PricedUp.Bet Derby Plate Final- Preview

PricedUp.Bet Derby Plate Final

The Final of the PricedUp.Bet Derby Plate takes place at Towcester on Saturday at 8.39pm as part of a fantastic 15-race card supporting the StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby Final. £2500 awaits the winner, and we take a look at the runners as well as their best odds currently available.

Kilmore Dancer- Best Price 5/1 PricedUp.Bet

Mark Wallis’s Kilmore Dancer last won a race back in February and was a first round casualty in the StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby but has ran well in defeat in both heat and semi-final. He finished runner-up behind Scooby The Boss in the heats, and finishing third behind Lennies Desire in the semi-final having stayed on well after trouble round the opening bends on both occasions. 

He has drawn the red box for only the fifth time in his 23rd start but has won on two of those occasions, finishing runner-up on the other two. Will probably need to improve on his best recent time of 28.91 but has a 28.77 to his name back in January and could go close with a clearer run round the opening bends at his odds of 5/1 could prove to be appealing to punters.

The Other Boss- Best Price 8/1 BoyleSports, Skybet, Paddy Power

Likely to be last in the early stages, but nothing will be finishing stronger than Carol Weatherall’s The Other Boss. Having found early trouble when eliminated from the StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby first round behind defending champion De Lahdedah, he was sent off at 20/1 for both heat and semi-final behind Val Tashadelek and Scooby The Boss. 

The Other Boss stayed on strongly in the later stages to finish third on both occasions which was enough for him to qualify for the final. Hasn’t won a race since winning a six-bend contest at Oxford in March and may find a couple too good with a best time of 28.92. He could have some each way value if his price were to drift in the market and could be one to include in forecast and tricast bets.

Romeo Tomcat- Best Price 6/5 PricedUp.Bet

With the withdrawal on Monday of the favourite Lennies Desire due to an injury picked up in his semi-final victory, Romeo Tomcat now sits at the head of the betting at 6/5F. And it’s easy to see why. His performance in the first round of the StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby, where he finished just under a length behind Val Tashadelek in 28.68, is probably the best piece of form on show in this final, though his two runner-up performances behind Lennies Desire, in heat and semi-final, the first of which being a track record run from the winner, aren’t too far behind. 

He has shown that he can be hit and miss from the traps in recent weeks, but if able to hit the front on the inside in the early stages with Kilmore Dancer and The Other Boss not especially fast into stride, then he could prove tough to reel in and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him trading at odds on come Saturday evening for trainer Patrick Janssens.

Scooby The Boss- Best Price 7/2 William Hill

With the withdrawal of Lennies Desire on Monday, the Nathan Hunt-trained Scooby The Boss is the only undefeated runner left in the competition, and has solid claims of landing the hat-trick in this final. Scooby The Boss was eliminated from the StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby at the second round stage, finishing fourth in a tough heat behind Dynamic Force and Hello Diego, and following a quick trip to Hove, has won both heat and semi-final of this competition. 

He was brave when taking up the lead at the third bend in his heat, holding off the challenge of Kilmore Dancer late, but made all the running in impressive fashion in his semi-final, recording 28.84 in doing so off a 4.03 sectional to defeat Deliveroo by four lengths. Has a tricky looking draw to overcome but a repeat of last week’s performance would put him bang in contention at the finish and the 7/2 odds on offer is a fair reflection of his chance.

Deliveroo- Best Price 8/1 William Hill

Hasn’t won a race since winning a puppy contest on Judgement Night at Perry Barr in March, but has finished runner-up in three of his last four starts and this would be an ideal time to go one place better. A third round casualty of the StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby behind Singalong Molly, Tom Heilbron’s Deliveroo has finished runner-up in both heat and semi-final of this competition behind Val Tashadelek and Scooby The Boss, with a best recent time of 28.90 to his name. 

Early pace is the name of his game and with recent sectionals of 4.00 and 4.04 to his name, Deliveroo will be looking to produce another of those breaks, and with Scooby The Boss inside likely to be heading across to the rails, he could have plenty of room into the first bend to work with and if able to build up an early lead, then he could prove tough to reel in. Having gone off at 20/1 and 12/1 for his two previous contests, his current best price of 8/1 looks to be about right in this competitive five runner affair, although he may find a couple too good at the finish, he could easily give punters a good run for their money if able to turn the opening bends in front.

Verdict

The withdrawal of recent track record holder Lennies Desire has taken some of the gloss off this final, but it still looks to be a competitive affair, though much will depend on Romeo Tomcat at the traps. If the Patrick Janssens runner can produce one of his better breaks, he has shown with times of 28.68 and 28.71 in recent weeks that he would take plenty of catching in this field. 

However, he can be hit and miss from the traps and if he were to miss it, it could fall into the paws of Scooby The Boss, who could go close to making all the running with one of his better breaks. At the prices, I think Kilmore Dancer could be the value call. He has stayed on well in defeat despite crowding at the first bend in his last two starts, and with slow starting The Other Boss on his outside, he could get the clearer passage that he needs and could prove too strong at the finish if that’s the case.