Peejays and Bluebelle Amongst Best Weekend Greyhound Bets

by Roy Brindley, 24 November 2022

Peejays Forever can complete an unbeaten run through the £10,000 Gold Collar competition at Crayford on Saturday afternoon. The Jason Gornall-trained greyhound has spent the bulk of her career racing in top-grade events at Henlow. But a step up to six-bends and a switch to the notoriously tight Kent track has seen her post three impressive victories.

Photographer Steve Nash beautifully captures a greyhound in full-flight at Towcester where the bet365-sponsored Puppy Oaks is one of four valuable finals staged over the weekend. ©Steve Nash

One of two wide-runners in the field, Peejays Forever has drawn the six-box in the decider of the classic contest first staged at Catford in 1933. With a likable never say die run-style – that has seen her fearlessly circle a bunched field at the opening bend in her last two starts – our fancy has the ability to reward her supporters at odds of 3/1.

Oscar’s Magical 4/1 Odds Jump Out

The Gold Collar final, one of three £10,000 finals on Crayford’s card, is due off at 12.24 pm. Beforehand, another greyhound could take a major competition unbeaten. Magical Oscar registered the fastest sectional of the Ladbrokes Grand National when landing his semi-final a week ago.

His winning time of 23.70 seconds may not match the best times posted by some rivals around Crayford’s 380-meter jumps course. But our fancy – an A1 winner at Towcester on the level – is a relative novice and appears to be improving.

A draw in trap-4 should be of no inconvenience to the Ricky Holloway-trained Magical Oscar – who claimed the rails at the first bend in his semi-final. This week, the greyhound to his immediate left, Runwild Teddy, is a slow starter. It is a big bonus and makes the sponsor’s, Ladbrokes, quote of 4/1 about our selection appear generous.

Course Knowledge Makes Marie the Ces Fancy

Mark Wallis and Diane Henry have two finalists apiece in the extreme marathon final, the Cesarewitch. It is due off at 11.54 am. Henry’s veteran, Savana Volcano, has the mantle of competition favorite. But, with five of the field priced 5/1 or lower, this is clearly an open contest.

On the evidence of last weekend’s opening round, Antigua Lava would appear the greyhound to side with. The Wallis-trained dog met three episodes of crowding and still got within four-and-a-half lengths of Savana Volcano. But a close form-inspection shows this greyhound has never won at Crayford in ten attempts.

Conversely, Kilshannig Marie has an abundance of six and eight-bend winning form here at her home track. Seven days ago, she was an impressive heat winner – despite a poor start – on her first attempt at ten bends. The performance was enough to suggest the 5/1 available at the best greyhound betting sites represents good value.

Bluebelle Supporters Could Be Tickled Pink

On Sunday, Towcester has its own £10,000 competition final, the bet365 Puppy Oaks. Ballymac Mags – trained at Swindon by Angie Kibble – is the market principle. As a railer, in a race filled with early-paced sorts, her draw in trap 5 could prove troublesome.

Based on the allocated starting lanes, our preference is for the trap-2 runner, Bubbly Bluebelle. The Irish-trained youngster is clearly still very green and has ample improvement to come. But, drawn closer to the inside fence, she is fancied to reproduce her excellent first-round effort. It should be enough to see her connections claim the valuable prize.

The Weekend’s Best Greyhound Bets