The dust may have settled after the conclusion of the Irish Derby, but the opening of the new track at Dunstall Park has brought some good news this side of the pond, writes Peter Walker.
Personally, I would have liked to see the track designed with the topography of Shelbourne in mind.
If Dunstall Park is interested in hosting the English Derby, the standard 480m distance may put them at a disadvantage.
I cannot see the event being run over less than 500m now, but perhaps an extra 20m could be found by adjusting the start and finish positions.
Watch this space, as next year’s venue is now up for tender.
Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks
The Oaks has already started and is certainly one of the best competitions on the calendar.
The organizers did very well to achieve a near full house, especially with several other high-profile open competitions starting around the same time.
Although we do not want to lose any category one’s next year, the timings may need to be adjusted slightly to avoid too many clashes in the open race calendar.
The event received a massive boost with the participation of Droopys Kathleen, widely regarded as the best Irish bitch.
The stage is set for some thrilling showdowns, with Bombay Pat joining the fray in the Kent Derby.
This is just the start of a concerted campaign and they are in it for the long haul!
Ratings
In the second round, ratings are calculated independently for each heat. The analysis includes an Advantage Index (referred to as the Advantage Quotient in my publication), which highlights the potential or perceived margin between the top two rated figures.
At this stage, Droopys Kathleen is now odds-on in the ante-post market, with Strike It Skye a clear second ahead of the other rivals.
It is hard to see beyond those two at the moment, and I imagine punters latched onto them even before the first round last Friday.
If you’re seeking value elsewhere, it may be wise to wait until after the second round, when the semi-final allocations are determined, to see how the main contenders are placed in terms of trap and race distribution – assuming both qualify, of course, as nothing is guaranteed.
