Top Dogs Come Highly Recommended in Weekend Finals
Greyhound racing fans are in for a treat with two Category-1 finals set to take place this weekend. Both races – the Champion Stakes and Kent Derby – are worth £20,000 to the winner, and both contests feature a short-priced favourite. So far, market principles have fared well in both competitions. Will the bookies be left licking their wounds once again?
Romford stages the first major final when six greyhounds will go to the traps for the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes. The competition was first staged at Wimbledon in 1947 and remained at the south London venue until 1973. Following a hiatus, the race was transferred to Romford in 1988.
Hollow Man won the 2023 Champion Stakes as the odds-on favourite. Will New Destiny complete an excellent run for favourite backers in 2024’s edition of the contest? ©Steve Nash
Raced over the Essex track’s sharp 575-metre six-bend distance, Dads Flier, trained at nearby Walthamstow by John Sherry, won the first ‘new era’ edition of the Champion Stakes. Since then, Mark Wallis has landed the Champion Stakes a record-equalling four times, and he has an outstanding chance of taking that record to five on Friday.
Happy Days as Destiny Draws Red Vest
Wallis’ representative, New Destiny, scored by just a head in the competition’s semi-final, but it was a fine effort given the three-year-old was forced to come from off the pace to win her 19th outing in her 38-race career. The best sports betting sites now make her even-money to complete an unbeaten sequence in the valuable contest.
In a race where five runners are classified as ‘railers’, New Destiny’s connections would have been delighted when their star drew trap-1 in the Champion Stakes decider. When the favourite started alongside the inside fence in the opening round, she won by over seven lengths, recording the fastest time of the competition.
Champion Stakes – Recent Winners
| Year | Winner | Winning Time | Trainer | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hollow Man | 34.96 | Derek Knight (Hove) | 8/13 |
| 2022 | Warzone Tom | 34.89 | Liz McNair (Unattached) | 8/15 |
| 2021 | Night Time Danny | 34.94 | Steve Rayner (Henlow) | 3/1 |
| 2020 | Desperado Dan | 34.93 | Patrick Janssens (Central Park) | 10/3 |
| 2019 | Aayamza Express | 34.90 | Mark Wallis (Henlow) | 6/4 |
| 2018 | Bombers Bullet | 34.97 | Mark Wallis (Henlow) | 5/2 |
| 2017 | Murrys Act | 35.15 | Kevin Boon (Yarmouth) | 5/2 |
| 2016 | Ascot Woodie | 35.40 | John Mullins (Yarmouth) | 8/1 |
| 2015 | Patchys Kerry | 35.58 | Mark Wallis (Towcester) | 7/1 |
| 2014 | Millwards Master | 35.02 | Paul Young (Romford) | 14/1 |
On paper, trap-2 runner Aayamza Sidney could run New Destiny close as he led the market principle until close home in last weekend’s semi-final. However, starting on his rival’s inside was a definite advantage and one he will not enjoy on Friday. Similarly, a second unbeaten finalist, Gary The Arb, will not find his starting lane (trap 4) to his liking.
Based on the trap draw, and as the only wide runner in the field, Noirs News has the best make-up in the race. Crowding amongst his rivals heading for the inner rail will help his cause considerably, albeit he had no answer to New Destiny’s devastating pace in the opening round.
Best prices for Friday’s Champion Stakes final: 1/1 New Destiny, 3/1 Aayamza Sidney, 4/1 Gary The Arb, 8/1 Noirs News, 16/1 Golden Palace, 16/1 Nowitsmyturn.
On Song Memphis a Central Park Hit
At Central Park Stadium, the 25th Kent Derby looks at the mercy of King Memphis. Rested since beaten as favourite for the Greyhound Derby in June, the 2023 Puppy Derby and Olympic winner started no bigger than 1/4 in his four subsequent races. He has won them all, bettering Central Park’s track record twice.
🏆 PREMIER GREYHOUND RACING KENT DERBY 🏆
Semi Final 2️⃣
🚨 NEW TRACK RECORD 🚨
✅ King Memphis
✅ Droopys DisplayHow GOOD is this greyhound 🤩
King Memphis SMASHES his own track record and sails into next week's £20,000 final❗
⏱️ 28.57
Race replay 👇#CentralPark 🐾 pic.twitter.com/2UxFX7U2ur
— Central Park Stadium (@centralparkdogs) October 12, 2024
Sports betting sites have a mixed opinion on King Memphis’s chances, with his ante-post odds varying between 4/6 and 4/9. Likewise, the second favourite, El Tornillo, can be backed at 3/1 odds while trading on 9/4 with some firms. Sectional times suggest El Tornillo can lead the field in the early stages of the contest, and he has only a length to find with his rival on overall clockings.
However, it should be noted that the punters have got this competition right at every juncture. All six heat winners started as favourites, and two of the three semi-finals also fell to the market leaders. With all his form at the highest level, King Memphis deserves his place at the top of the betting and has the class to land another valuable Category-1 competition.
| Recommended Bet | Win Double |
|---|---|
| New Destiny | 9.11 pm Romford, Friday |
| King Memphis | 9.11 pm Central Park, Saturday |
