Northern Puppy Derby Betting Preview: Impressive Kez prepares to fly

Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 15 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

The form for Sunderland's Northern Puppy Derby - live on Sky Sports on Thursday evening - has worked out well, with the top three candidates all qualifying, including ante post picks Droopys Quinta and Droopys Kez, says Darrell Williams.

Ted Soppitt has won the Northern Puppy Derby twice in the past three years and in Droopys Kez has every chance of picking up the prize again. Never one to play down his runners, the Durham handler has already talked up 'Kez' as being a Derby dog for next season, and while he may be a little premature in his thinking, his runner could hardly have been more impressive in the semi-finals.

Although narrowly beaten in the first round by fellow finalist Crown Rover, the testing conditions wouldn't have been ideal - he'd beaten the same rival in a trial stakes the previous week - and if as I expect he traps in front he's likely to take plenty of beating. For those yet to play, anything above [2.0] is a fair shout in my book. Droopys Quinta is a class act on her day, and while trap five was hardly ideal in the semis, she was comfortably turned over by the selection and I find it hard to see how the form can be reversed.

A bigger danger could be old rival Crown Rover, the only unbeaten finalist, and a thoroughly likeable sort who has now won seven of his eleven outings. Already in need of a more thorough stamina test, he's sure to be finishing best of all and looks the ideal forecast link.

On the supporting card Big Brett Coal can continue his impressive run by claiming the stayers' race at 8.35. Seamus Cahill's charge has won six of his last seven outings, including a recent dual distance competition at Crayford, and posted the fastest time this year for Romford's 750m trip last weekend. The fact he won impressively over the CD at the Festival in July is an added bonus and he looks the dot on the card.

Sophies Fantasy would be a shoo in on his short-head second to Droopys Kez last month in the puppy race at 7.40 and while he is prone to finding the trouble spots, might offer a fair shout at the odds against Officer Donagh.

For short odds players, Bubbly Kate, winner of her last six races at 800m or beyond, should have few problems in the marathon (9.10), while Me Buddy, favourite for the Classic final over the same trip in July, can add to his tally in the 9.25. His form in the heats of that Category One competition coupled with a brace of recent competition wins at Crayford and Peterborough can see him account for Pond Astronaut.

Boherbradda Mac will understandably be fancied in the sprint (8.0) and the Scurry winner, who has not been out of the first two in his last twenty starts, should take the beating after posting a decent trial the other day. I would, however, offer a word of caution as he has been beaten in all four previous visits here, including in both heat and final of the Festival sprint.