Derby Betting / Darrell Williams / 09 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Darrell Williams takes another look at the changing face of the Derby odds.

The clock is ticking just a little quicker for the start of the Greyhound Derby - it begins on April 30 - and with numerous clues emerging from Wimbledon's Racing Post Juvenile it's high time we revisited the ante post market.

Having captured the two main prizes, four-time winning trainer Charlie Lister now has the top two in the market, with Juvenile winner Fear Zafonic just shading Ninja Jamie. The former, having his first race at the track, was highly impressive in beating a top-class field, and while the arguments will rage on as to whether he ultimately needs an inside draw, you'd certainly want him on your side in any ante-post portfolio, and if you've not played yet, a saver, if nothing else, at [13.5] is advised.

Ninja Jamie was an early casualty last year, but went onto win the consolation Derby Plate, and remains relatively lightly raced. High class on his day - he won the Yarmouth Derby in a track record - the make up of the race suited him on Juvenile night, and to me others make more appeal.

I'm certainly not deserting Boherna Best - originally touted here in October along with Wise Thought - after his defeat in the Juvenile. He only just failed to get to Fear Zafonic at the bend and that on his first start since November; the three time Category One winner remains a big player at [17.0]. Wise Thought himself is unraced since winning the Eclipse four months ago, but is still remembered for clocking a fast time when winning the puppy race on last year's Derby card, and another to play at [22.0].

Ireland's big hope, at this stage anyway, College Causeway, was a shade disappointing in Ninja Jamie's race, but again it should be remembered it was his first outing since November, and Pat Buckley's strong staying sort is bound to improve. Suggested at [23.0] back in January, I wouldn't want to play at current odds of [14.5].

Ballymac Ruso's defeat on the same Wimbledon card should not be held against him as Matt Dartnall's runner will be carefully prepared to be at his peak for the Derby itself. The Irish Derby third has little mileage on the clock, and has already proved he is capable of clocking a fast time at the Plough Lane circuit.

It could also be argued that both Deanridge Fury and Jesters Nap have been under-estimated. The former, trained by one of the names for 2009 in Dean Childs - he has already secured the Golden Jacket with Lorrys Options - ran well to finish third in the Juvenile. He had previously beaten Fear Zafonic in what is turning out to be an extremely high class Manchester Puppy Cup last autumn.

Jim Daly's Jesters Nap, who won the Puppy Derby at Wimbledon last summer, clocked a calculated time only marginally slower than Fear Zafonic for the 460m trip on Juvenile night - his first outing since also contesting the Manchester Puppy Cup - and at [44.0] he's worth adding to the portfolio.