Greyhound Betting: Six bend Cesarswitch Final Preview

Events / Darrell Williams / 09 June 2008 / Leave a Comment

Sky cameras head to Oxford on Tuesday evening for the Cesarewitch final over six bends, the feature race on the usual eight race televised programme.

Having recommended Lenson Joker before last week's semi-finals as the one to be on, we're in a healthy position with Tony Collett's runner now clear favourite.

If you haven't played so far, last year's St Leger runner-up and Racing Post Stayers winner still remains the dog to beat, having accounted for rival Directors Chair in that semi-final. The pair have met seven times with the score 4-3 in Joker's favour, but perhaps most importantly the selection has had the measure of his old adversary in both of the big races highlighted above, with Mark Wallis' dog runner-up at Walthamstow and only fourth in the Leger final.

Even though Directors Chair might again get first run, I believe Lenson Joker is still improving for the return to six bends, having run so well to reach the Derby quarter-finals, and is a confident choice to again claim the spoils. Of the others, Primitive Way, is undoubtedly as quick as any on his day, having set new figures for the 645m trip back in March, but has failed to follow up that initial success when racing beyond 600m and has been runner-up in his five subsequent distance starts.

Considering the number of on going competitions, Oxford have done pretty well to put on a decent enough card, with some fair betting heats. I particularly like Ballymac Rita in the 595m race at 9.10 for Walthamstow based Stacey Baggs. Fifth in the Juvenile earlier in the year, she has been in decent form around Hove recently and looks well drawn to sit handy over this intermediate distance. While a trial would have helped, she should reverse Peterborough form with now veteran Kooga Kid who still appears below last year's peak form.
I'll also put up Boherduff Monti in the sprint [8.0], who has done little wrong of late with three wins in four sprints since early May. Although a draw closer to the fence would have been ideal, he has won from even wider than four in the past, and can account for National sprint runner-up Jetharts Here, who has been below form this spring, and is also without a run since late April.

The other six bend race at 8.35 looks useful, with Aero Blackjack sure to be all the rage as usual. The recent Walthamstow Test winner could easily make it seven wins from eleven starts from his sole seeded draw, but he's been turned over in last two outings and has not been round Oxford before. With that in mind, I prefer Sherries Boy, runner-up to 'Blackjack' in the Test, but more significantly a semi-finalist in the Ces. Admittedly his strike rate could be better, but Tony Collett's runner was also fourth in the Regency and is certainly in fine fettle.

TV Trophy hopeful Vatican Iona should win the marathon [8.50], but after a couple of odds on beatings I'd rather take her on at the likely prices, with Vieris Surprise and Come on Larky as potential party spoilers.