Greyhound Betting: Weather could have Prestige Final say

Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 12 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

Sky Sport's first live greyhound final of the year, the Prestige at Hall Green on Tuesday, throws up an interesting conundrum between Romeo Maldini and his semi-final conqueror Steady Scholes, writes Darrell Williams.

Coming into the event, Romeo Maldini appeared as if he would take plenty of beating after clocking a pair of fast times over the CD before unleashing a highly impressive performance in front of Sky cameras at Wimbledon on Oaks final night.

He was given a confident vote ante post by this column. However, the semi-final defeat to Steady Scholes suggests winning the competition won't be quite the plain sailing originally suggested. That's not to say he can't win, and as the sole wide seed outside railer Hawks Dilemma, Dave Firmager's runner could hardly have a better draw.

But if anything it could be the weather that has the final say, with the warmer conditions and therefore quicker going likely to boost the striped runner's chance of success. For those who played ante post there's little point in trading out given Maldini's current price, but I would certainly recommend a covering bet on Steady Scholes, even though it will obviously reduce any potential profits.

Mark Grady's runner has thoroughly welcomed the return to six bends, even though she ran well to claim fourth in the Oaks, and defends the only unbeaten record in the final. For those who've yet to play she surely represents the value option at [4.2] compared to Romeo Maldini's quote of [2.0]. A winner over her rival on merit in the semi-final, it's also worth noting she was only marginally slower than the favourite in their respective first round wins, and in both rounds Maldini's second lap times were only fractionally quicker than that of his rival.

Hall Green's supporting card is not at all bad with Winter Derby winner Drink Up Zorro (8.50) the one I'm especially interested in. Paul Sallis' local has not been out of the first two in his last seven outings, which includes five victories, and he has a fantastic draw outside slow starting Carlsberg Flash. While Mountjoy Ruby runs the track well - he is three times a winner from four tries and was fourth in the Produce - he is held by the selection on their trial meeting last week, and that despite 'Zorro' stumbling in the latter stages.

Backing local runners in Sky Open's can be fraught with danger as decent runs in A1 races can often not be reproduced against classy Open race runners. However, I fancy Abbeyvale Jess to buck the trend in the 7.40. Stuart Buckland's bitch, who had been in good shape before her seasonal rest, appears to have returned in even better form, and the Gymcrack semi-finalist is taken to beat fellow 'home runner' Birchfield Hero.

The hurdle race at 8.15 looks a cracker but Supreme hurdle third Tommy Bahama has been in excellent form in recent weeks - he broke the Henlow track record in the semi-final of that contest - and is hard to resist.

Leger fourth Lavenders Grant can win a competitive 670m race (8.35) as he looks set to get first run and can confirm recent Romford form with Capel Wilson, who nevertheless rates the biggest danger.