THE GREYHOUND DERBY FINAL.... {Saturday 29-6-19}

[BVADMIN]

SATURDAY 29th JUNE 2019
Colwick Park, Nottingham..


THE GREYHOUND DERBY FINAL..

NOW THEN WHO WINS IT

?






RACING POST PICK: 

[BVADMIN]

[SALFORD GIRL]

SKYWALKER LOGAN

[beanster]

Hopefully Logan

[GRUNDY]

It's The Go Faster Stripes For Me This Year.

[johnlamb41]

1 box not ideal for 'BALE' but if he pings he can go where he wants 🙂

[benny]

its the time for the two to hit the lids?

[P TAYLOR]

2-3- and 4 all walk to the bend 5 wants rails 6is the danger but surely 1 is had to oppose it will trap move middle and make the bend before 6 race over 🏆 simple 😂

[SALFORD GIRL]

[BVADMIN]

TAKEN FROM THE RACING POST.COM WEBSITE::






Draw throws 'the best Derby final for years' wide open


BY JIM CREMIN



LOFTY summed up the oddity of it. “You’d expect everyone to be crying for trap one in a Derby final with a field of six railers.”

There were indeed tears, but of despair, when Magical Bale’s name was plucked out first by celebrity guest Ryan Sidebottom.

The Star Sports man is though sticking with his 6-4 favourite: “If Bale does a 5.00sec split I think that’s good enough.” However, he also admitted: “The draw does throw it wide open.”

The Ritz was also a celebrity venue for the event. You had to pass dress code scrutiny just to get in, but of course most greyhound fans are pretty conservative anyway. A couple of passing Champagne Club members even popped in out of interest to learn the draw. They were by chance nearby but you suddenly realised how much they would love to get a runner through. The six survivors have indeed achieved something priceless and Susan Hennessy caught the general mood perfectly: “For every man, woman and child involved in the game this is the pinnacle of their dreams and this, the week leading up to the occasion, is special; something to embrace and be proud of being involved . . . and who wouldn’t want to visit the Ritz?”

The fact she was pleased with Priceless Blake getting trap three also helped! 10-1 with Star will tempt (now trimmed into 8s).

Fair play to all involved, they made sure they were all properly represented for the media interviews with of course the ‘big man’ Kevin Hutton, patiently answering every daft question that I could think of. No, he wasn’t putting a brave face on things. Yes, it was all systems go [for Magical Bale].

He’s good for the game. His dogs run well and he’s totally upfront about everything - especially his pride in defending champ Wildcat, just retired after picking up an injury on Saturday. He was genuinely pleased to be asked by Nottingham to bring the dog back and lead the big race parade on Saturday. You could see it as a launch to his stud career, though Hutton still wants to keep the dog with him if he can. “We have to discuss it properly with Dave [Usher, joint owner with him] but given you can easily get straws to go to stud keepers, I’m hoping that can be the case. We love having him around.”

I thought Ballymac Tas was too big at the pre-draw 16s and 20s and she has shortened a bit but her pitch next to Magical Bale looks tricky, unless he was indeed to miss it.

Skywalker Logan is big at 6-1 (Star go 9-2). Paul Illingworth, who oversaw the draw on behalf of the Greyhound Board, later talked sense when he suggested Skywalker Logan as “feeling like the forgotten, sleeping giant of the field, which seems crazy as he is the track record holder. He’s got a good chance of breaking from the middle,” he said.

Droopys Expert at 7-1 will also attract money, he has always seemed a dog who could run from anywhere. When he gets it right, he’s awesome. Webmaster Paul Millward is a fan: “It’s been made difficult on the draw, the 7s is a good price.”

Nottingham’s joint racing manager Jason Smith is sweet on the bottom [Clonbrien Prince] and reckoned the initial 11-4 from Star was generous. You can get 3-1 and 10-3 in the village but Hills are as short as 9-4.

Of the Racing Post team, Jonathan Kay said “I like the outside pair, it’s game on with Magical Bale getting one.” Dave Clark, heading the media tipping challenge, said: “6-4 Magical Bale comes away is tempting.” Paul Brown concurred: “He can lead on the inside.”

Mark Burridge, the trophy supplier and GBGB Greyhound Ambassador, said: “Magical Bale’s pace is awesome. He does not want trap one, but that said, he can still take charge early. It’s the best Derby for years.”

All the connections savoured the moment and the various sponsors, along with Nottingham’s management, beamed with excitement.

They all deserve a good race.

Draw (with Star Sport’s betting)

1 Magical Bale 6-4
2 Ballymac Tas 12
3 Priceless Blake 8 (from 10)
4 Skywalker Logan 9-2
5 Droopys Expert 7
6 Clonbrien Prince 5-2 (from 11-4)