Sky Previews: Lorrys has to be the Option in the Betfair Prestige

Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 19 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

"The one price that stunned me was that of Officer Donagh in admittedly a red hot sprint (20.35). No greyhound runs Hall Green better than Chris Allsopp’s charge, who set new figures for the trip last month. A winner of a remarkable 9 of his 11 previous starts over the 258m distance, he should be backed at [5.0] or higher"

After what seems far too long, Sky Sports live greyhound coverage resumes tonight with the Betfair Prestige final card at Hall Green and Darrell Williams, for one, can't wait to get stuck in!

Being an advocate of track trends, I was kicking myself last week for siding with inside runners in the heats, when it was obvious the middle to outside dogs had been holding a big advantage at previous meetings. It was a costly lesson, and one I don't intend to repeat! Amazingly, if the last two meetings are anything to go by, the edge has swung markedly towards the middle/inside runners, with trap six runners particularly quiet.

As regards tonight's final (21.45) I have to agree with my colleague 'The Lord' who argued a good case for Lorrys Options reversing heat form with Kinda Easy. Take nothing away from Mark Wallis' Leger champion, who took full advantage of his excellent draw to ultimately run out a comfortable winner. But given the huge disadvantage Lorrys Options had by virtue of his 'impossible' inside draw, he ran a stormer to keep the deficit to less than three lengths.

Both have proved themselves to be great competition dogs - Kinda Easy leading his rival 3-2 on previous meetings, but on value grounds, if nothing else, Lorrys Options, fourth in this race last warrants the selection. Look for [3.0] minimum.

With the remainder of the field trading at double figures, any other result looks highly unlikely, although personally Razzmatazz, now drawn closer to the inside, could be of some interest if getting to the front early.

The one price that stunned me was that of Officer Donagh in admittedly a red hot sprint (20.35). Up against old rival Jimmy Lollie, who beat him in the National Sprint at Nottingham last month, no greyhound runs Hall Green better than Chris Allsopp's charge, who set new figures for the trip last month. A winner of a remarkable 9 of his 11 previous starts over the 258m distance, he should be backed at [5.0] or higher.

With Platinumlancelot having suffered a reverse at Sittingbourne last week, new kennelmate Bigstrongpup might be worth chancing in the hurdle race at 20.15. The Irish Grand National finalist has already beaten his rival in the semi-final of that competition, and has made good progress in his Wimbledon trials for Jason Foster. At their respective prices, he easily rates the bet at [4.5] or bigger.

Having extolled the virtues of Officer Donagh as the king of the Hall Green sprints, Classic winner Jogadusc Ace must have put in some performance to beat him in a sprint trial last week and rates worthy of a wager in an excellent four bend race at 21.25. Mark Wallis' runner has hit top class form, with victories in his last four starts, culminating in Winter Derby success at Henlow, but his Hall Green form is also exemplary. Runner-up in last year's Blue Riband final, he has won four of his eight races at the track, and while this looks a high class affair with bundles of early speed, I expect him to make all at [2.5] or greater.

Selections:
Lorrys Options 21.45 2 pts
Bigstrongpup 20.15 1 pt
Officer Donagh 20.35 1 pt