Betfair Official Blog

Vatican Jinky can make punters very happy for years to come

The Racing Post's Jonathan Hobbs teels us who was hot and who was not at Wimbledon on Tuesday night in front of the Sky cameras

WHILE it's true I have a vested interest, and am mostcertainly biased, Sky's broadcasts of the major greyhound races has been a boon for the sport and(largely) brilliant for punters - just look at theamount of price boxes we now carry in the Racing Post greyhound section - and the levels traded on Betfairon Sky nights!

Belle Vue on Tuesday offered more of the same, with the highlight being a record-breaking performance from Vatican Jinky in the Gold Collar final. It looked a trappy race, but was all over once Pat Rosney's dog blasted clear. It now raises the strong possibility of
Robert Ferrari's 'silver' brindle now having a crack at the event the owner wants above all others, the St Leger.

Whether he stays is debatable. The dog has so much pace, but so, too did Droopys Rhys and Droopys Shearer, and they fared pretty well in the Leger.

You could also suggest that Ninja Blue, lastyear's champion, was hardly the strongest of dogs buthad enough ability, the perfect mix of speed and(sufficient) stamina, to win the stayers' Classic.

And how far do you think Vatican Jinky will be in front of the likes of Westmead Aoifa and Foulden Special at halfway? And will he be stopping in front?

It's a fascinating conundrum for punters, because to tackle, and beat, the last-named pair over what is a testing six bends, the emphasis will be very much on stamina. And we've not even factored in the gruelling four-round schedule!

The word is that Vatican Jinky will be tried over 670m at Belle Vue before any decision is made, but the way he went to the pick-up suggests we should be on when
he returns to Manchester. So there's one future winner- but there were plenty of others on show at Belle Vueon what was a cracking night's action.

In order of TV events, Droopys Obafemi won well enough but NOIRS WILD must go into the notebook. He closed rapidly on his rivals up the home-straight and is clearly blessed with great pace. He was, though, none too smooth round the bends, but has showed when he
gets room (Belle Vue 27.46, Nottingham 29.77) he is quick, very quick.

AFRICA may not have won the bitches' race but she too,will be winning again soon. Townbrow Melody took her chance well and is, as trainer Pat Rosney stated,a good bitch "on the bunny".

But Africa is coming back to form nicely after injury, has got plenty of early gears and ran on well. For a first visit to Belle Vue, it was a terrific run.

Time will tell how good HOLLYLAKE BOY is, but Andy Heyes's local did it well in the hurdles event. Taipan defied advancing years in terrific style, while Castledale Lad had (almost) every chance. There were one or two bumps along the way, but no huge excuses.

No, the winner was a good one, and it will be interesting when Andy takes him 'on the road'. Tougher tests await, but he's a nice hurdler.

CALZAGHE FRISBY is giving the impression of being an unlucky dog at present. Touched off in the Grand Prix, he was again touched off at Belle Vue. But I think you
have to credit his conqueror on both counts. And he has to be given another chance, he showed too much pace to pass Halcrow Prince for the defeat to be criticised too much. Local Knowledge herself is better now than she was earlier in the year.

Both FEAR BECKS and FEAR WHITESOX get the thumbs-up after the 470m race. The winner has rarely trapped so well, so the runner-up loses nothing in defeat, and
the early pace of both has never been in question. If they race again tomorrow, I would, however, bet that the result might just be reversed. But . . . !

The 590m race was a messy affair and Kooga Kid took his chance as expected from a dog of his talent. Directors Chair's wide-moving antics helped him to steal a lead, but the performance of the race is shared by the winner with CHARLIES DREAM. There is definitely something of a never-say-die attitude there, but it still an eye-catching run and she is
still at the top of her game.

Spiridon Louis continues to have a brilliant 2007. He really is a fantastic dog and it will be great to see him in the St Leger. It will, though, leave the way for BUBBLY KATE to mop up eight-bend events. Her 23-kilo frame will always be susceptible to the rough and tumble of a race, and the layers will want to take her on, but an unbeaten rest of the year for Paul Young's bitch would be no huge surprise.