THIS weekend is very much the calm before the Royal Ascot storm – but I still reckon I’ve managed to unearth a tasty punt.
I’m hoping to warm up for the big meeting with a decent eachway run from Blue For You in the 7f handicap at York.
The stage is set for a huge week at Royal Ascot – but I reckon I can find a winner to boost our coffers before then[/caption]
My selection is handicapped to go well for David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope.
To be honest I don’t often get this yard right, but I think Blue For You is worth taking a risk on as an animal who loves the track.
Blue For You usually goes over a mile, and was a winner at York in July of last year off 95.
Having not scored since, he’s on 95 again now, and he had a perfectly decent run over 7f at Haydock in April.
He’s hard to predict but a few quid each-way is, in my opinion, well worth it.
Elsewhere at York I wonder if some headgear will spark up Chillingham? Time will tell… but I’ll give him a go each-way too.
Meanwhile, the Greyhound Derby final is here and it’s the defending champion against a fellow Irish champion in a right old smashup.
That’s what we get in the climax of the coveted £175,000 Starsports Greyhound Derby at Towcester on Saturday night, which promises to be an absolute belter.
De Lahdedah, handled by Liam Dowling, bids to become just the fifth greyhound in history to achieve back-to-back successes.
And remember those that have done so are names from yesteryear that will always live long in the memory of dog loving fans.
Think Mick the Miller (1929-30), Patricias Hope (1972-3), Rapid Ranger (2000-1) and my personal favourite Westmead Hawk (2005-6).
But to score, De Lahdedah will have to destroy Graham Holland’s Bockos Diamond, who aims to make history and do something only Toms the Best has ever achieved, and that’s to land the Irish and English Derby.
This is a proper race, and after ITV duties at York I’m dashing straight to Towcester to enjoy the moment.
I hope you will be there to. Those in charge have put on loads of entertainment and music throughout the day.
It will be a party atmosphere. So come on down and say hello.
If you can’t get to watch the race live on track, then remember all the action can be seen on the Gone to the Dogs live channel.
You’ll find it with a simple ‘Google’ search.
And if you are a dog lover, don’t forget there is a Just Giving page to support the rehoming of greyhounds.
Any support is always welcome and it’s something the game takes very seriously.
So who will win? And is this a two dog race?
Well the answer to the latter question is clearly no. We have all been around too long to dismiss the unexpected.
As is always the case in greyhound racing, though, the draw is crucial and Bockos Diamond is plotted up in the black and white stripes of Trap 6, with kennel companion Cheap Sandwiches next to him in the orange of Trap 5.
That also happened in the semi-finals, when Bockos Diamond destroyed Cheap Sandwiches for early pace.
The former doesn’t always get out as quickly as he did that day, in an impressive 3.95s. But Trap 6 seems to be the spot where he traps best.
Cheap Sandwiches also chased home Bockos Diamond in his Irish Derby victory, where the latter dashed better early pace despite not getting an electric start.
Some have a theory that the inside of the track is the place to be at Towcester, and that means De Lahdedah will have plenty of supporters.
He’s in the white jacket of Trap 3, and that box holds no terrors for him, although he landed his semi-final from the blue of Trap 2.
De Lahdedah will need luck in the early stages, as he’s a strong stayer who lacks early dash.
He does, however, have tremendous track craft and he’ll keep plugging away.
If Bockos Diamond gets away I can’t see him being picked up, but we are talking narrow margins here.
It just promises to be a wonderful event, and greyhounds are beautiful animals to watch in fluent motion.
Their long, powerful legs, deep chest, flexible spine and slim build allow them to reach speeds of 40mph.
Bockos Diamond will need to use all those attributes at 9.15pm tonight. Shine bright Bockos, like a diamond.
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