Betfair Official Blog

Graham has golden opportunity

Seamus Graham is happy with his dogs ahead of tonight's Greyhound Derby heats.

There is an argument that the Irish handler would be one of the most deserving winners of the biggest prize in British racing.

Following a recent run that saw Mineola Farloe into second place in last year's renewal, two finalists in 2005 and the horror of seeing the ill-fated Premier Fantasy crash out injured when favourite for the 2004; some may have forgiven Graham for abandoning the idea of ever visiting Plough Lane again.

Loyal Honcho (available to back at 16.5) has been nominated by many pundits as being the real dark 'un in the competition and has been matched for small amounts at odds of up to 250 since Betfair's ante-post market opened.

The son of Top Honcho is involved in the heat three and will be facing fellow Irish raiders, Phoenix Paddy and Express Ego.

Graham told the Racing Post: "It is important that he makes a good break. He has as much early as anything in this race. It is either a case of him leading all the way or having a very hard race. He is in good form."

Highbury Lao (160) is one of the relative outsiders in the market and has been switched to a middle seeding since last weekend. Somewhat ironically, the son of Larkhill Jo has ended up with the red jacket in the first of the eight heats.

Up against leading fancy, Eye Onthe Veto, the other four dogs appear to be closely matched and there is obvious room for manoeuvre for Betfair players as a "back-to-lay" proposition between Saturday and Tuesday.

Graham remarked: "It's a good heat but if he comes out of the inside box he would have a good chance of going through."

Phoenix Paddy remains the outright favourite for the competition at 7.6.