Paul Wheeler runner-by-runner greyhound tips & preview | 21/12
This Saturday night at Wentworth Park, the Group 1 Paul Wheeler “Simply the Best” race will be run and won at about 9:42pm.
The race started life as the St. Ledger in 1957 before becoming the Paws of Thunder more recently and now the Paul Wheeler Simply the Best.
The race pays tribute to a legend of our sport who sadly passed away on his Murringo (near Young in NSW) property in 2021. He has undoubtedly had the most significant influence on greyhound breeding and racing in Australia.
Here is the runner-by-runner betting preview of the big race:
Can Paw Oswald win the Paul Wheeler Simply The Best?
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1 Paw Oswald
T: Mark DelbridgeF: 26862Career: 21: 7-4-4Prizemoney: $33,465
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This Victorian chaser is a Wheeler breed greyhound, and it would be fitting for him to win this race; however, he will need to improve to do so. He went toe-to-toe with Blue Kermaro in the heats and just couldn’t get past that dog. The box draw will undoubtedly help him slightly, and if he can begin better and hold the fence, he will be in for a strong chance.
Can Blue Kermaro win the Paul Wheeler Simply The Best?
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2 Blue Kermaro
T: Joshua FormosaF: 12321Career: 30: 10-5-6Prizemoney: $1,104,030
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Blue Kermaro is the current Million Dollar Chase champion who has only had four starts since that win back in October. However, his heat win suggests there might be more improvement left in the tank from the heats. He began well in a small field and took control early before running a very quick final section to put the heat beyond doubt. He draws very nicely in box two as the Picklebet favourite and should probably lead this field, which will be problematic for his competitors.
Can I’m A Mustang win the Paul Wheeler Simply The Best?
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3 I’m A Mustang
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Another talented Victorian who was the surprise winner of the Dalwhinnie heat. He had to work very hard from box eight to get a position and then was held up trying to get a rails run at the home turn. His 29.52 heat win could have been much quicker, and he did hit the line strongly, suggesting that if he gets the soft trail across to sit behind Blue Kermaro or the leader early, with a rails shot turning for home, he is the genuine danger in this race at $6.50 odds with the top greyhound bookmakers.
Can Zipping Chaplin win the Paul Wheeler Simply The Best?
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4 Zipping Chaplin
T: Courtney BarnesF: 11331Career: 38: 17-4-7Prizemoney: $95,220
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Zipping Chaplin has been in great form, winning his last two in great fashion. He never looked like winning his heat until 50m from home when he unleashed a withering final sprint. However, the time of 29.75 was not fantastic in a six-dog heat. He cannot afford to be giving the two dogs underneath him a head start, or he will not be running them down. He will need to nail the start but realistically lacks the pace to cross the inside brigade.
Can Boston Banner win the Paul Wheeler Simply The Best?
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5 Boston Banner
T: Barry GibbonsF: 23515Career: 46: 15-7-8Prizemoney: $89,430
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Boston Banner did a nice job of trying to hang on to the tail of the flying Gets Late Early in his heat and eventually only getting beaten by a length and qualifying for the final. He draws terribly for this final as he usually takes a few meters to get going and isn’t the best beginner in the race. He is likely to find trouble from this draw and will probably start the outsider of the field with Neds bookmakers.
Can Sammy Ethan win the Paul Wheeler Simply The Best?
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6 Sammy Ethan
T: Mark GattF: 24111Career: 45: 14-10-11Prizemoney: $97,710
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Sammy Ethan was probably the most consistent greyhound coming into the heats but the step up to Group 1 level found him out. He did a great job to lead his heat and showed good dash, but he tired severely in the last 100m and the time that was run in his heat was not comparable to the other heats. He is terrible drawn in box six, but his pace may have him contesting at the first turn. But he will start long odds at Dabble, and a win would be a surprise.
Can You Never Lose win the Paul Wheeler Simply The Best?
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7 You Never Lose
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You Never Lose has been a Group 2 Black Top finalist and a Group 3 Maitland Gold Cup finalist but has always been just one step away from Group 1 class. He ran second to I’m A Mustang in his heat and it would be hard to see him overturning that result. He does handle wide boxes well and he has never been unplaced at Wentworth Park, so will be a punchers chance. He is an each way chance at double figure odds from this box at PlayUp.
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8 Gets Late Early
T: Melinda FinnF: 11461Career: 68: 25-13-8Prizemoney: $221,725
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Gets Late Early just keeps finding ways to win and will be right in this race. She ran exceptional early sectional times to set up her heat victory and if she runs 5.35secs for the first sectional again in this final may well cross and lead this field which would create a pile up behind her and may just let her get away for a win. She handles wide boxes well and has won 11 races on the track. Her heat time of 29.60 was marginally slower than Blue Kermaro but if she nails the start and crosses to the fence, she will be extremely hard to run down.
Paul Wheeler selections & top bets
With the Paul Wheeler “Simply the Best” shaping up to be one of the most competitive Group 1 finals in recent memory, nearly every runner has a case to claim the title.
The importance of the inside draw and early pace means this race could hinge on the first sectional and which greyhound handles the first bend best.
The $2.60 odds for Blue Kermaro with the top Australian betting apps makes him a standout pick, given his dominant heat win and ideal box draw.
I’m A Mustang, at $6.50, will be dangerous if he secures an early position, while Paw Oswald at $4.00 offers value with his inside draw. For punters looking for place odds, the $13 available for Zipping Chaplin is hard to ignore.
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2
BLUE KERMARO
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3
I’M A MUSTANG
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4
ZIPPING CHAPLIN
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1
PAW OSWALD
2024 Paul Wheeler Best Bets – Wentworth Park Race 8 – 21/12/24
Paul Wheeler Best Bet
Race 8 – 
Blue Kermaro (2)
Form: 12321 | Career: 30: 10-5-6 | Trainer: Joshua Formosa