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A very brief respite for Darrell: Scottish Derby 2008 Antepost Betting

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Darrell Williams looks back at a hectic period in Greyhound Racing and looks forward to a quiet few days. But he hasn't out his feet up just yet. Here's a look forward to March's highlights.

After the double whammy of two major finals, the Golden Jacket - Shelbourne Merc doing his bit for this column - and the Arc in the past week, things quiet down, well for a few days anyway.

Next week sees the start of the Midland Puppy Derby, undoubtedly the best long term guide of all the puppy events, although quite how the other youngsters are going to stop Ballymac Under, now 9/9 and being a May 2006 whelp still eligible for this race, despite his exploits in the Birmingham Cup and Racing Post Juvenile, remains to be seen.

Looking further ahead, the Pall Mall at Oxford starts on Thursday week (13th March), while the Betfair sponsored Trainers Championship, live on Sky Sports, is set for Tuesday 18th March. Last year Charlie Lister just saw off Mark Wallis but only after Zigzag Dutchy secured him the final leg after 2006 winner Wallis had kept the competition live after matching Lister's three early winners.

Lister is odds on in the early betting to gain his third Championship in four years, with John Mullins just ahead of Mark Wallis next in the list. More on all those major events as we get to them, along with the Scottish Derby, which thanks to a late rescue package will thankfully now be staged after all this April. Scotland's premier race has of course long been a target of Barnfield On Air, the first leg of which connections hope will be a serious attempt at the 'impossible' Derby treble.

The decision to bypass the Arc with last year's multiple big race winner was an interesting one, but with plans to hit Shawfield, Wimbledon and Shelbourne firmly mapped out, perhaps an understandable one. Instead Sam Poots' winter Derby favourite will go to Scotland via a race at Hove on Good Friday, the venue where he so impressively broke the track record in the Sussex Cup final last summer.

Despite a defeat at Monmore on his return last weekend, Barnfield on Air has since posted a fast trial at the Sussex track and is undoubtedly the one to beat in Scotland. With connections of early odds second favourite Ballymac Under- already committed to Monmore - suggesting he is unlikely to have too many races before the (English) Derby, I'd have my doubts about his participation at Shawfield, which means 'Barny' is probably worth backing now.

One dog who will be coming to Scotland is 2007 Derby runner-up Loyal Honcho, currently engaged in the Tote Gold Cup at Shelbourne. His first round run there confirmed he retains all of his old ability despite missing most of the second half of last year and a return to Wimbledon is again on the cards. Indeed, I stand by my suggestion over Christmas that he is very much one for any Derby ante post portfolio, and I'd also suggest a small interest in the Scottish Derby as well.

Charlie Lister, who has won an amazing four of the last five Scottish Derbies, has Ninja Jamie and Farloe Reason as possible runners, but those looking for a longshot might consider Julie Bateson's Gorton Cup winner Blenheim Dubh. Unbeaten in five starts since moving from Ireland, Shawfield has been his long term target and it's worth remembering that Bateson sent out Kylegrove Top to reach the final last year.