Better Call Caul: Romford takes centre stage with feature semis
Romford on Friday evening will host the semifinals of both the Coral Standard Trophy and the Champion Stakes over six bends. Both events will have three semifinals with the top two progressing to next week's finals.
Coral Standard Trophy at Romford
The Coral Standard Trophy is first up, kicking off at 19:18 (GMT). Remarkably, for the fourth week on the spin Droopys Good and Rail McCoy will meet. Droopys Good had won the first two meetings but Rail McCoy caused a mild surprise when getting the better of his old foe last weekend, and they are expected to dominate proceedings once again. Rail McCoy produced a personal best last week and has obvious claims with a repeat, but Droopys Good appears to have a decent draw in box two and can go up better than last time.
The second semifinal (19:36) looks to have a more open feel to it. Phoenix Puma won well last week although Ayle Blake displayed massive pace to the third turn and looked a likely winner. I'm not sure if his mind was entirely on the task at hand, but I'm willing to give him one more chance and take the second semifinal at the expense of Phoenix Puma.
The last of the semis is due off at 19:56, and it may pay to focus on the outside runners. Distant Oscar ran a blinder last week when splitting Droopys Good and Rail McCoy and will improve if able to dictate early. Blackgirl Shek has won three of her last four around here and can fly to the corner; she is not without a chance. Antigua Socks has been a beaten favorite on his last two starts and needs to come away racing, while last week's shock winner Bubbly Freebie will need to do everything right. The preference is for Distant Oscar to prevail over Antigua Socks.
Champion Stakes at Romford
Next off on the Romford card will be the first semifinal of the Champion Stakes (20:17). At the semifinal stage, the betting is wide open with Warzone Tom just heading the market at around about $5.50 with . Tom goes in the first heat, where he will face last week's conqueror, Romeo On Tilt. Warzone did not secure the cleanest of runs last week when turned over at $1.44 and can go to the corner much better this week. He is fancied to turn the tables on Romeo On Tilt this time and make it to yet another big final.
Former Irish tracker Droopys Soldier has a big time advantage on his rivals from last week, but he is not certain to come away as quick this time. Master Ten Ten was another to meet plenty of traffic last week and ended up running out a good winner under the circumstances. He can go to the turn much better, and I fancy him to take the second semifinal. Come Asyouare in box five is sure to give you a run for your money as he's running consistently well of late; he can follow Master Ten Ten home.
The concluding semi can go the way of the well-drawn Antigua Bigun in box six. He was well fancied here last week when behind Droopys Soldier. He is another that can come away better than last time and, on his best form, will have too much pace and power for his rivals. Bubbly Cristal celebrates her fourth birthday this month and is running as well as ever lately. She stays this trip strongly, won well last week and is perfectly drawn in red. She can track Antigua Bigun home in second.
Steel City Cup Final at Sheffield
The Steel City Cup Final is the headline act at Sheffield on Saturday evening, and Brookside Richie will go to traps odds-on to claim victory. Sent off at $1.16 for his semifinal last week, the son of wonder sire Droopys Sydney made no mistake when making all in a slick 28:37 for the 500m trip. Already a winner of the Select Stakes, Brookside Richie can take this if he can overcome a tricky draw in five.
His main danger will no doubt be Signet Goofy drawn next door in six. Goofy was a good winner of the other semifinal, albeit some two lengths slower than Richie. The draw may yet play a part in proceedings with five inside seeds and one middle seed lining up. I expect Brookside Richie to take it if he can come away in reasonable fashion.
Cowley Puppy Collar at Oxford
The resurrection of Oxford Greyhound Stadium continues, and on Friday it will press on with its biggest event since reopening when the quarterfinals of the Cowley Puppy Collar take centre stage.
There were some complaints about the boxes last week, so hopefully all issues can be ironed out before racing this Friday. Boxes seeming to open slowly has been a big issue in the UK in recent years and it is certainly something that needs to be addressed.
The first heat gets underway at 19:28 (GMT). Oi Oi Joey is well housed in red and should take this first heat; he showed terrific early pace last week and will once again look to make all.
Fromposttopillar will be a warm order to take heat two. Fastest in the first round, the son of Droopys Sydney should take this – barring any mishaps – with the very well bred Jasmine Lily fancied to give him most to worry about.
Just four lengths separate the entire field in heat three on last week's running. King Ezra is a strong fancy in this heat; he has some smart previous form around Romford and looks to have a perfect launch pad to operate from in this.
