We run the rule over Saturday's greyhounds action and pick out our best bets and race-by-race selections.
BEST BET: Ballymac Manix (T5, 7.16 Towcester)
NEXT BEST: Pacey Bambi (T1, 8.21 Towcester)
TREBLE: Droopys Acrobat (T2, 8.56 Towcester)
By Chris Oliver
The waiting is over and it is finally Star Sports Derby final time at Towcester tonight.
From 194 hopefuls four weeks ago, we are now down to six with all eyes on the £175,000 shoot-out at 8.56 this evening, live on Sky Sports 5.
The first Derby at its new home has been a huge success, both on and off the track, and the much-anticipated decider sees Clares Rocket bid to complete an unbeaten run through the Classic.
Graham Holland’s dog has grown throughout the event and having really lived up to his name with two brilliant performances last week, is a best price of 5/4 to capture the biggest prize in the sport.
The big question can he replicate last week’s ping break now swapping the red jacket for white?
He smashed out to a best-of-the-competition 5.10 sectional last Saturday and did everything right, yet Tyrur Shay still got within two lengths of the favourite.
Anything less than a paw-perfect start tonight could see him fail to clear the pace of Hiya Butt and Droopys Acrobat on his inside, and that could set it up perfectly for PJ Fahy’s charge.
The track record holder latter has dazzled the crowds with his fast-finishing efforts and a battle for the lead among the speedsters would give him a huge chance, with the 9/4 available with Stan James very tempting.
Hiya Butt booked his place in a second consecutive final when making all last week and, a stronger animal this year, may not come back to them too easily if slipping clear on the rails again.
However, Droopys Acrobat got within three-quarters of a length of Hayley Keightley’s charge despite taking a bump from the winner and then Droops Buick round the opening turns.
Seamus Cahill’s inmate matched Hiya Butt to the corner and could represent the value at 14/1 in a tricky final.
One of two Seamus Cahill runners in the final along with Astute Missile, he matched Hiya Butt to the corner last week and could represent the value at 14/1 in a tricky final.
Admittedly he will need a flying start of trap one to miss a beat out of the boxes to get first run, but he has plenty of early dash himself and is plenty strong enough when getting on the bunny, as shown by his 28.92 (calculated) romp in the quarter finals.
It’s a fantastic card at the Northamptonshire track, with five other finals on the menu and some red-hot one-off races.
The Star Sports Champion Hurdle final sees old rivals Razldazl Raidio and Ballymac Manix (T5) go head-to-head again at 7.16.
The latter came out on top when springing a 6/1 surprise in the heats but there was no fluke about that five-length triumph, as he out-paced his Ricky Holloway’s reigning champion to the corner and put in a perfect round of jumping to set new figures for the course and distance.
If anything, Cahill’s charge is entitled to come on for that first run in well over a month after an injury-hit campaign and the Grand National hero rates good value against the favourite.
Bruisers Bullet is a warm order for the Derby Invitation at 8.21 but suffered a very bumpy ride in the Derby quarters and semi-finals and there could be value to be found in taking him on with Pacey Bambi (T1).
An impressive winner from the front in the first three rounds of the main event, Paul Young’s charge missed the kick and found trouble in the quarters but has a lovely make-up on the rails from which to cut loose.
He has tremendous early gears and looks capable of getting clear beyond recall.
