Greyhound Betting: Champion Stakes preview

Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 22 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

The Champion Stakes starts with six first round heats tonight and culminates with a Sky Sports covered final a week on Tuesday. Darrell Williams says Romford will be overjoyed with the line-up.

Undoubtedly the dog everyone wants to see is Barnfield On Air, who confirmed he is right back to his very best when justifying this column's confidence in the Select Stakes final at Nottingham on Tuesday. To break in the manner he did against such a red hot field took the breath away, but before you go charging in and backing him again, a word of warning. Not only has he never been round Romford, but his heat (7.45) could easily have been the final with fellow Select Stakes finalist and Sussex Cup winner Droopys Carvalho plus regular Romford winner Droopys Nelson, also successful at Nottingham the other night, in the line up.

With pacey local Love Lynx also drawn on the inside of 'Barney' this is not a race for the faint hearted, and one I certainly won't be playing. If you fancy BOA, it might be best to wait until he has safely qualified before getting involved.

Crying out to be backed ante post however is Lenson Joker, whose impressive trial the other day suggests his winning sequence, currently at seven, should remain intact after tonight's heat at 9.04. Winner of both the Cesarewitch and Grand Prix this summer, Tony Collett's runner was fancied to go close in last winter's Essex Vase final before injury intervened during the semi-final, but as his preliminary spin confirmed he runs the track as well as any and must head up your ante post portfolio.

Directors Chair has won five of his seven starts at the Essex track this season, finishing second on his other two tries, and should justify the odds in the 8.17 race, where reigning champion and dual Essex Vase winner Eye Onthe Veto awaits. The latter has been a terrific servant to connections, but I just wonder if age is now catching up with the old boy. The selection looks at least a potential finalist and is also worth including ante post.
Sherries Boy (8.01 race) is closely matched with Directors Chair on a couple of formlines, but has a potentially difficult draw in trap four and might be another to tread carefully with.

If you're looking for a big price outright Bubbly Sally fits the bill. Paul Young's bitch beat Directors Chair over the trip the other week before confirming the effort seven days ago to make it four wins in her last five starts. At the odds, she simply looks too big, and can capture the 8.32 heat en route to a semi-final place.