Greyhound Betting: Steel City Cup and Gold Collar Final Previews

Sky Previews / Editor / 25 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

Laurence Tuffin's master plan to make Commander Chief into the best six-bend performer in the country can take a major step forward in Thursday's final of the Totesport Gold Collar over 590 metres at Belle Vue.

The team from SKY Sports will be at the Manchester track to witness what should be a fabulous renewal of the prestigious Category One contest and it may well develop into a battle between Commander Chief and Barnfield Loreto, both of whom have progressed to the final without tasting defeat in the two preliminary rounds.

As a guest on Betfair Radio's Dog Show recently Nottingham-based Tuffin revealed he planned to run Commander Chief in the William Hill St Leger over 668 metres (starts October 11) at Wimbledon and viewed the Gold Collar as the perfect introduction to six bend racing after the two-year-old son of Tyrur Ted performed so well in the Derby (480 metres) and Sussex Cup (515 metres).

So far so good and Commander Chief goes into the final as a worthy favourite after a four-length victory over Romeo Turbo in 35.51sec in the semi finals. He has drawn trap two in the decider - outside the lead-able Charlies Dream - and a decent break should put him in a prominent position rounding the first and second bends.

Pat Rosney's Barnfield Loreto (trap three) will be up there also following two emphatic heat victories - both at odds-on - and judged on his performance in the semi-finals, Southwind Harry (trap four) may also be battling away for an early advantage.

Charlies Dream (trap one) and Swift Denn (trap six) are held but the principals on heat form but the aforementioned Romeo Turbo (trap five) is from the top drawer and could muster a serious threat to the likes of Commander Chief and Barnfield Loreto if reproducing his impressive heat victory.

But the likely scenario is that Commander Chief and Barnfield Loreto - both of whom are relative newcomers to their trainers - will turn in first and second place and given the evidence up to now I predict Commander Chief will just about come off on top.

Meanwhile, Dave Firmager, the trainer of Romeo Turbo, can have better luck in the fifth heat (8.28) of the William Hill Steel City Cup at Sheffield on Tuesday with Romeo Maldini, Turbo's brother.

The Coventry trainer has had a frustrating time with Romeo Maldini. However, the signs are good that the talented black son of Droopys Maldini is getting back to his best which is more than good enough to carry him to victory over this 500-metre trip.

Blonde Dino and Boherna On Air, second and third respectively to Boherna Best in that thrilling finish to the Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore last week, can also bounce back to form.

The John Mullins-trained Blonde Dino goes in heat one at [7.26], whilst Boherna On Air can account for the talented Droopys Sheeny amongst other in the sixth qualifier at [8.43].

A market for the Steel City Cup and Gold Collar can be found under the greyhound ante-post link.