Saturday's race-by-race picks
BELLE VUE
7.30 (1-6-4)
7.46 (6-4-1)
8.02 (3-1-4)
8.18 (2-6-1)
8.34 (6-2-5)
8.50 (3-2-6)
9.06 (4-3-6)
9.22 (1-2-6)
9.38 (6-3-4)
9.54 (3-1-6)
10.10 (5(Nap)-2-3)
10.25 (4(nb)-2-1)
CENTRAL PARK
6.33 (3-4-5)
6.49 (2-6-5)
7.06 (6-4-5)
7.21 (5(Nap)-6-3)
7.36 (6-3-1)
7.53 (1-5-6)
8.09 (4-3-6)
8.26 (6(nb)-1-5)
8.44 (1-5-2)
9.01 (1-4-3)
9.18 (6-1-3)
9.33 (3-6-4)
CRAYFORD
10.38 (6(Nap)-1-3)
10.53 (6(nb)-5-1)
11.07 (6-1-5)
11.23 (1-2-6)
11.37 (5-4-1)
11.51 (5-6-4)
12.08 (6-5-2)
12.24 (4-6-3)
12.39 (2-5-6)
12.57 (3-6-4)
1.11 (1-4-5)
1.27 (6-5-4)
1.44 (3-1-2)
1.58 (3-6-5)
7.31 (1-4-5)
7.47 (3-4-1)
8.02 (6-1-5)
8.18 (6-3-1)
8.34 (1(Nap)-4-3)
8.50 (6-1-3)
9.06 (1-4-3)
9.24 (1(nb)-5-6)
9.40 (6-4-2)
9.56 (3-5-6)
10.11 (4-3-1)
10.26 (1-5-2)
HALL GREEN
7.35 (5-1-4)
7.50 (3(Nap)-5-1)
8.05 (1(nb)-2-4)
8.20 (6-2-3)
8.35 (2-3-6)
8.50 (1-6-4)
9.05 (3-4-2)
9.20 (5-4-2)
9.35 (3-6-1)
9.50 (1-6-2)
HARLOW
7.35 (3-1-6)
7.52 (1-2-3)
8.09 (6(Nap)-1-4)
8.26 (1-2-4)
8.43 (2-1-4)
9.00 (2-3-6)
9.17 (5-6-2)
9.34 (5-1-2)
9.51 (3(nb)-1-2)
10.08 (1-3-6)
HENLOW
7.45 (3-1-5)
8.03 (1-2-5)
8.21 (3(Nap)-2-4)
8.39 (1(nb)-3-6)
8.57 (2-1-5)
9.15 (4-2-1)
9.33 (2-3-4)
9.48 (5-2-4)
HOVE
7.31 (1(Nap)-2-4)
7.46 (1-3-4)
8.02 (2-6-5)
8.18 (3-4-6)
8.34 (6-1-3)
8.51 (1-6-3)
9.07 (1-4-6)
9.24 (1-2-6)
9.41 (1(nb)-6-3)
9.57 (2-1-5)
10.13 (4-1-6)
10.30 (4-6-1)
KINSLEY
7.33 (4-3-6)
7.47 (5-6-1)
8.01 (2(Nap)-5-4)
8.15 (5-4-6)
8.29 (2-1-6)
8.43 (1-4-2)
8.57 (1-3-5)
9.11 (4-1-2)
9.25 (2-6-5)
9.39 (1-6-2)
9.53 (3(nb)-4-2)
10.07 (1-5-6)
10.21 (6-1-2)
10.35 (4-6-2)
MONMORE
6.33 (1-4-3)
6.49 (1-2-5)
7.06 (3-6-2)
7.22 (4-3-1)
7.37 (1-2-3)
7.53 (6-1-4)
8.09 (2-1-3)
8.24 (3(Nap)-5-1)
8.41 (6(nb)-3-2)
8.57 (3-4-5)
9.12 (2-6-4)
9.30 (4-1-6)
9.45 (4-2-3)
10.00 (6-1-4)
NEWCASTLE
2.24 (1-4-6)
2.42 (6-5-3)
2.58 (3-4-1)
3.18 (6-2-1)
3.37 (3(Nap)-2-5)
3.53 (2(nb)-3-6)
4.14 (6-4-5)
4.28 (5-2-6)
4.47 (3-4-1)
5.07 (3-1-5)
5.27 (4-5-2)
5.44 (6-3-1)
5.58 (2-6-3)
6.16 (6-5-4)
7.39 (3-4-5)
7.54 (6(Nap)-2-5)
8.10 (1(nb)-3-2)
8.26 (1-5-6)
8.42 (5-6-3)
8.58 (3-6-1)
9.15 (1-4-3)
9.32 (6-4-3)
9.48 (1-2-6)
10.03 (1-4-2)
10.18 (2-5-3) 10.35 (3-6-1)
NOTTINGHAM
7.22 (3-6-4)
7.37 (3(Nap)-5-6)
7.52 (2-5-6)
8.07 (1(nb)-5-6)
8.22 (3-1-4)
8.37 (5-6-4)
8.52 (6-4-2)
9.07 (5-4-2)
9.22 (5-4-2)
9.37 (3-5-2)
9.52 (3-1-2)
10.07 (4-2-3)
