The Lord's Greyhound News: Blue Riband winner for Derby?

Greyhounds News / The Lord / 23 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

It's another busy week in the game

"Express Shuttle's mix of brute speed and stamina which is likely to encourage his supporters, who can back the Monmore raider at [34.0] for the £75,000 prize at Plough Lane."

All the top stories from the sport rounded up by The Lord

Betfair Blue Riband champion Express Shuttle heads to Wimbledon on Wednesday for a trial as he continues his preparation for the Derby.
Chris Allsopp's dog, who will be bidding to be the first Blue Riband winner to win the Classic since Farloe Verdict in 2003, led early at the Birmingham track and never looked like being caught.
It is that mix of brute speed and stamina which is likely to encourage his supporters, who can back the Monmore raider at [34.0] for the £75,000 prize at Plough Lane.
Express Shuttle, who finished second to Droopys Greg in the Monmore Puppy Derby, ran a good second to Allisons Delight on Betfair Trainers' Championship night, which proved the dog could compete if failing to ever lead.
Wednesday's trial will reacquaint Express Shuttle with Wimbledon ahead of the Derby which begins next month.

The Peterborough Puppy Derby is the stage for the next live-on-Sky programme on Wednesday.
This year's event has been eventful with a re-run semi-final on Saturday ahead of the £5,000-to-the-winner final.

Good Friday attendance records were broken up and down the country as holidaying Britons enjoyed a day or night at the dogs.
All the tracks which raced, on a day horse racing took a break, reported bumper crowds.
Richest race of all was the Bookmakers Golden Sprint at Romford, in which the Elaine Parker-trained Step On Brett made all to claim the £8,000 prize.

Rumours that a sizeable chunk of the GRA's debt have been bought by an unnamed party have been quashed.
Greyhound circles have been rife with suggestions that the GRA's portfolio of tracks could be saved or sold off as going concerns, finally removing any threat of closure.
One insider said: "The GRA owe a huge amount of money, but do appear to be servicing the debt. Their businesses remain profitable, indeed they are flourishing just now, but I think greyhound racing would sit more comfortably knowing the owners had the sport's interests at heart. That is not a given just now."

Meanwhile, the Save Our Stow are currently battling on two specific fronts as it continues the battle for E17 some two-and-a-half years after the last greyhound race there.
Claims that Sport England supported a leisure development at the stadium have been denied, according to local newspaper reports. They quote MP Iain Duncan Smith accusing owners London & Quadrant of "misleading the public."
The SOS team have also been buoyed by renewed council support for Bob Morton's bid to buy the land, redevelop the site for housing but retain the greyhound track and other leisure interests.

Towcester could still be greyhound racing's newest track, if latest reports are to be believed.
In what could prove a revolutionary initiative in the UK, horse and greyhound racing could be sharing the same stage from May of next year.
"That's still the plan it seems," said one source. "The drive is there, as is the finance. It's just a case of the sport's authorities really embracing what is being attempted there. But it's all hugely exciting."

Classic contenders prepare for Betfair Blue Riband, Scottish Derby reaches semi-final stage and the battle of E17 hots up (again)......

One of the most recognisable faces in the sport could lift its biggest trophy...

The Lord has finally caught his breath after an evening of pure excitement at Wimbledon. Here he reflects on a thrilling Betfair Trainers' Championship 2011......

Betfair website

Greyhounds Betting: Derby contenders battle for Betfair Blue Riband

Events / The Lord / 17 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

The Betfair Blued Riband final goes off on Tuesday

"Westmead Guru could be tough to hold if blazing a trail. And remember he knows Hall Green well, he started his career here!"

A great few days for greyhound racing will conclude with a fantastic final for the Betfair Blue Riband at Hall Green on Tuesday. The Lord provides a run down of the dogs to follow.

Coming just after the weekend's first Classic of the season at Shawfield, the Scottish Derby final, Tuesday's race will see the Sky cameras beam top-class greyhound racing into our living rooms for the second time in four days.

Some £8,000 is up for grabs in the Betfair Blue Riband final and the line-up is bolstered by a number of leading contenders for the Derby at Wimbledon, headed by Monmore Puppy Derby runner-up Express Shuttle.

He lines up from trap one and kicks off my run down of the six greyhounds gunning for glory...

Trap 1: Express Shuttle (Chris Allsopp)

Came over with a big reputation from Ireland and has not disappointed. Famously led in the Monmore decider until the stirring finish of wonder pup Droopys Greg denied him late on. Ran a great race given the trouble he found at Wimbledon on Trainers' Championship night to claim valuable points for Allsopp. Boasts great early pace which laid the foundation for an impressive success in the heats at Hall Green, but will be edging out to the middle from trap one in the decider.

Trap 2: Westmead Guru (Kelly Findlay)

This strapping near 39-kilo dog certainly knows how to put his weight round. Could dive inwards or outwards from this pitch and backers of the favourite inside will be hoping he turns right! Winner of the Henlow Derby he certainly has a big-race pedigree and is being geared towards Wimbledon and the English Derby. Helped by having a wide-mover outside and could be tough to hold if blazing a trail. And remember he knows Hall Green well, he started his career here!

Trap 3: Springwell Hot (Bob Hall)

This local runner has excelled in a competition which represented a steep rise in class. In the form of his life, he's been like a fine wine of late, maturing with age. He's a veteran performer now, no less. Must trap in the style he has shown of late, particularly in heat and semi which showed a mark improvement from recent A1 contests. Can he do it again now pitched in the middle?

