9.30pm Saturday week, and it will be just six left!
By Jim Cremin (Racing Post 2:02PM 18 MAY 2016)
AFTER all the helter-skelter surrounding the intended run-off between Badmoonrising and Jaytee Jet following their dead-heat for the last qualifying place on Saturday, its cancellation (no longer necessary following the withdrawal of Farloe Cody) then led to a relatively relaxed draw on Wednesday.
Yet the last 48 is when the Derby screw begins to tighten because it's the first of three quick runs: Saturday - Tuesday - Saturday.
Some greyhounds love it, others won't. By 9.30pm on Saturday week, May 28 we will know the six finalists, set for the week all owners and trainers dream of . . . with the Derby lunch waiting on the following Tuesday.
Of course anything that can go wrong may yet do so, whether a transport break down, sickness or racing collision.
But the sheer excitement of everyone involved is a joy, Wimbledon for the next fortnight is the centre of the greyhound universe, all those involved in Saturday have a shot at glory.
Here's a quick look at the heats
Heat 1
Ballymac Brogan looked superb last week, razor sharp and is set to ping out from trap five. Blue Cafu will go up fast from trap one, Old Joe Golden is perfectly drawn in six, while Castell Henry is a proper competition dog who will be battling on. Noirs Allen and Ceroc Grumpy are the outsiders.
Heat 2
Droopys Latina is progressive though seems to run all over the place! Droopys Turin will press in from two, unbeaten Jaytee Dutch needs to break better, as does Bockos Bolasie. California has an edge on the draw in six, while Bubbly Torpedo looks set for a nice run up from five.
Heat 3
Ballymac Matt was awesome last week, and has the draw. Lenson Sanchez is also unbeaten in the event, while Calzaghe Billy has proven that he is more than capable. The Paul Young pair on the outside have plenty of pace, as does Charlie's Blakes Turbo. This is going to be a right cavalry charge to the bend
Heat 4
Southfield Jock will need a fast break to avoid On Alert. The inside pair are battlers, Ballymac Darragh is capable of better, while Newlawn Ned showed great heart to go through. If Southfield Jock breaks, he puts it to bed, if he doesn't, suddenly it's wide open.
Heat 5
Jaytee Jet somehow survived his moment of disaster last Saturday when carted very wide at the first. He has a great pitch and should assert early. That said, Domino Storm has won her last eight! She has 36 wins on her card from 74 starts. That is incredible. She is in two with Kentish Duke and Stay Loose set to cut in from three and four. Charlie runs a pair here with Cloran Paddy and Stay Loose - who has faced (and run well against) two superstars so far in Eden The Kid and then Droopys Roddick. Imperial Express looks to be improving and has a decent draw.
Heat 6
Hiya Butt is another of the unbeaten runners and has trap one again. Peregrine Falcon looks in great heart. Shaneboy Freddie is highly regarded by Kevin Boon, while both the outside pair Lenso Santi and Corssfield Molly ran together last week and showed real zip. Honour And Glory will be an outsider but that hasn't worried him so far either.
Heat 7
Eden The Kid v. Droopys Roddick. The fact You Never Listen is sitting inside Roddick with trap one gives an advantage to The Kid, but it looks a tremendous race in prospect. The Kid of course is unbeaten in the Derby so far, and has been fantastic. Droopys Roddick is better pitched in two (had three and four previously), You Never Listen will need a break. The other three, Deanridge Madbye, Be Up Front and Stay Lucky face a stiff task, yet have all run well here.
Heat 8
Charlie's Boyneside Fun is unbeaten in this Derby, and has the draw. He will take stopping. However, Lenson Rocky and Clondoty Alex both won nicely in the second round and are bang in form. Ginas Lad, a Mark Wallis-trained kennelmate to Clondoty Alex (who he beat in the opening round) is also running well. Paul Young will be seeking to freshen up Droopys Ambition after her antics on the run-in in the second round, while Dragon Overlord is the likely outsider.
See you on Saturday, use the special voucher that offers free admission for four, cards and a free pint that is carried in the Racing Post - but get there early, not only to beat the queues. Racing starts at 6.38pm. Heat one is 7.11pm.
The quarter-final draw will be after the last heat.