Kent Greyhound Derby Draw Is a Minefield for Brookside Richie
Author:
Roy Brindley
Central Park, formerly known as Sittingbourne, hosts the Arena Racing Company Kent Derby Final on Sunday evening. Raced over the track’s standard 480-meter distance, the category one final carries a ￡6,500 winner’s prize. The bookmakers believe that money will be heading back to the kennels of David Mullins who trains the clear favorite, Brookside Richie.
The run to the opening bend could prove decisive for Kent Derby favorite Brookside Richie. ©GettyImages
Unbeaten in his last five outings and boasting a superb record of 11 wins and three seconds from 14 career starts, Brookside Richie is even-money to add this competition to a CV that already boasts success in the Romford Puppy Cup.
Minefield Draw for Favorite
Despite boasting the best time recorded in the competition to date, success for the two-year-old dog is no formality. Starting from trap two he is flanked by the fast-starting Ballynabee Lucky on his inner and the excellent East Anglian Derby winner, Antigua Storm on his outer.
Their proximity makes this contest fraught with danger. Favorite backers should tread carefully as Antigua Storm has moved to the inside rail in all three of his appearances at Central Park.
The track’s Racing Manager, Rob Killingbeck was not prepared to commit to one particular greyhound when giving Online-Casinos.com his view on how the race will unfold.
“From the outset, Brookside Richie looked the one to beat, and on times he is,” said Killingbeck. “But the draw has worked out best for Ballynabee Lucky who should lead from trap one.”
“However, this is no two-dog race. Antigua Storm is yet to find a clear run but is a category one winner. The Richard Rees trained runner in trap four, Hilight Arkle is a big talking dog with owners that are very excited about his long-term prospects.”
Loathed to dismiss the chances of any of the finalists Killingbeck, who also acts are the racecourse commentator, reluctantly conceded: “The five-dog [Lenson Doolin] will need some luck in-running as will Galaxy Freedom who wears the striped vest of trap 6. However, he is the only wide-runner in the race and that is massively advantageous at any time.”
Harry and Ricky the Best Bets on the Undercard
Thankfully Killingbeck did have some firm beliefs about the destination of other races on the card. It will be broadcast on Sky Sports channel 437 starting at 6.09 pm.
“In the final of the two-bend sprint competition, I’m expecting a very big performance from Killeacle Ricky. He goes from trap five for local trainer Spencer Mavrias. In the 6.28 pm race, Harry Sagar is the one to beat. Matt Dartnall [trainer] always has a kennel-full of good dogs and this one has his easiest assignment for a while.”
Oaks Favorite Cilla Is the Saturday Banker
Elsewhere in the greyhound world, the Oaks enters its second phase on Saturday afternoon. Staged at Perry Barr for the first time, six second-round heats will broadcast in betting shops and on bookmaker streams starting at 2.04 pm.
William Hill make Skywalker Cilla 3/1 favorite in their ante-post book on the competition. The Irish-trained greyhound blitzed the field in the opening round winning by over six lengths when breaking the 28 seconds barrier in the process.
Winner of the Irish Derby consolation final at Dublin’s Shelbourne Park four weeks ago, she looks like a banker bet in the 2.19 pm contest.