10.22 (1-6-3)
10.37 (6-5-4)
PELAW GRANGE
7.30 (4(Nap)-1-6)
7.50 (2-6-5)
8.10 (5-4-2)
8.30 (5-4-3)
8.50 (5(nb)-2-3)
9.10 (5-2-6)
9.30 (3-2-1)
9.50 (3-6-4)
PERRY BARR
7.40 (4(Nap)-6-2)
7.56 (5-1-2)
8.12 (1-5-6)
8.28 (6-5-3)
8.44 (1-6-2)
9.00 (6-4-2)
9.16 (6-3-2)
9.32 (1(nb)-2-5)
9.48 (4-2-5)
10.04 (2-1-4)
PETERBOROUGH
6.38 (2-1-3)
6.56 (3-4-6)
7.11 (4-6-5)
7.26 (2-3-4)
7.43 (1-5-4)
7.59 (5(Nap)-3-1)
8.16 (5-6-3)
8.33 (6-1-5)
8.51 (1-5-6)
9.08 (5-1-6)
9.24 (1-6-3)
9.39 (6-2-1)
9.54 (1-3-6)
10.09 (6(nb)-5-1)
10.24 (5-6-3)
POOLE
7.37 (3(Nap)-6-4)
7.52 (2-5-3)
8.07 (2-5-6)
8.22 (3-1-4)
8.37 (6-1-2)
8.52 (1-5-4)
9.07 (1-5-3)
9.22 (1(nb)-6-5)
9.37 (5-2-1)
9.52 (2-4-3)
10.07 (4-1-5)
10.22 (2-4-6)
ROMFORD
10.31 (2-3-6)
10.46 (5-1-3)
11.00 (6-3-4)
11.16 (3-5-2)
11.31 (1-3-4)
11.44 (1-5-2)
11.58 (2-1-3)
12.17 (5(Nap)-3-6)
12.33 (2-4-6)
12.47 (4(nb)-6-1)
1.04 (6-2-3)
1.19 (2-6-1)
1.33 (3-6-5)
1.49 (6-2-4)
7.30 (5-4-3)
7.45 (3(Nap)-2-1)
8.01 (3-1-2)
8.17 (4-6-3)
8.32 (4-5-1)
8.48 (1-2-4)
9.04 (5-4-3)
9.20 (2(nb)-4-5)
9.36 (6-1-2)
9.52 (2-3-1)
10.08 (1-3-2)
10.24 (5-2-4)
10.40 (5-4-3)
SHAWFIELD
7.50 (2-4-3)
8.08 (3(nb)-1-4)
8.26 (2(Nap)-4-1)
8.44 (3-4-1)
9.02 (1-5-2)
9.20 (1-5-3)
9.38 (1-5-3)
9.55 (1-4-2)
10.10 (1-5-2)
SHEFFIELD
7.25 (4(nb)-1-2)
7.40 (2-5-1)
7.55 (1-4-5)
8.10 (2-1-5)
8.25 (5-3-2)
8.40 (1-5-6)
8.55 (6-5-1)
9.10 (2-5-6)
9.25 (2-1-3)
9.40 (2(Nap)-4-3)
9.55 (4-2-3)
10.10 (4-2-3)
10.25 (4-5-3)
10.40 (1-3-5)
SUNDERLAND
7.30 (1-3-6)
7.47 (5(Nap)-6-1)
8.04 (1(nb)-5-6)
8.20 (2-5-3)
8.36 (4-1-6)
8.52 (3-4-2)
9.08 (5-2-3)
9.24 (1-3-6)
9.40 (6-5-2)
9.56 (5-1-6)
10.13 (1-6-5)
10.30 (1-6-5)
SWINDON
7.25 (1-5-3)
7.41 (1-4-3)
7.57 (5(Nap)-1-3)
8.13 (2-4-3)
8.29 (1-3-2)
8.45 (4-3-6)
9.04 (5-6-1)
9.20 (2-3-1)
9.36 (6-5-3)
9.52 (2-1-3)
10.08 (6(nb)-4-1)
10.23 (4-6-3)
TOWCESTER
10.06 (8-4-3)
10.24 (3-2-5)
10.43 (6(nb)-1-4)
10.58 (6-2-7)
11.13 (8(Nap)-3-7)
11.29 (4-6-2)
11.48 (2-7-1)
12.04 (1-7-8)
6.28 (6-1-3)
6.44 (1-5-3)
7.01 (4-6-3)
7.16 (5(Nap)-6-3)
7.31 (2-1-6)
7.48 (4-2-6)
8.04 (2-6-5)
8.21 (1(nb)-2-6)
8.38 (1-7-6)
8.56 (2-5-3)
9.25 (2-8-4)
9.45 (1-5-4)
10.10 (1-5-4)
10.30 (1-8-2)
YARMOUTH
7.30 (1-3-5)
7.45 (2(Nap)-3-1)
8.00 (6-2-3)
8.15 (3-4-6)
8.29 (6-1-3)
8.43 (4(nb)-1-5)
8.57 (4-6-3)
9.11 (6-1-4)
9.25 (2-4-5)
9.39 (6-3-1)
9.53 (4-6-2)
10.07 (4-1-3)
10.21 (3-5-4)
10.35 (6-3-5)