2008 Blue Square Greyhound Derby

[Superfatbantam]

http://www.sportinglife.com/greyhounds/images/greyhounds.jpg

I'll let these stand until the next rounds next week.

I'd tip Farloe Reason based on my limited research into the dogs, don't rule out Barnfield On Air or an outsider in Blonde Dino.

[eurobantam]

Ballymac Ruso is now a non-runner (lame).

[Superfatbantam]

Just dropped another Droopys in there to cover for the non-runner! ;)

[beerbantam]

I'll go for trap 2!jawdrop:

[BBB]

hahaha nice..


you are so banned gimp :D

[eurobantam]

And then there were twelve!

Sorry I haven’t been keeping you up to date with events at Plough Lane, but I have been busy with travelling and work and trying to come to terms with the impending closure of my favourite track Walthamstow.

I’ve attended all the races so far in this year’s Derby though and its shaping up to be classic. We’re down to the semi finals tomorrow night and it still looks pretty open, with favourite Tyrur Kieran proving beatable, going down to Toosey Blue in the second round and the quarter finals. Toosey Blue has been a real revelation in the this year’s competition. He has always had plenty of ability but consistency at the highest level has been his problem. John Mullins appears to have got him absolutely spot on and I reckon the 5/1 available for him to win outright looks decent value.

That said, tomorrow’s semi will be no push over for Toosey as Express Ego, Kryptonite and Tyrur Laurel have all been running well. Kryptonite has been particularly impressive, staying on really well and winning even when missing the break. He even looked good when going down a short head to Blonde Dino in the third round. Tyrur Laurel’s trainer Owen McKenna has worked on the dog’s trapping and gave him a mid competition spin around Hove which appears to have done job as he had the fastest sectional of all the quarter final runners.

The second semi sees Scottish Derby winner Tryur Kieran drawn inside of the UK’s most hyped greyhound Barnfield on Air and I would take the Irish dog to come out on top. BOA just hasn’t shown he can win from behind and I can’t see him getting to the first bend ahead of Kieran. Out wide in six, Blonde Dino could get a solo run and he seems to coming to his best at just the right time but its Loyal Honcho who I fancy to take the semi. Second in last year’s final, Honcho has been getting better with every race and has shown intelligent trackcraft. The race could be a rough one and Seamas Graham’s dog has the strength to hold his place and finish well.

Euros tips:

Outright: Tossey Blue 5/1, Blonde Dino EW 20/1
First semi : Kryptonite 5/2
Second semi: Loyal Honcho 4/1

1st Semi: 1 Droopys Obafemi 2 Lenson Express 3 Express Ego 4 Kryptonite 5 Tyrur Laurel (m) 6 Toosey Blue (w)
2nd Semi: 1 Tyrur Kieran 2 Barnfield On Air 3 Commander Chief 4 Seanis Lad 5 Loyal Honcho (m) 6 Blonde Dino (m)
Tomorrow night live on Sky
Final next Saturday live on Sky