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Trap 1 Belvedere Champ@33/1
The youngest dog left in the competition and the rank outsider of the field. This dog has serious back straight pace and if he could improve his starting technique, allied with a bit of luck in running, could definitely make the frame but it would be a major shock if he was to be crowned the Derby King.
Trap 2 Oran Classic@7/1
This early paced hound is surely overpriced in a race that could be decided at the opening bends. He is certain to lead up and with four middle runners vying for a position on his outside, there looks certain to be crowding at the crucial first turn. This would play into the hands of Oran Classic and as he has proved many times before, there are not that many dogs in the country that can live with him to the third bend. Although he is not a great finisher, compared to the other dogs in the final, he will have first run on the field which is a major factor. In a clean run race he would struggle to live with the favourite, but with a bit of luck in running, and trouble behind him, he could be the value bet in the race.
Trap 3 Faypoint Man@7/2
Probably the best drawn in the field, this dog has consistently clocked some fantastic times around this circuit since we saw him early this year. With Cashen Legend likely to take a step to the right when leaving the traps, this fella should have a dream run to the first bend where he can manoeuvre himself into a position to unleash his challenge off the second bend. He will need to improve his starting, which has been his Achilles’ heel over the last few rounds, but there is no one better than his trainer Owen McKenna in getting them out on final night. He definitely has the pace to win, but I was a tad surprised that he checked up so badly at the third bend in the semi final when looking like he was about to take control of the race. With an injury scare made public early in the week, let’s hope he is fit enough to do himself justice on the biggest night of his life.
Trap 4 Cashen Legend@8/1
A model of consistently throughout this competition, this gusty determined dog is looking to add another classic win to his Laurels crown. The start will be all important to this dog as he will need to take a flier to avoiding a bumpy ride from College Causeway and Shaneboy Lee on his outside. With his tendency to take a middle to wide path, especially down the back straight, he will need everything to go in his favour to lift the Derby crown. This dog never knows when he is beaten though, so if it comes down to a battle, you know he is in with a fighting chance.
Trap 5 College Causeway@5/4
We are beginning to run out of words to describe the mesmerising performances of the People’s Champion, College Causeway, throughout this Derby competition. From a track record breaking run in the first round, he has remained unbeaten throughout the stake displaying such track craft and sizzling pace that it was a privilege just to be there to see him. He has caught the public’s imagination with his sensational ability, although he has been given a tough draw in the final of the greatest competition in the world. If he can stay out of trouble around the opening bends to unleash his sensational turn of pace, the roof will come off Shelbourne Park as he may be the best we have seen for a very long time.
Trap 6 Shaneboy Lee@4/1
This dog burst onto the scene in Dublin with two great runs in the Champion Stakes to propel him to the top of the ante post market for the competition. Once again he has been very unlucky with the draw as he definitely is a better dog from the middle traps, so he will need to take a flier from the lids and lead up on the outside. He is an extremely fast greyhound so anything is possible, but he would struggle to give the likes of Faypoint Man or College Causeway a start and a beating. He will need to run the race of his life but with a bit of luck, we could be looking at the Derby Champion.
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