Colorful has bright prospects at tasty 5-1
Clearly Cashmans’ odds compilers and I differ in our assessment of Colorful Champ and thus I feel compelled to offer him up as the value bet of the night at 5-1.
I’m aware of the many reasons why he might struggle to get a run but how often do you get an opportunity to back a former Derby Consolation winner at those odds, particularly when there is good reason to suggest that he is in the form of his life.
He was brilliant when leading all the way to score in 28.32 last weekend and that was a step up on what he showed a week earlier when beaten behind Newlawn Tock.
Most of the early pace in tonight’s heat is on the outside and that can serve to help Colorful Champ’s cause.
Sede Vacante has been one of the stars of the competition to date but for the second week running he’s been done no favours by the draw.
The early pace he showed in last week’s heat was stunning and he certainly lost nothing in defeat.
But can he produce the same sort of performance and get a clear run from the wide outside?
Had there been a modest breaker inside him, there might have been reason to be confident he could run his race but his first task is to outpoint no less a greyhound than national record holder Leeview Jet in the early stages.
That’s a test for any dog and, with the feeling that another big run is brewing in Leeview Jet, Sede Vacante will need another special effort to come through this heat.
Rockchase Bullet is a 6-4 chance to continue his unbeaten run through the stake but that’s not a price I could entertain.
Although he looked outstanding last weekend, he had a little luck on his side. Unless he can hold his place early, he’ll be hoping for further luck in what is unquestionably a much more competitive heat.
Razldazl Rioga is not the strongest stayer and, with the draw against him, he’ll need a career-best effort.
The truth is, each of the dogs will need some degree of luck in a heat that will take a world of winning. It can go any way but, at 5-1, it’s worth taking a chance that Colorful Champ can make his own luck.
