but the draw remains key still. There is no doubt he was beaten by a good dog in Glenard Sunrise in the second round, but he did succumb late to Dotland Hit Man. Confidence cannot be as high as it was.

Dogs to watch in the Derby third round:

CASTLEHILL PAT
LENSON SMOOTHIE
KINDA READY
JA MANN
FABULOUS QUEST