Greyhound Betting: Zafonic fearless and set to go Brum

General / Darrell Williams / 08 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

Charlie Lister's dog is back from injury and, unoriginal though it may be, Darrell Williams knows where he's putting his Birmingham Cup money.

The first major four bend competition of the season, The Birmingham Cup, swings into action at Perry Barr on Friday evening with Charlie Lister's Derby hope Fear Zafonic set to enter the big time spotlight.

Unraced since picking up an injury when third in the Manchester Puppy Cup at Belle Vue in September, he could hardly have given a clearer indication that he can handle Wimbledon, the home of the Derby, after dipping inside the 460m track record in a trial there just before Christmas.

Sent off at prohibitive odds for his return at Nottingham on Monday, a race he was always going to improve for, he nevertheless won comfortably despite mistiming the break. Although the Birmingham Cup field offers plenty of strength in depth, there are few stand out performers, and while Fear Zafonic was always going to be ante post favourite, he is not unreasonably priced in my opinion, having also run well in a trial over the 480m trip last week, and without hesitation is my main outright pick - albeit a fairly unoriginal one!

Of course, a big run in this event is likely to see his odds trimmed even further for the Derby itself, and while this column has nailed its ante post colours elsewhere, those interested might wish to avail themselves of the [22.0]. As first round heats go, he has actually drawn quite a tough one (8.08) with kennelmate Affleck Elite and Cabra Fly, nicely drawn in trap one, looking the other potential qualifiers.

For those looking to build up an ante post portfolio, there are any number of potential back to lay candidates, but perhaps the most solid is Mountjoy Gold. Admittedly drawn in a tough heat (9.45), Mark Wallis' ultra consistent performer - his last place in the recent Henlow Derby final was the first time he'd been out of the first three in sixteen starts - looks well berthed to demonstrate his excellent early toe and could hardly have trialled any better when clocking a calculated 2815 the other day. I'd recommend backing him for both the heat and in the outright market.

Barrie Draper's Droopys Billy, winner of the Harry Holmes at Sheffield, has found a seemingly far easier heat (9.28), and while improving Anfi Ace rates a potential danger, I'd again suggest a wager on both the heat and for the competition overall, again with a view to trading back perhaps before the final.

Certain greyhounds excel time and time again in big competitions and Paul Philpott's Movealong Blue is a perfect example, having finished runner-up in both the Yarmouth Derby East Yorkshire Derbies, as well as fourth in the Eclipse. While the lack of a local trial is a slight concern, he still looks over-priced in the outright list, and appears to have Killough Belles to beat in the 7.52 heat.

My other heat selections are Little Jig (8.53), a recent Oaks semi-finalist, who clocked 2826 over the trip in November, while the 8.38 race looks a belter, if a tricky heat for punters and Goldcrest King is given only the most tentative of votes.