Monmore Puppy Derby Betting: Philpott in double bid for a third crown

General / Darrell Williams / 11 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

Who will be the popular choice at Monmore?

"It’s the Philpott pair that interest me most, with Millies Hawk, amazingly the only non-railer left in the event, especially catching the eye. His status will of course guarantee him trap six if he makes next Thursday’s final, and I fully expect him to maintain his unbeaten British record, which currently stands at three, in tonight’s first semi-final at 2010."

Carly Philpott obviously knows the right type of dog required to win the Monmore Puppy Derby having scored back to back wins with Ballymac Pires and Ballymac Charley a few years ago and Darrell Williams fancies she can repeat the feat again.

The fact Philpott has two of the leading candidates remaining in this year's contest in Millies Hawk and Ballymac William ahead of tonight's semi-finals should therefore hardly come as a surprise.

The nature of the competiton, of course, can naturally lead to big swings in form with puppies improving rapidly virtually race to race, and as last week's first round showed, with the elimination of track-record holder Farley Blitz and highly regarded Up For Sam, more than the odd shock or two.

The running of the first round however has left the event wide open, and whether there's another Bandicoot Tipoki or indeed Kinda Ready - first and second last year - at this stage looks perhaps unlikely.

However it's the Philpott pair that interest me most, with Millies Hawk, amazingly the only non-railer left in the event, especially catching the eye. His status will of course guarantee him trap six if he makes next Thursday's final, and I fully expect him to maintain his unbeaten British record, which currently stands at three, in tonight's first semi-final at 2010.

Already being compared to last year's Derby third Wise Thought by connections, his early speed should ensure he is at worst handy from trap rise. Admittedly for some time now an outside draw has proved disadvantageous at the Wolverhampton track, with only 26% of trap six runners making the first two over the CD this year compared to 40% from trap one.

However, the selection made no mistakes from the stripes last week and with his immediate rivals all looking for the same ground he should enjoy a clear passage again. I suggest a bet this evening at [3.8] or higher and outright at [8.8].

Kennelmate Ballymac William can complete a double for the Philpott team by claiming the second semi-final at 2026, with his draw in trap one expected to prove far more to his liking, having gone down narrowly from an unfavourable trap five berth in the first round. With regular 'break missing' Bower Eagle in trap two, the selection's early speed should allow him first run to the bend. Again a wager tonight at {2.7} and a saver at [8.6] ante post looks the order of the day.

The other semi-final (2042) appears far more complicated and in fairness is probably left alone. Droopys Ruso, who chased home Millies Hawk, is interesting, but is now starting to build a worrying sequence of runners-up spots, while Farley Totti would be a big player if realising a clear run.