Greyhound Betting: Puppy Derby Preview

Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 04 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

Darrell William's looks ahead to Tuesday's eight race Wimbledon finale.

One massive edge greyhound racing has over its horse racing counterpart is that by the time the 'big race' is staged, we've already seen the dogs two or three times in qualifying heats and semi-finals, and therefore tend to know how things stand in terms of form. The picture for the Puppy Derby, which climaxes at Wimbledon on Tuesday evening as part of an eight race live Sky Sports presentation, is unfortunately now more confused after the running of the semi-finals than it was beforehand!

The shock loss of Droopys Quinta (resisted by this column last week), plus the elimination of a number of the other leading ante post candidates, has certainly not made things easy for form students.

To the eye, Jesters Nap was mightily impressive the other night, and looking through his earlier form he has probably previously been under-estimated. If he traps he has a big chance, but his odds are far from inviting, and while his back straight pace in the semi was red-hot, I'd rather look elsewhere. Eye On the Brave has already contested a major final, finishing third in the Gymcrack, and while it was possible to dismiss him on the basis of still being a maiden after eleven starts, he finally broke that hoodoo in the semi-final and looks well drawn as the only railer.

However I'm sticking with London Walter, put forward before the first round. Admittedly it is slightly worrying that he was slowly away the other night, but previously his trapping had been faultless - a big bonus in puppy races - and although things transpired to work out for him to qualify, he still has a record of three wins from five starts and, in a muddling contest, looks over-priced.

The rest of the card is mixed in terms of betting opportunities. I especially like Lethal Freddie in the 460m Standard (8.15) for Seamus Cahill, whose Wimbledon record on these nights is second to none. 'Freddie' did his trainer a big favour when capturing maximum points in Cahill's Trainers Championship victory in March, clocking a decent 2774 for the trip. Eliminated in the Peterborough Derby last week, he had previously won a small Romford competition in good style, and earlier reached the Classic semis at Sunderland. An expected good break should soon put him in charge.

Droopys Mate, also trained by Cahill, went off far too big in the end when winning last week's Ladies Trophy at Hove after all the money came for our selection Droopys Judith, who lost any chance after hitting the rails. While 'Judith's' two Wimbledon trials have been only moderate, 'Mate' has twice clocked 2750 times for the 460m, including when touched off in a bitches race on Derby final night by Scintillas Ruby, and with eight wins in her last fourteen outings, she has to be the bet in the 8.35.

Dundalk International winner and Derby third Blonde Dino should win the 9.25, having readily accounted for main rival Eye On the Veto in a trial the other night. The presence of useful local Side Leg on the inside of Mark Wallis' Essex Vase winner could also prove troublesome, while 'Dino' should have few problems unleashing a run drawn inside four wide runners.