Greyhounds Betting: Can Bubbly Totti thrive outside comfort zone?

Events / Darrell Williams / 21 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

After Boherna Best's All England Cup victory put him in the driving seat for Greyhound of the Year, Leger winner Bubbly Totti bids to re-enhance his own claims in the Essex Vase, which begins at Romford this evening, writes Darrell Williams.

As trainer Ted Soppitt freely admits Bubbly Totti will be running 'out of his comfort zone' at a track his dog has never competed at before - indeed it's also a first visit for the Durham based trainer - but having excelled over both four and six bends this season, the intermediate distance of 575m is unlikely to hold any fears.

Totti's trial over the trip was satisfactory, more so given he hasn't raced since winning the Leger three weeks ago, and frighteningly for his rivals Soppitt believes he may still be improving. He's also been gifted an ideal trap six draw for tonight's first round heat (7.44) and it will be the shock of all shocks if he doesn't progress to next week's semi-finals.

Many punters will steam into the Scottish Derby runner-up at odds of [3.5] for outright glory after eight wins in his last nine outings, and it's easy to see why. But despite having successfully tipped him for Leger glory last month, I just have my doubts about his effectiveness around the tight Romford circuit and I would rather look a little deeper and play a few against the jolly.

Sussex Cup winner Droopys Carvalho may have only won a maiden stayers race over the trip back in August, but has gone on to reach two further Category One finals, finishing 3rd in the Yarmouth Derby and 4th in the All England Cup and at three times the price of 'Totti' outright makes more appeal. I'll also be disappointed if he doesn't win his first round heat at 8.40.

Like Droopys Carvalho, Mako Magic has very limited form over six bends, but made a pleasing debut over the 575m trip last week and can build on that successful transition from four to six bends. By no means unexposed - he's had over fifty races - but has a good chance of winning his heat this evening (7.58) and to me is over-priced in the outright odds.

There would be no greater story than if Romford favourite Eye On the Veto were to win the event again after running unbeaten through the Vase in both 2006 and 2007. It's not an impossible dream, although age is perhaps just beginning to catch up with Mark Wallis' veteran who has been runner-up in six of his last seven outings, but has finished out of the first three only twice in his thirty-two previous starts at the Essex track.

I'm more intrigued by the return of last year's third Vatican Jinky, who is unraced since last December. It would be some training feat by Pat Rosney to even get him to the final after such a long absence, but the former Gold Collar winner is certainly one to respect and also worthy of inclusion in the portfolio.

My final long range pick is another speculative one. Bell Tornado, who has been whipping up winning runs around Harlow after if they're going out of fashion with nine wins in his last eleven outings. His two runs at Romford back in August were only moderate, but his confidence must be sky high, and he too looks a shade big in the long lists. I'd also suggest backing him for tonight's heat at 8.12.