Greyhound Betting: Romeo Maldini to continue his love affair with Hall Green

Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 01 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

The final of the Prestige will be contested a week on Tuesday live on Sky Sports but before that there's the small matter of the qualifying heats, taking place at Hall Green on Friday night where a certain Romeo Maldini has a good chance to shine...again.

Whether you had a profitable 2008 or it's one to quickly forget, it's time to wipe the slate clean and set about trying to make the game pay for a new year.

Greyhound's Open Race circus hits Birmingham, and Hall Green to be precise, for the first major competition of 2009, the Prestige, which begins with four first round heats on Friday, with the final live on Sky Sports a week on Tuesday.

Whichever way you look at the form one dog stands out head and shoulders above the opposition. Romeo Maldini enjoyed an excellent four bend campaign last year, including a third place in the Dundalk International, and latterly a runners-up spot to Wise Thought in the Eclipse. But it's his exploits since stepping up to six bends that undoubtedly make him the dog to beat.

Those who saw his wide margin win in front of Sky cameras on Oaks night will need little convincing of his current standing, but prior to that he had clocked a brace of excellent performances over this 645m course and distance, clocking a calculated time just ten spots off the track record when scoring by six lengths in the middle of last month.

A trawl further back through the formbook reminds us that Romeo Maldini was also third in the Gymcrack here in 2007, and has an overall record of six wins from ten starts at the track. Of course I'm not the only one to have spotted this, and Dave Firmager's charge has been priced accordingly, even though he appears in the toughest first round heat (8.35), where Ullid Amy, who recorded the second fastest time of the year on her first try over the CD last month, is amongst the opposition.

Add in in-form Boherbee Ben, runner-up in the Stayers event at the Monmore Christmas Festival and veteran Fear Robben, capable of fast times himself over the CD, and it looks at hot affair, but one which I believe will only further enhance the selection's reputation, and I make him a confident main ante post choice.

For those looking for bigger prices, Buffalo Vieri makes his own appeal outright and should win the 9.35 heat. Michael Harris' charge beat Boherbee Ben in that Monmore final, and remains one of the most consistent performers currently on the circuit. Given the benefit of a sprint trial last week - his first look at Hall Green - he can soon sit handy, despite a far from ideal trap four berth.

The other dog that interests me is Rosstemple Dream, who has been clocking up the wins at Oxford recently. Formerly a standing dish at Reading, she has shown she is no one trick pony by notching up the wins at Oxford, and was actually a finalist in this very contest back in 2007. Admittedly no spring chicken - she's just two months short of her fifth birthday - but can win the 9.20 heat, and might be one to back outright with a view to laying off later in the competition.

I take Glittering Aries, third in this race last year, to continue his comeback after finding heaps of trouble in his first race for three months at Monmore on Boxing Day. Kim Billingham has her dogs in excellent form after Meenala Ami's Oaks success, and the selection, a Summer Stayers' finalist last summer, can claim the other heat at 8.20.