Open Racing Round-Up: Springbok betting is all about the major mouthful that is Nebuchadnezzar

General / Editor / 05 February 2009 / Leave a Comment

You have The Hawk picking out the best bets on the Bags, now it's the turn of The Lord to snaffle the open-race value.

In due deference to the famous Westmead name, one of the most well-known prefixes in greyhound racing, The Lord is ready to run the rule over the best of the week's action.

We have to start with the Springbok, and a real lack of any thrills and spills this year. The entry looks by and large pretty competent in terms of its jumping, so speed is going to win the day?

Or is it?

Not if Rocky Rocket has anything to do with it. He was pulling double in the heat won by Macarthur on Saturday and looks capable of chasing down anything. He could still be an each-way steal ahead of the semi-finals [Friday].

But the dog who has risen above all so far is the mouthful that is Nebuchadnezzar.

Yes, the mouthful that is Platinumlancelot went faster on the clock but nothing tore down the far side quicker than Lorraine Sams's dog and, given any sort of run, he should be able to pick off his semi and Tuesday's TV final.

Swindon staged the heats of the Arc on Tuesday. This four-round event is completed on Tuesday week with a TV final, and Goldcrest King's defeat proved an early disappointment for backers. But such was the quality of his trial beforehand that Mark Wallis's dog should be given another chance. Remember he ran well to finish second to Fear Zafonic in the Birmingham Cup.

Overall, don't be surprised to see the form of the first round turned completely on its head. The going heavily favoured those inside and also put an emphasis on stamina. But it will still take a good effort from any of them to beat favourite Shaneboy Luke.

The McNair dog has it all, and was so badly drawn at Perry Barr previously that the best place for that line of form should be the bin!

Elsewhere, Nottingham's regular Monday opens were noticeable for the winning debut of the much-touted Droopys Gibson from Ted Soppitt's all powerful camp. He impressed but suffered a setback and will be missing for a few weeks.

But a couple of dogs caught the eye, both successful on the night.

The most impressive was Oneco Leader, who was winning for the Senior camp.

This puppy was left at the boxes and never had any right to play a part, let alone win. But he stormed to the front off the last bend to win in good style. Time will tell whether the quality of the race was any good, but it looked very impressive and Oneco Leader certainly has scope for improvement being so young.

Another youngster to put it in a good performance was Southern Sunset.

He won from trap six on a night when those on the outside would have been done no favours.
Conditions seem to favour those rails to middle. But that didn't stop Southern Sunset winning for the Hackett camp. He could be anything, especially on better going!

Catch The Lord next week as we look back at Tuesday's live-on-Sky card from Wimbledon.