It’s that time of year again! The English Greyhound Derby is back, this year at Towcester, and we’ve previewed the race and picked out a forecast which could land you the dough.
Well, that is if 2015 is anything to go by, where we correctly predicted the first three home. In the right order, we should add!
Trap 1: Hiya Butt
If there’s one thing I’d like to bet on in this year’s English Greyhound Derby Final, it’d be this greyhound leading at the first bend.
The little Pocket Rocket may be approaching four-years-old, but is still an absolute airplane when it comes to smashing out of the traps and will need to do that again here to have a say in the finish.
For such a lightly-raced dog, he is contesting his second English Derby Final after finishing third last year at Wimbledon, beaten less than half a length. Likely to play a major role again, but sadly as a bridesmaid.
VERDICT: ONE FOR THE FORECAST
Trap 2: Droopys Acrobat
Two months shy of his third birthday, DROOPYS ACROBAT is one of two runners representing Seamus Cahill.
He has won two of the six heats on his march to the final, beating one of Saturday’s rivals, Murrys Act, by six lengths in the quarter-finals.
Still slightly under the radar after losing to Hiya Butt last week from trap four. The blue box of trap two will suit this lad more and his trapping has been foot perfect to date. Represents a bit of value at double-figure prices and is our fancy of the outsiders to put it up to the market principles.
VERDICT: VALUE, VALUE, VALUE!
Trap 3: Clares Rocket
Unbeaten in this year’s event… What more can you say?
Broke the track record in round one in an eight-length procession. Came from behind in round three against a couple of quality greyhounds in a performance that had to be seen to be believed.
A 5.10 sectional in the semi-final won him the race and a repeat of that, although unlikely, would see him land the trophy with ease.
However, we will be against Ireland’s finest based on his trap draw as his path will be more problematic from trap three than in recent contests. The punters will want to be on. Who will prevail?
VERDICT: AVOID
Clares Rocket is still unbeaten in the 2017 @StarSports_Bet #GreyhoundDerby Final up next on July 1st #comeracing pic.twitter.com/sabeMnMu0H
— Towcester Greyhounds (@towcester_tv) June 24, 2017
Trap 4: Astute Missile
A 66/1 chance at the start of the event, and a 33/1 chance five runs later in the final tells a story. The first race of his career was only six months ago, so just being involved in this race is a huge achievement and a credit to his connections.
He’s yet to win a heat and it’d be a serious shock if he corrected that in the final. Flanked by quality greyhounds, he’s likely to find two or three of these too good on the night.
VERDICT: HONESTLY? DON’T BOTHER.
Trap 5: Tyrur Shay
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your 2017 English Greyhound Derby winner … Mr. Tyrur Shay!
He’s my favourite greyhound in training, and this guy just has EVERYTHING going for him. He can do it from the back. He can do it from the front. He can ride bumps. He’s game as a pebble.
Not only that, but he’s trained by a genius in P.J. Fahy. He removed his wide seed after round one and seeded him middle, in the smartest exhibition of Game Theory Greyhound Racing you’ve ever seen.
If you pick Clares Rocket over him – you’ll be wrong. You have been warned.
VERDICT: THIS WILL NOT BE BEATEN. PROBABLY.
Trap 6: Murrys Act
Broke the track record in round one, (honestly he did) and held that honour for a total of 79 minutes before Saturday’s opponent Clares Rocket took it from him.
Hard to believe this guy has just turned two-years-old, as he’s had plenty of racing for one so young. Finished fifth at Shawfield’s Scottish Greyhound Derby Final, as a pup, back in April.
Hasn’t got the early boot to go with some of these, and his finishing kick is unlikely to be anywhere near strong enough to land the spoils. Will be closer to last than first.
