There is a cracking card for armchair punters to enjoy this evening live on Sky Sports 3 from 7:30pm. The highlight of the night is the final of the William Hill Oaks where Droopys Loner and Droopys Hope go head to head for the £15,000 first prize. Skate On looks the biggest danger to the two market principles, but I’ll be surprised if the winning greyhound doesn’t come from trap one or six. There are a total of eight races live on Sky tonight and viewers should make the most of the coverage because a contract for next year is yet to be signed. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Sky continue their excellent support of greyhound racing.
I’ve previewed all of the live racing tonight below, and have hopefully found a few nice winners for UK Greyhound Racing visitors.
7:40pm
The blue jacket Longwood Warrior should be tough to beat here and is a slightly better price than I was expecting, currently available at a best price of 6/4 with Paddy Power. Lenson Champ has also been in good for recently but I fancy the two dog to get the job done here.
Back Trap 2 Longwood Warrior @ 6/4 with Paddy Power
8:00pm
A decent hurdle event over 480m here and I fancy that the six dog Farloe Bowser can make his draw count. He was victorious when last seen over this course and distance in November and is a huge price at 11/2 with Coral. Definitely the value bet of the night for me.
Back Trap 6 Farloe Bowser @ 11/2 with Coral
8:15pm
This looks to rest between traps one, three and six, and I’m plumping for Mark Wallis’ runner in the striped jacket. This bitch can be slightly inconsistent but she has won three of her last five starts including two races at this venue. Another value bet, 4’s is available at both Hills and Coral.
Back Trap 6 Ballintine Molly @ 4/1 with William Hill
8:35pm
I can’t say I’m a huge fan of races under 300m but I do think the well drawn Lil Risky will be tough to beat tonight. Although he was disappointing during his only try over this course and distance in November, the red jacket’s overall level of form is better than the rest of this field and he can provide Mark Wallis with another winner.
Back Trap 1 Lil Risky @ 2/1 with Coral
8:50pm
My Nap of the evening goes here and I’m surprised William Hill are offering 5/2 on trap six, Capoley Ash. The sole wide runner in the race has the plum draw and can also boast the quickest course and distance time of the field. She’s won four of her last six starts and with trouble a strong possibility with four rails runners, he can shoot round the outside and claim victory.
Back Trap 6 Capoley Ash @ 5/2 with William Hill
9:10pm
A stayers event over 687m here, the William Hill Stayers is an open contest with £500 on offer to the winner. It looks a really wide open race on paper, with the bookmakers struggling to split the first five in the betting. The five dog has won his last two starts but I’m personally going for trap six Peggys Style to bounce back to form after a couple of poor efforts. This bitch won three time over this course and distance in November and the 3/1 on offer with bet365 is worth taking.
Back Trap 6 Peggys Style @ 3/1
9:25pm
The penultimate race of Sky’s coverage and another that looks quite competitive. I don’t have a particularly strong fancy here but the value play would be to take the 5/2 Betfred are offering up on the consistent five dog Loughteen Blanco. Seamus Cahill’s runner is as short as 6/4 with a few firms and he does look the most likely winner, I’m just a little concerned about the draw.
Back Trap 5 Loughteen Blanco @ 5/2
9:40pm
The big race of the evening and possibly the last ever live sky greyhounds event if the Twitter rumours are to be believed, but I hope that is not the case. Although beaten by Lemon Velvet in a semi final upset last time, I fancy Liz McNair’s runner Droopys Hope to get back to winning ways tonight. The six dog recorded a time of 28.40 in the quarter finals and appears to have the best chance of avoiding any trouble from her outside draw. Take the 2s available at sponsors William Hill.
Back Trap 6 Droopys Hope @ 2/1 with William Hill
2012 William Hill Oaks Final Draw and Betting
(Prices from Betfred)
Trap 1 Droopys Loner 7/4
Trap 2 Forest Millie 33/1
Trap 3 Aero Scramble 20/1
Trap 4 Lemon Velvet 4/1
Trap 5 Skate On 7/1
Trap 6 Droopys Hope (m) 7/4