Loyal Honcho could do it...

…win the Greyhound Derby; that is.






I was disappointed that Loyal Honcho was beaten into 2nd place by the bitch Dilemmas Flight but there are excuses for that because in the semi-final the traps failed to open and the dogs had to be removed from their traps and checked over by the vet.

It did not affect Dilemmas Flight, a more experienced dog, who flew out of the trap on the second attempt, and showed the field a clean pair of heels all the way to the finish!

Loyal Honcho looked all at sea when it emerged out of its trap and it took a long time to catch Dilemmas Flight; a dog that will take a lot of beating in the final.

Looking at the graph the signs are that the three that ought to be involved in the finish are trap 3 Dillemmas Flight, trap 5 Loyal Honcho and trap 6 Westmead Lord.

Loyal Honcho’s figures show that it has some consistently good times except for the last run which shows a dip; if it can recover from the effects of that last run I think it will win.

Dilemmas Flight’s last 4 runs are ultra-consistent and can’t be ignored but I think Loyal Honcho will just shade it. In fact I have placed a further 4 points win on Honcho at 7/4; but I've missed the value because it is available at 9/4 now.

Westmead Lord’s performance looks on a par with Ullid Connor’s, except for its last run and should run a lively race from the outside trap 6.

But anything can happen in the Derby ; remember how Razldazl Billy came from out of the clouds to pulverise the opposition in last year’s Irish Derby ? I hope Ullid Conor doesn’t do the same!

I have 86 points in the Dream Dogs Competition – the leaders have over 100; so I have no chance.

Come racing!!