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Greyhounds Betting Update; Perry Barr 21:45 race odds
Added: (Thu Jan 08 2009)
Birmingham Cup
Amazingly it’s less than four months to the start of the Greyhound Derby, and the search for the winner of the ultimate prize resumes with the Birmingham Cup, the first major four bend prize of the new season at Perry Barr on Friday.
And if there is to be a Derby winner emerge from the thirty six runners, it’s most likely to be Charlie Lister’s major classic hope Fear Zafonic.
Always highly regarded – he’s a half brother to Lister’s high class pairing of Ninja Jamie and Farloe Reason – Fear Zafonic clocked an incredible 2717 for the 460m at Wimbledon in a trial just before Christmas. And for those to whom that means little, it is almost two lengths faster than the track record, and that on his first look at the Derby circuit! Given he had been off injured since finishing third in the Manchester Puppy Cup in September it the was performance of a future champion, and while I resisted the temptation to jump on the Derby bandwagon in my Christmas preview I have no hesitation in recommending an interest for the Birmingham Cup.
Admittedly in a thirty-six runner event – the competition is staged over three rounds, with the final live on Sky Sports on 22nd January – there are those who will crab the outright odds, but I actually thought he might be even shorter, especially after coming through his comeback race at Nottingham on Monday with a comfortable win, and that after mistiming the start! Always likely to come on for that race, Lister’s runner will improve through the event, and has the Racing Post Juvenile back at Wimbledon in early March as his mid range target.
There are, of course, thirty-five other runners to consider, but while the field boasts plenty of strength in depth, there are few other stand out performers.
Of the next few in the market, Shaneboy Luke still appears partially priced on reputation, although admittedly he is clocking up some decent performances. Cabra Fly, drawn in Fear Zafonic’s heat (three qualify), has plenty of early pace and is closely matched both on form and in the betting with Killough Belles, unbeaten in two previous Perry Barr starts. However, for those looking for a bigger price I suggest Mountjoy Gold, whose consistency has seen him out of the first three only once in sixteen starts, and he clocked a rapid time in a trial over the CD last week. But whether he can beat Fear Zafonic is, of course, an entirely different question!
Recommended Bets - Fear Zafonic 4 pts win Draw
Recommended Bets - Mountjoy Gold 1 pt e/w Draw
• All prices correct at time of writing.
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