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I don’t pretend to know much about greyhounds. But I know man who does. A man who is always sniffing out value but too shy to let his face be seen. And I can’t blame him. And here’s his latest thoughts on the world’s richest race (for dogs):
One of the highlights of the Greyhound calendar is the Champions Stakes final, won each year by a top class hound, and this year we were treated to an exhibition of how trapping ability and early pace can be a lethal combination in the deciding the outcome of a race. With the track running fast, there were a few scintillating times posted by a number of dogs, not least Fatboyz Nodrog when taking the final.
The punters couldn’t really split Fatboyz Nodrog or Faypoint Man in the betting, both available at 3/1 and Shaneboy Lee just behind them at 4/1 after a brilliant debut at the track last week. There were so many possible permutations, but when the traps flew up Fatboyz Nodrog bombed out and we knew it would be ‘catch me if you can’ tactics for there on in.
Shaneboy Lee was well away on the outside and Faypoint Man had one of his better starts up the inside. The long run to the first bend is ideal for Fatzboyz Nodrog, and he skipped two lengths going into the bend, which then became four lengths coming out of the second, as Faypoint Man and Shaneboy Lee got in each others way for a stride or two. The race was truly on now as the leader was away and gone down the back with the other two contenders neck for neck, until the third bend were Faypoint appeared to take the corner too tight, allowing Shaneboy Lee to drive around the outside of him and swing off the last with a load of momentum.
FatBoyz lead was now diminishing but as the line was appearing, he had done enough early running to secure a famous victory with Shaneboy Lee was a very impressive second, and Faypoint Man running on again to take third.
Many will feel that Fatboyz Nodrog should be the Derby favourite after that run, but I’m not convinced he is the Derby winner for a number of reasons. This dog needs to get away well and use his early pace to secure a clear passage around the first two bends, with his pace down the back straight a very potent weapon.
From the third bend onwards Fatboyz does not come home as well as a number of dogs that will be participating in the Derby, this isn’t just my opinion, but the stopwatch will confirm this. Now if we get to a scenario where for example he doesn’t trap in his best fashion, or is bumped a number of times on the run up to the first bend, he is going to have serious trouble against the top class dogs.
With six runs needed to secure the Derby crown, can we expect Fatboyz Nodrog @12/1 to be foot perfect every night? The sponsors have made Shaneboy Lee @10/1 the new marker leader, and after two impressive runs around Shelbourne, it’s not hard to see why, he is a serious prospect. Faypoint Man has been eased out in the betting@20/1; his last two runs have been solid enough, so I wouldn’t rule him out just yet as he is sure to go far in the competition.
On the supporting card Wise Thought came back to his best by getting away quite well and then picking up the strong running Broadacres Turbo by the third bend, with Accordello running on really well to take second place. These two dogs will have a say in the outcome of the Derby, and with Accordello having already secured the Ladbroke 600 title already this year, he could be a live outsider@33/1.
Pat Buckley who trains the ‘Peoples Champion’ College Causeway has informed us that he will go straight to the Derby heats without a prep run, so we will have to wait another week to see this superstar, the 16/1 with the sponsors could well have disappeared by then.
With less than 10 more sleeps now to the greatest and most valuable greyhound competition in the world, the excitement will continue to build on a daily basis, let’s try to keep it together until then so that we enjoy the greatest spectacle in greyhound racing.
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