Events / Darrell Williams / 17 September 2009 / Leave a comment

Whatever the outcome of tonight's Betfair East Anglian Derby semi-finals, next Tuesday's live Sky Sports televised final looks set to be an absolute cracker, writes Darrell Williams.

"By virtue of his trap one berth Jogadusc Ace might just be able to get away early on, and given the likely more attractive odds he gets the marginal vote over Farloe Reason."

Think of the Yarmouth based Derby and for most people that means Charlie Lister, whose victory with Ninja Jamie last season was remarkably his ninth in the competition, and the Newark based maestro isn't ready to call it a day just yet.

Lister fields no fewer than three semi-finalists while Champion trainer Mark Wallis is also trebly represented. Add in runners for last March's fellow Betfair Trainers Championship contenders Seamus Cahill (two), John Mullins and Barrie Draper, plus David Pruhs and Liz Mc Nair, and you can understand why this is one of the most competitive events of the entire year.

Lister's Farloe Reason was my original ante post choice and despite his defeat in the second round to Jogadusc Ace he remains a major player. The pair meet again in the first semi-final (9:45) and while Jogadusc Ace is again drawn on the inside of his rival, trap two is a far more effective draw for the Lister runner. Splitting the two, however, is far from easy, but by virtue of his trap one berth Jogadusc Ace might just be able to get away early on, and given the likely more attractive odds he gets the marginal vote.

If you're looking to bolster your ante post portfolio, especially from a trading perspective, the Sunderland Classic winner is also markedly over-priced. For those who can't split the pair, the other argument would be to back Droopys Bogart, who has a peach of a draw outside railer Eye Eye Pickle, and with only two wides (and one middle) left in should be well treated if he can qualify. It's certainly a reasonable assessment, although he has twice failed to beat Glenroe Ginger and given his wide tendencies I just wonder if he is absolutely at home here.

Glenroe Ginger himself has really taken to this track, which has surprised even his trainer Barrie Draper a little given his previous best form was over far sharper trips. Nevertheless it's hard to fault the Golden Sprint winner on the evidence of his two wins so far and I see no reason why he can't go in again in the second semi-final (10.0), even with Fear Zafonic on his immediate outside.

Draper's dog is certainly staying a lot better, and while Fear Zafonic did nothing wrong in the first round, he's denied the red jacket here, and this might be the time to take him on. Carden Bert, while maybe not quite 'chucked in' like Droopys Bogart in the first semi, is still berthed to run his race on the outside and is a viable alternative at a bigger price. Seamus Cahill's charge ran well in the Kent Derby after Lenson Bolt got first run and is another potentially over-priced ante-post for trading purposes.

Tags: Betfair East Anglian Derby, Darrell Williams, Farloe Reason, Greyhounds tips, Greyounds odds, Jogadusc Ace, Yarmouth Greyhounds track