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Ante-post options abound in latest greyhound betting

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Darrell Williams runs through the forthcoming punting opportunities...

After Directors Chair's narrowest of defeats in the Prestige final at Hall Green on Tuesday night denied us an ante post winner, all eyes turn to sister Birmingham track Perry Barr for the semi-finals of the Birmingham Cup.

Naturally most of the focus tonight will again be on Ballymac Under, who is now amazingly disputing Derby favourtism with Barnfield On Air. Matt Dartnall's new 'wonder dog' was hardly fazed by taking on all aged company in last weekend's heats, clocking the fastest time of the night when slamming his rivals by eight lengths. He has again been rewarded with a trap one draw tonight where he looks a shoo in, albeit at very short odds.

As I said last week while some were reluctant to back him ante-post at around [3.5], I had little hesitation in getting involved, and that price now looks very attractive.

Farloe Hurricane, the closest in the betting to the favourite, gets my vote to win the second semi-final, even allowing for a line-up that includes in effect the next five in the ante-post market. It's also a race jam-packed with early-paced sorts, but I fancy Barrie Draper's runner will be the speed of the speed and after an excellent win on his comeback in the heats and is taken to score again.

The third semi looks by far the weakest and could be a good trading race for an ante-post interest. Lively Arthur looks well drawn, but would need to improve quite a bit on his heat clock, and I fancy it lies between Stormy Scholes, trained by the very shrewd Harry Williams, who may just shade Last Mohican. That said, the latter looks attractively priced, and ran a stormer in his first round for relatively unknown handler Dougie Butler and is probably therefore being under-estimated.

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Romford's Coronation Cup has dished out shock after shock, but Friday's final should restore a degree of normality if, as expected, Genesis Dream can oblige for Mark Wallis, whose kennel star Eye Onthe Veto was one of those eliminated in the last round. I fancy the ideally drawn trap one runner to gain first run and given that Venturemore aside, the race is lacking in off the pace sorts, an early lead should suffice.

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Wimbledon, shortly to stage the Springbok, offers a number of clues with four trial stakes for the event on Saturday, with early favourite Kilgraney Agassi amongst those in action. Seamus Cahill, who has a strong team preparing for the novice hurdle event, will be looking for an improvement in the jumping stakes from his charge, who is certainly more than quick enough to rate a major player. Kennelmate Hotdog Jack, however looks more appealing at this stage, and can also enhance his claims on the same card.