Springbok Betting: How to spot a winner in this unique competition

Events / Darrell Williams / 20 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

The trials begin tonight for this one-off greyhound hurdling event so let Darrell Williams talk you through the early contenders.

Few competitions are as eagerly awaited as the Springbok, something of a one-off in that it is restricted to novice hurdlers. While the event, staged at Wimbledon, doesn't begin until Saturday week (31st January), climaxing in a live Sky Sports screened final on Tuesday 10th February, tonight's batch of trial stakes should offer plenty of clues as regards the likely destination of the eventual prize.

Part of the excitement of the Springbok is simply down to the nature of its conditions. Restricted to greyhounds that haven't won a hurdle race prior to the turn of the previous year, understandably its participants, certainly in the trials and trial races anyway leading up to the first round, display varying degrees of ability over the flights.

For some trainers preparing a potential Springbok winner can start as early as the summer of the previous year. Unearthing a future winner, apart from the ability to jump quickly and fluently, a certain level of class on the flat, plus ideally a degree of early pace are the other ingredients to look for.

While Racing Managers are often faced with an almost impossible task in sorting out which entries to accept in other races, the Springbok is unique in that those accepted into the six first round heats are the 36 dogs who have clocked the fastest time over the 460m trip.

As regards this year's renewal, trainer Maxine Locke, successful with Farloe Chinook five years ago, appears to have an exceptionally strong hand with Little Boy and Love Mac both holding realistic chances of outright success.

Of the pair, Little Boy appears the superior, certainly if judged on his fast three dog trial victory last week, when dipping under the magical 2800 mark. That was a marked improvement on his earlier Wimbledon trial when he clouted the two flights down the far side, and if reproducing that effort he will be very hard to beat with a clear run from trap two tonight (8.45).

However, like all of his rivals, that contest will be his first actual race over hurdles, and while he has been well schooled, the ex-Open race flat winner over both four and six bends, will have little margin for error.

The equally well thought of Nebuchadnezzar, drawn in trap one, will certainly be there to take advantage if he falters. Lorraine Sams' runner, who was fourth in last season's Puppy Classic on the level, has also been the subject of upbeat reports, although whether he is progressing as quickly as his rival is open to debate.

Locke's other big hope Love Mac, a Derby quarter-finalist last season, faces a seemingly easier task in the 8.30. Like his kennelmate he showed marked improvement in his most recent trial last Wednesday. Considering he took a tumble in a Romford trial just before the New Year, his progress is all the more impressive, and his early speed is as good as any in the competition.

While a reversal of his draw with trap one runner Mall Byte - also handled by Lorraine Sams - and who was on the back of a six length beating in last week's trial, would have been preferred, the end result is still expected to be the same.

The remaining trial stakes (8.15) looks considerably weaker, but could also fall to the Locke camp with Love Mac's litter brother Love Lynx taken to set up a potential treble for the Romford-based handler. While not improving anywhere near as quickly as his kennelmates, he was nevertheless an easy winner of his latest trial and looks well treated to take full advantage.