Farloe the Derby springer after impressive night at Hall Green

Sky Night Reaction / Jonathan Hobbs / 24 April 2008 / Leave a Comment

Jonathan Hobbs on the best greyhounds for your bets following a great night of Sky-televised action in Birmingham

It was a fantastic night at Hall Green on Tuesday. We had the action from a terrific Blue Riband card, the inter-track feed from Wimbledon including the Derby trial stakes - and the Liverpool v Chelsea semi-final first leg. Poor old Riise!

Farloe Reason showed the sort of form that saw him win last year's Puppy Derby at Sunderland and was courageous at the turn as he barged his rivals aside to land a second Blue Riband for Charlie Lister.

Simon Wooder of the 'Fear' prefix bought into Farloe Reason last year as he sought the 'Holy Grail' of an English Derby success to add to two Scottish Derbys, and the two-year-old must rank as his best chance yet.

He is the right price for Derby glory now at [18.0] and has just 139 other greyhounds to beat for the £100,000 prize, an entry number low in quantity but not quality.

Usually the Derby attracts 180-odd entries, but the strength in depth remains as good as ever.

In terms of the Riband final itself, the winner was faultless, Commander Chief looks a cracking stayer in the making but could also be the type to keep on qualifying in the Derby, while Toosey Blue remains a force and, back in trap six at Wimbledon, will win again!

Elsewhere on the card, pencil in the notebook the sprinters Fine Trout and Blonde Rock.

While Ibetx Dot Com was unlucky to take a fall after just leading to the turn, both the aforementioned pair showed great speed to bustle up the leader, ultimately setting up the race for the game Oh His Nerves.

Kildare Lark did what Kildare Lark does best in the hurdles event and now has the Champion Hurdle as a target; A Million Miles continues to pay his way and looks a real improver for Laurence Tuffin; Broadcares Rocco was a surpirse omission from the Derby entries list and should pick up a few races while the Classic is ongoing, while Two Nicks made stealthy progress behind Genesis Dream and Swift Maybole in the six-bend event and should be backed next time.

Vatican Iona justified our vindication of her chances last week in marathons after a solid Wimbledon run and kept up the gallop well, although to be fair to Slaneyside Demon he hit the front far too soon!

However, Pat Rosney's bitch and kennelmate Vatican Fyne (ex Rough Rose) give the handler a massive hand in stayers and eight-bend races with the Regency and TV Trophy two very winnable events for the kennel.

Drink Up Zorro was a shade unfortunate not to win the puppy event, the winner Drive Up Captain running a cracker.

To win first time up at Hall Green is something special - in-form Genesis Dream, a winner later on the card, is certainly that - and the youngster took advantage of a nice run through the first and second turns.

However, Drink Up Zorro's pace up, and resolution when headed, will serve him well over the coming weeks.

Third-placed Westmead Serin will also pay to follow as she grows with experience, being a littermate for Saturday's Ocean Trailers finalist Westmead Osprey.