Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 14 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Quality wise the cream has come to the top in the Northern Puppy Derby at Sunderland, with the final, live on Sky Sports on Thursday evening, featuring four of the original top five ante post runners, writes Darrell Williams.

"I’d still just favour Ten Large Down over Westmead Carl, mainly by virtue of his superior early speed."

Those who followed us in before the first round are in a healthy position with both Ten Large Down and Killieford Fire having reached the final and, given the competitive nature of the final, a spot of trading is worth considering.

Ten Large Down has already secured one major puppy prize having taken the inaugural running of the Westmead Puppy Derby and Diane Henry's youngster is one of two unbeaten finalists alongside Nick Savva's Westmead Carl, who was narrowly beaten by Lenson Bolt in the Romford Puppy Cup final last month.

Even trying to split just those two takes some doing, especially given Westmead Carl's much improved record since just before the start of the Romford competition. Having won only one of his first 15 races he has now scored in five of his last six starts. However, if forced to choose I'd still just favour Ten Large Down, mainly by virtue of his superior early speed which was again in evidence in the semi-final. The winner of seven of his ten career starts, an early lead might just be enough.

Killieford Fire, aided now by a vacant trap alongside, is certainly not out of it, especially if trapping as he did in the first round, and may find it easier to get a run than Greenwell Viper, who is always likely to be playing catch up.

The rest of the card is tough in places, but there are two dogs I'm particularly keen to back. Blood Of Kings ran a blinder for Julie Bateson to finish second in the Classic at this track when still a puppy in July, and can utilise a decent trial to win the sprint at 20:00. Runner-up also in the Puppy Derby at Wimbledon, he obviously runs Sunderland particularly well and can account for high class sprinter Jimmy Lollie, who can be taken on from an unfamiliar trap five draw after a poor run at Hove on Sunday.

Sniper Petra, a finalist in the Laurels last week, should appreciate the significant drop in class in the bitches race at 20:35. A winner of two of her three previous starts at the Wearside circuit; she comprehensively beat her main rival here Foyle Storm by more than seven lengths over the CD back in July and is taken to confirm the form.

As for the remaining races, Gas Hawk looks a good thing in the marathon (9.10), having readily accounted for Vatican Iona here last month, especially when you bear in mind Paul Young's runner has won six of his last eight outings, while his rival is without a win in eight races - but the price will be prohibitive.

At more appealing odds, I'm also tempted by Bower Surfer, despite a trap six draw in a field of railers in the Stayers race (9.25). Graham Howson's runner, a winner on Sky at Belle Vue last week, has won three of his races since stepping up to six bends and the youngster, winner of the Peterborough Puppy Cesarewitch last month, is probably still unexposed.

Tags: Darrell Williams, Greyhounds Racing Betting Odds, Northern Puppy Derby, Ten Large Down, Westmead Carl