Nottingham Greyhounds Betting: National Sprint final preview

Events / Darrell Williams / 22 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

Darrell Williams looks at Monday night's Nottingham action where Jim Reynolds' wily veteran Horseshoe Ping must face down Miss Lee and Beoherduff Monti amongst others in a race that is likely to have repercussions in the Sprinter of the Year awards.

The last major race of the year, The National Sprint, reaches its climax at Nottingham this evening. While far from easy to predict the final is sure to have a bearing on the prize for Sprinter of the Year.

Sadly, although understandably on Nottingham's part, the race is scheduled too late for the betting shop service, which is a shame as it's a contest that is well worth seeing.

Those who followed us in ante-post with Horseshoe Ping could probably claim a small profit by trading out, but Jim Reynolds' veteran is certainly not out of it - though both his connections and those of Miss Lee would probably have preferred each other's draws. One of the perils of betting in sprint races, particularly high-class affairs, is that there is virtually no margin for error, and even the smallest mistake, or tiniest spot of trouble, can often all but eliminate your chance of success.

Horseshoe Ping clocked the fastest time of the year for the 300m trip just before the competition began, and despite defeat in the semi-final, has still won six of his last eight races. He will need to be on his toes to clear Miss Lee - the only unbeaten finalist - who is sure to be edging right from trap three. Undoubtedly the form runner, I originally overlooked her because, despite a series of big runs, her wins to run strike rate was moderate. In typical fashion she has responded by winning both heat and semi-final by wide margins, and has improved her time markedly in her last three starts.

However, the dog with the draw and my recommendation for those who fancy a wager tonight is Boherduff Monti. After disappointing on the worst of the ground in the heats, he bounced right back when making all to beat Horseshoe Ping in the semi-final. Those who recall my ante-post preview will remember I suggested not backing him at the time as his Nottingham record could have been better, but the key tonight is the trap one draw where he remains unbeaten in three tries. Certainly classy enough - he won a decent competition in a track record time at Yarmouth on East Anglian Derby final night - and has also scored in nine of his last 14 starts. In a competitive heat, that inside draw could just make that vital difference.

Dotland Hit Man is taken to make amends for his defeat to Giddyup Boy in the heats by claiming the supporting Guys and Dolls final (9.22), which sneaks onto the end of the SIS service tonight. Fancied to sit handy early on, Andrew Bell's runner is best known for giving Boherna Best a run for his money in the Laurels final back in October, finishing a game second to the Dog of the Year candidate, and looks the ideal greyhound for Nottingham's galloping circuit given his strong running style.