Favourites Receive Tough Draw For Finals

The fastest qualifiers for next Saturday's finals of the Group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby and Futurity have been given tricky draws and given both Wentworth Park races an open appearance.

Out Of Range and Fernando Express, who each won their Derby heats in 29.91, have drawn four and seven respectively in the Derby while Slingshot Gypsy, whose 30.19 heat win last Saturday night, set the Futurity Time standard, has drawn box eight.

Fernando Express led throughout from box two to win his heat and trainer Robert Britton was hoping for an inside draw in the final.

"He does not always show explosive speed from the boxes," Britton said.

Out Of Range's trainer, Seona Thompson was more upbeat, saying: "I thought box three, four or five would have been okay for my dog in the final so box four is all right."

Slingshot Gypsy railed well in her box five heat win and her trainer, Robert Britton, said: "It is very rare that she does not lead in her races.

"When Blue Sky Riot was chasing Slingshot Gypsy down the back straight I wasn't sure if my greyhound would be able to hang on because she is not that strong.

"So for her to win by a length and clock the fastest Time was the best of her five wins."

Zinkey, who went into the Futurity series with just three-second placings from five Wentworth Park starts, won her heat in 30.37 and has drawn the coveted rails box in the final.

Her trainer Lindsay Davis was overjoyed at getting the rails in such an important race, while Ron Lambert, whose greyhound Dreaming Time drew three in the Futurity, was also satisfied with the draw.

"Dreaming Time had box eight in her heat and after being last out of the boxes finished third to Slingshot Gypsy,'' Lambert said.

"I wanted box one or two for Dreaming Time in the final but box three is fine because she can begin a lot better than she did in her heat and with a clean start she has a chance of being the pacemaker and winning.''

Poco Dorado, who squeaked into the Futurity final by finishing third in Dyna Yami's slowest heat, could start favourite next Saturday night.

The John Finn-trained greyhound was badly checked on the back straight so was unlucky not to win, and while her box seven final draw suits, Poco Dorado's lack of early speed remains a concern.

Finn has Poco Dorado's litter brother Two Times Twice in box two in the Derby final while Ray Smith, who won the classic last year with Big Daddy Bee, has Little Digger in box three in this year's run-off.

Two Times Twice came from fourth early to win his heat by four lengths in 30.17 after exiting box two, and has the same draw next Saturday.

Little Digger had box seven when he came from midfield to win his heat in 30.48, but Smith wanted to draw near the rails in the final.

"Little Digger is a similar sort of dog to Big Daddy Bee, who won last year's Derby for me after drawing box one.

"Like Big Daddy Bee, Little Digger tends to come from behind in his races so I did not want him drawn out wide.''

Box one in the Derby was drawn by One Hour Parking, who put early pressure on Out Of Range in the equal fastest heat, before tiring to finish second, beaten eight lengths.

One Hour Parking had not raced at Wentworth Park until last Saturday night and his move from box eight to the rails in the final pleased trainer Mark Knowles and owner Jacqueline Davis.

See you next week!