Derby Betting / Darrell Williams / 18 May 2009 / Leave a comment

Darrell Williams is highly excited by the Derby quarters where the 9.20 heat catches the eye.

No, you haven't been asleep for a fortnight, and the 9.20 race at Wimbledon on Tuesday night is NOT the Greyhound Derby final - but it could have been!

Announcing the draw live as it happened on Saturday night, I foolishly remarked that none of Charlie Lister's runners had come out after recapping the runners for the second quarter-final - only for all three to come out together, followed by the Irish Derby winner and third, and for good measure, the Shawfield track record holder!

It is, without argument, a race worthy of being the final. But where do you start in terms of finding the winner?

Lister's magic touch at getting them to trap when it matters was in evidence at Wimbledon on Saturday night, and while it took me until an hour or so before the race to realise it, I did believe he'd get Fear Zafonic out. While trainers regularly declare that they're happy just to keep their dogs qualifying, it's something that Lister can't afford to do with his number one hope, which I why I believe Fear Zafonic will again come out firing and win as hard a Derby heat as you'll see outside of a final.

It won't be easy, of course, for a start he'll need to clear kennelmates Farloe Reason and Bandicoot Tipoki, both winners themselves in the third round - the latter showing far more early toe than he had done in the preceding rounds.

Ballymac Ruso, on paper with the worst of the draw in trap five, might not actually be that badly off, as he should head Shelbourne Aston on the run up, and were the Lister runners to clash, he'd be in pole position to take advantage. Greenwell River needs a flier; although that's something he's certainly capable of producing.

By contrast, the other quarter-finals look far less taxing, with Wise Thought (8.45) finally drawn in trap six, looking right back on target for outright victory after the buckle of the competition so far when beating Windy Millar on Saturday night. That could turn out to be the form clue of the event, and with Deanridge Fury - who ran a stormer to qualify the other night - likely to cut inside, Martin White's runner can have the freedom of the outside lane. Ja Mann ran the race many knew he had in him on Saturday and if he sticks to the fence could prove the biggest danger with Love Mac sure to edge middle on the run up.

Windy Millar, despite that first defeat in the competition, remains a major player, and should clear his neighbours to gain control of the first bend in the 9.40. If anything,

Pat Rosney's charge gained futher admiration for his battling qualities the other night, and I'd expect him to prove to be too good for Glenard Sunrise, who may not be ideally suited to a trap one draw.

Cabra Boss did his best to stick close to Fear Zafonic, eventually being beaten only a length, and despite the loss of his favoured striped jacket, I still believe he'll prove too good for his rivals in the 9.05 heat where litter sister Cabra Fly might prove the biggest danger. Chris Allsopp's bitch can poach an early advantage on the inside of slower starting Kinda Ready, even though I think she's better from just off the fence, but may ultimately have to give second best.