Trap 4: Johnnys Way (Nick Colton)

Trainer Colton is looking for a quickfire Sky big-race double after Jolly Poacher in the Arc at Swindon. The kennel is red-hot just now and this two-year-old is doing them proud. Ran on strongly to finish second in the semis, but it's difficult to see him strike a blow unless there's a Jolly Poacher-type start. And with Springwell Hot moving off from three, trouble looms at the turn. But equally any trouble up front could see him cause a shock as, like Sweeps Hill, he's strong from halfway

Trap 5: Alfies Options (Dean Childs)

Led almost from start to finish in the semis and clearly packs an early punch required to lead on the outer. If anything he slightly stumbled on exiting the boxes in the semis before pacing up well to the turn. A cleaner break, and he might just be the improver in the field to upset some of the shorter-priced runners. Indeed, that might be a necessity because both trap three and four will be swinging off at the turn. Thankfully for supporters, there is a zero pace outside. Always highly regarded, Alfies Options is no strong runner but this 480m is easier than Swindon's where he struggled to last home in the Arc.

Trap 6: Sweeps Hill (Craig Andrews)

Like Springwell Hot he's a Hall Green ever-present and that is worth two lengths here. A fast finisher who struggles to go with the early pace, crowding amongst the leaders is a must for him to strike gold. Nevertheless he is brilliantly drawn and could well get a gorgeous tow round behind earlybird Alfies Options. And were Express Shuttle and Westmead Guru to tangle he could find himself turning closer up the field than is usually the case. And noone wants this strong runner on their shoulder off the last bend.

The Lord's disciples will soon be quids-in with two early lays on a cracking Betfair Trainers' Championship card live on Sky Sports from Wimbledon tonight....

"Second only to the Derby in terms of importance to those involved"...

Three to be against in the Sky-televised action from Doncaster...

Betfair website

The Lord's Greyhounds News: Get set for Betfair Blue Riband

Greyhounds News / The Lord / 07 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

The Betfair Blue Riband kicks off at Hall Green on Friday.

"Express Shuttle was nabbed late on by Droopys Greg at Monmore and now tops the betting for the Derby."

Classic contenders prepare for Betfair Blue Riband, Scottish Derby reaches semi-final stage and the battle of E17 hots up (again)...

Eyes down for a brilliant Betfair Blue Riband which kicks off at Hall Green tomorrow (Friday). Always a natural stepping stone to the Derby, a number of leading Classic contenders are in the field for the 36-runner event over 480 metres.

These include Racing Post Juvenile Championship winner Blue Artisan, Ten Large Down, Westmead Guru, Jolly Poacher, Ballymac Ace and Express Shuttle.

Express Shuttle is the dog that was nabbed late on by Droopys Greg at Monmore and that now tops the betting for the Derby so Wimbledon is very much in the minds of punters as well.

The first three in each of the Betfair Blue Riband first round heats qualify for the final on Tuesday with the final live on Sky on Tuesday, April 19.

*

Racing-wise, it's the busiest time of the year with the Scottish Derby reaching the semi-final stage on Saturday.

The Shawfield Classic enjoyed huge Irish interest this year and there is a real twist to the event with favourite Farley Blitz formerly trained in Ireland by Owen McKenna who has his own major chances in the shape of Farloe Force and Pablo Supreme.

Farley Blitz, who followed up his impressive first round victory in Tuesday's second round, is trained by Barrie Draper who tends to send his dogs to McKenna when sights are set on the major Irish races. Thurlesbeg Bound and Boherna Best are recent Draper dogs who were sent to McKenna.

*

Romford kicks off its Golden Sprint on Friday with the headline name of Ardbeg Mentor topping the list of entries. Ken Tester's defending champion runs from trap three in the second of six heats at the Essex track.

Fifis Rocket, who as King Lee broke the track record in the event in the semis last year before Ardbeg Mentor bettered that still in the final, is also in the line-up.

*

CPO is the new watchword for the Save Our Stow campaign as the battle for E17 hots up.
The tug-of-war between SOS and owners London & Quadrant looks set to take yet another twist with the news that a compulsory purchase order is being talked about for the iconic site.

This requires the full support of the local Waltham Forest Council and local MPs and Save Our Stow supporters are meeting to talk over the possbilities.

*

Razldazl Jayfkay has been clipped in the Derby betting after greatly impressing clockwatchers in a trial around Shelbourne Park last Saturday.

Quicker than any of the Easter Cup second round heat winners, Dolores Ruth's always well regarded sort has plenty of experience of Plough Lane and remains on many judges' shortlists for the Classic.

One onlooker said: "He's not had a lot of racing and getting knocked out of the Easter Cup was a real blow as Dolores Ruth (trainer) tries to get some experience into him, but the trials show he has all the ability in the world."

*

The countdown is under way for the TV Trophy which kicks off at Sittingbourne later this month.
Three heats will be staged as part of the BAGS card on Saturday April 23 ahead of the final on Wednesday, May 4, which is live on Sky.

It is hoped Midway Skipper, winner of the last two TV Trophys at Newcastle and Doncaster, will aim for an unprecedented third straight success in the competition at the Kent venue.

One of the most recognisable faces in the sport could lift its biggest trophy...

The Lord has finally caught his breath after an evening of pure excitement at Wimbledon. Here he reflects on a thrilling Betfair Trainers' Championship 2011......

The Lord is salivating like a hungry hound at the prospect of this Tuesday's 2011 Betfair Trainers' Championship......

Betfair website