Scottish Derby Betting: Heavy rain raises some interesting questions

Events / Jonathan Hobbs / 06 April 2008 / Leave a Comment

The Racing Post's Jonathan Hobbs on testing times for Barnfield and his likely challengers

It must have been racing manager William Reid's worst nightmare. Not long in the hot-seat at Shawfield, he has his first Scottish Derby to oversee, a new sponsor puts up a £1m bonus for the 'triple crown' of Derbys successes, and the young Scot wants the best conditions for the Classic contenders to strut their stuff.

Work on the surface, finishing touches only, is carried out on the track in the days leading up to Tuesday's first round, and then the heavens open. And it rains, and rains, and rains. The track now looks like Glastonbury after the festival and everyone faces a dilemma. Race, or not to race.

Three heats are run before the action is halted on veterinary advice. Opinion is divided as to whether it should have started in the first place, or once started should the first round have been completed on the same night? Whether yes or no is immaterial now, it's about getting the seemingly jinxed event back on track.

My original reservation about the four runs in 12 days schedule being too much now looks positively easy, and it's about toughing it out. The strongest will come through and Barnfield On Air's aspirations of the 'impossible treble' is hanging by a thread if connections' immediate post-race comments about their star being absolutely exhausted are heeded.

Ahead of Sunday's second round (the semis are on Wednesday, the Sky final on Saturday), if you had to choose any greyhound who might, just might stand a chance of scoring a Scottish and then English Derby win, it would either be Loyal Honcho or Bubbly Totti, who look to be revelling at Shawfield.

Bubbly Totti ran on the best of the going admittedly, in Barnfield On Air's heat, but Shawfield suits, while the touch of class that last year's English Derby runner-up Loyal Honcho has saw him come through Thursday's re-arranged heat. Both can win their second-round heats on Sunday afternoon.

Conditions are now much favourable, judged on the times clocked on Thursday and the 'poker' game that trainers faced on Wednesday, whether to stick or fold their Scottish Derby interest (Lister, Dartnall and Mullins all withdrew), will hopefully soon be put behind us. Having said that, watch the weather this weekend!

Elsewhere, momentum is picking up towards the English Derby with a number of high-profile trialists this week. Reigning champion Westmead Lord had a sprint workout at Hall Green this week as he continues his comeback, while, from Ireland, the Frazer Black trio of Droopys Robinho, Farloe Black and Forest Scholes are all back for more.

Although Forest Scholes eventually finished third to the Lord, it was Droopys Robinho who was one of the unlucky dogs of the Derby last year and his progress in trials is watched with interest. Keep an eye out for the Irish Puppy Derby runner-up Kryptonite, who, along with Irish Derby champion Tyrur Rhino, is with Charlie Lister.

It means Lister has once again the most amazing team to tackle Wimbledon again. He would love to retrieve the trophy from Nick Savva after the latter's three-year dominance and with Farloe Reason and Ninja Jamie, not to mention Rossacredibility, 'supporting'
the ex-Irish pair, the Newark maestro has aces aplenty up his sleeve.