The last of the quarterfinals can again go to the red jacket. Lively Lauren shown last week how much she craves the rails, and she has her draw in the final heat. She ran well behind Oi Oi Joey last week and can improve further if able to dictate. She could be one of the better bets on the card.
All the action from Oxford and Romford on Friday will be available live on RPGTV.
Juvenile Derby at Shelbourne Park
It's becoming a bit of a trend to see these major events have an abundance of inside seeds, and that is the case again for the semifinals of the Irish Juvenile Derby with six inside seeds in the first heat and another five inside seeds in the second.
Current outright favorite Another Holiday runs from four in the first semi, and he has suffered defeat only once in nine outings. Another big plus for Holiday is that he has won from boxes one to five in his brief career to date, and the draw should pose no problem for the son of Dorotas Wildcat. Droopys Got It is the quickest of theses on the clock but faces a tricky draw out in six. He won from box one last week and it remains to be seen how he will act from box six. He has won twice in the past from five but will need to be alert at trap rise. I will side with Another Holiday to make it 10 wins from 11 outings on Saturday and enhance his lofty reputation.
Irish Oaks winner Raha Mofo is the only remaining wide seed left in the competition and naturally finds herself with a perfect draw in six in the second semifinal. Overall, this looks a stronger contest than the first heat with last week's impressive winners Trinity Junior and the pacey Bogger Hunter in opposition. Bogger Hunter displayed massive pace when overcoming a slow start to hit the front by the third turn and win in convincing fashion. He can ill afford another slow start given the calibre of this weekend's opposition. Raha Mofo must have a serious chance on the draw alone and it would be a surprise if she were not in the top three. I will side with Bogger Hunter to get the better of Raha Mofo and Trinity Junior.
Yvonne Barry Open 600 at Shelbourne Park
Also on the Shelbourne Park card are the semifinals of the Yvonne Barry Open 600, where Irish Derby third-placegetter Crafty Kokoro is now the $2.25 favourite to win outright. The hugely fast daughter of – yes, you guessed it – Droopys Sydney produced the third-fastest time ever recorded for the 549m trip last weekend, and she looks impossible to oppose in the first semi. There is not much to separate the remainder of the opposition on the clock, but Stefans Rock ran better than the placings suggest last weekend and is a highly likely leader. Kokoro will be storming home from halfway and it is hard to back against her.
The ladies will dominate the betting in the second semifinal with Bobsleigh Dream and Bockos Crystal. Crystal ran a cracker when just caught late on by Crafty Kokoro in the previous round and will look to employ ‘catch me if you can' tactics again. Fortunately for her, she will not have a Crafty Kokoro behind her this week and she could make all. Bobsleigh Dream is incredibly fast on her day, as she showed when making all last week. She can be a little hit-and-miss at the traps, however, and Bockos Crystal is the safer bet. Storys Peewee was a good winner on Derby night and can qualify for next week's final, but Bockos Crystal could be gone beyond recall.
Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park
The second round of the Laurels is, for many, the highlight of the Irish greyhound racing action this weekend. Eight second-round heats will get underway from 20:20 on Saturday evening with three progressing from each heat.
Garryvoe Joe was an impressive scorer in round one and should go well from a nice draw. Last year's winner, One Time Only, got through with little to spare when finishing fourth in round one. He needs to brush up on his starting but is a real handful when he does things right. Don't ignore Ballymac Whispa in five, as she is also well capable on her day.
The third heat looks a belter with Irish Sprint Cup winner Hawkfield Ozark taking on last week's winner Beach Avenue. Throw in Wi Can Dream, Kilgraney Sydney and Priceless King and we have a real race to savour. Hawkfield Ozark has stunning early pace, and if he can avoid Kilgraney Sydney early, he will surely lead. Oaks runner-up Scooby Duchess was back to her best last week for Derby-winning trainer Jennifer O'Donnell and should take heat four.
Heat five is possibly the race of the weekend in Ireland. Superstar trackers Serene Ace, Good Cody, Swords Rex, and Bockos Budsit all line up in this heat. Although Good Cody was Sprinter of the Year in 2021, Serene Ace has the better early pace. Swords Rex produced a stunning performance to win at Shelbourne Park on Derby final night, but consistency with his trapping has become an issue. If he can get a nice pitch early, he has a chance, and similar comments apply to Bockos Budsit. It should be a cracking contest and worthy of the entrance fee alone, but I'll side with Serene Ace to make all.
Weekend's best bets
Oxford, Friday – 20:05
Oxford, Friday – 20:25
Greyhound
Lively Lauren
Bet Type
Win
Stake
2 units
*Odds correct at time of publication