Droopys can Book his place in the quarter-finals
Tom Heilbron assesses the chances of Droopys Bookem and Deliveroo ahead of the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby third round at Towcester.
Heilbron hopeful of progressing with Bookem
Tom Heilbron is quietly confident Droopys Bookem can qualify from a red-hot Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby third round heat at Towcester on Saturday.
After chasing home Jaytee Craze in the opening race of this year's Classic, Droopys Bookem reeled in Droopys Aladdin to score in the second round and he remains lightly raced.
However, he faces a couple of Irish superstars at the weekend and his trainer is under no illusions of the task at hand.
“He ran really well last week but obviously he’s in with Bockos Diamond and Cheap Sandwiches, so he’ll have to up his game,” said Heilbron.
“I think the draw is decent enough, if we can lead Jaytee Craze then that’s the key to our race. We need to lead him early and snatch the rail because I think Salacres Senen will hold his line from trap three. If we turn handy enough, he’ll be coming home as hard as anything in the race.
“I fancied him from where he turned last week and I thought he’d go and get Droopys Aladdin, but when he checked between the third and fourth bends, I thought our chance had gone. But he ran on like a train to win, so we just need a clear run with him and I think we’ll have every chance of qualifying”
Droopys Bookem improved on his effort in the first round when scoring last week and Heilbron believes his dog has scope for further progress.
The Newcastle handler added: “I would say there is more to come. He hasn’t been with us that long, so he’s still settling into the kennel and we’re still getting to know him.
“The change of kennel seems to have woken him up a bit and he is enjoying himself. He’s a happy dog and has worked well this week, so we just hope everything goes to plan and we get a bit of luck.”
“I hope we won’t be far away from qualifying with a clear run and that’s the aim of the game - just to get him through.”
Heilbron hoping Roo can Deliver
Link Kennels are also represented by Deliveroo in heat seven and he is another who stepped up on his first round effort to run well last Friday.
The May 2023 son of Ballymac Bolger produced a much better break in the second round and lost nothing in defeat when a half-length second to Faypoint Susie.
Heilbron is hoping that upward trajectory continues this Saturday,
“He’s the type of dog who comes forward for more looks at a track and I think he proved that last week because he pinged the boxes for the first time at Towcester,” the trainer continued.
“He needs to do that again and if he does, he will have a chance of leading up around the outside.
“I think it’s another warm race but if he can put in a similar run to last week, then he’ll be there or thereabouts for qualifying.
“He can’t afford to miss the kick like he did in the first round but hopefully he’s getting used to those boxes now, as he’s definitely getting used to the track. He’s a lightly-raced type and hopefully he comes forward again."
