Holland’s Kameko to come alive from five

KAMEKO showed trap one was no issue when running riot two weeks ago in the opening round of the Greyhound Derby and tonight he races from trap five and is a spot of value to slip a classy field with his big early speed.

If anything, the inside draw was a hindrance and Graham Holland’s dog should be much more comfortable further out.

He had no answer to the exciting Ballymac Fairone last week when racing from trap four, but still showed nice speed into the bend and a chance can be taken on him finding a fast start in heat three at 7.54.

Sean Davy’s Coney Wonderland lines up immediately inside Kameko and also has early pace, but isn’t quite timing the start right and, along with another Forest Gold, may end up surrendering the lead to the selection.

With two front runners inbehind, a strong case can be made for Holland’s speedster on his leadability claims over classy trio Tenpin, Ballymac Wild and Unlock Unlock.

There has been much debate on how runners are breaking from trap one at Towcester, but those on the inside are expected to fare well tonight.

Holland’s Native Maestro was another to have his colours lowered by Ballymac Fairone last week, but it’s impossible to oppose him in heat four at 8.14.

He set the standard in the first round with a sensational 29.10sec success from the inside and, with Ireland’s 2020 Stayer of the Year Ballymac Kingdom in trap two, can bounce back to winning ways with plenty of racing room on the run to the first turn.

His huge middle pace should allow him to assert into the third corner at the expense of likely leader Bubbly Magnum.

In the heat immediately after, Hayley Keightley’s Roxholme Sheikh (8.34) can make full use of the inside line – just as he did last week.

Dualla Prince and Thorn Falcon both possess smart early speed, but may struggle to navigate around Roxholme Sheikh at the opening turn.

Easter Cup champion Knocknaboul Syd also lines up and will need to show more sparkle to the corner if he is to compete in this company.

The change of traps at Towcester has certainly suited Graham Rankin’s superstar bitch Jaguar Macie, who performed with real credit to close down Signet Ace to just half a length last week.

A switch to trap three tonight may prompt another fast start from the Northern Puppy Derby and Monmore Puppy Derby heroine, who is a strong pick to dominate heat six at 8.51.

Peter Cronin’s All About Ted carries a middle seed but is well drawn out wide in trap six with Cold As Ice likely to head inside from trap five.

The Irish raider is the main danger and open to plenty of improvement, but the field will be fighting for second if Jaguar Macie boxes well again.

Kevin Hutton’s aforementioned Winter Derby champion Signet Ace leads the way in the sectional standings after his 4.09sec split last week and more of the same is expected tonight.

He again dons the white jacket of trap three in the opening heat at 7.17 and can out-gun inside duo Kilara Lion and Newinn Session into the turn.

Both Warzone Tom and Frankies Jet are expected to figure early on, but, if Signet Ace has not already got the jump on them, there will also

be room up the inside at the bend for him to run into and the son of 2017 Irish Oaks winner Forest Natalee is fully expected to be leading when emerging out of the second bend.

The Irish-trained trio of Ballymac Fairone, Toolmaker Sydney and Ballymac Ariel dominate the betting for heat two at 7.35 with the former fancied to score again.

Liam Dowling’s exciting two-year-old confirmed promise shown in the first round with an impressive 29.09sec success last week.

Kennelmate Ballymac Ariel cannot be discounted despite failing to sparkle in the first two rounds, while Toolmaker Sydney appears to have found his trapping boots in Northamptonshire but it remains to be seen if he can continue to fly from the boxes.

With only Paul Burr’s Swift Cope to clear, Ballymac

Fairone can bag another allthe-way victory.

Lee Field’s Adeles Duke isa dual Category One finalist and yet to put a paw wrong in this Derby.

He has zipped to the bend twice and made all in both rounds so far, there is very little early speed on offer in the seventh qualifier at 9.09 and he may get a soft lead despite wearing the striped jacket for the first time since crossing the Irish Sea.

The eighth and final heat at 9.27 is a tricky affair and a difficult race to read. Much will depend on how defending champion Deerjet Sydney fares from trap one.

He stumbled at the start in a pre-Derby trial from the box last month and, if he isn’t fluent from the traps again, the door will be wide open for new track record holder Bockos Belly.

With rain expected, conditions could be tough at this stage - which will not suit exciting early pacer Hilight Arkle who may prove vulnerable close home. The lead is not essential to the chances of Patrick Janssens’ Bockos Belly, who will be tough to beat if he controls the inside at the first bend.

Star Sports heat betting

Heat one (7.17): 1 Kilara Lion 8-1, 2 Newinn Session 9-4, 3 Signet Ace 2-1, 4 Warzone Tom 5-1, 5 Frankies Jet 11-4, 6 Glenlara Mac 50-1.

Heat two (7.35): 1 Swift Cope 8-1, 2 Ballymac Fairone 2-1, 3 Toolmaker Sydney 9-4, 4 Ballymac Ariel 5-2, 5 Chelms Prince 33-1, 6 Drumcrow Brent 7-1.

Heat three (7.54): 1 Tenpin 10-3, 2 Ballymac Wild 6-4, 3 Forest Gold 16-1, 4 Coney Wonderland 6-1, 5 Kameko 16-1, 6 Unlock Unlock 13-8.

Heat four (8.14): 1 Native Maestro 6-4, 2 Ballymac Kingdom 9-2, 3 Aussie Captain 7-1, 4 Magical Silas 33-1, 5 Bubbly Magnum 9-2, 6 Beach Avenue 11-4.

Heat five (8.34): 1 Roxholme Sheikh 13-8, 2 Minglers Popeye 33-1, 3 Dualla Prince 12-1, 4 Knocknaboul Syd 2-1, 5 Brynhall Allstar 50-1, 6 Thorn Falcon 7-4.

Heat six (8.51): 1 Queen Beyonce 7-2, 2 Notouttheway 50-1, 3 Jaguar Macie evens, 4 Gaytime Milo 12-1, 5 Cold As Ice 4-1, 6 All About Ted 9-2.

Heat seven (9.09): 1 Jonno You Go 11-2, 2 De Machine 9-2, 3 Sweep The Yard 10-3, 4 Bandicoot Sammy 11-4, 5 Faughan Rebel 5-1, 6 Adeles Duke 3-1.

Heat eight (9.27): 1 Deerjet Sydney 11-10, 2 Bockos Belly 9-4, 3 Soul Warrior 20-1, 4 Queen Dolly 16-1, 5 Hilight Arkle 5-2, 6 Pacemaker Ted 25-1.

*subject to fluctuation