Wallis hopes to sing the blues in Derby delight
LEADING FANCY: Mark Wallis kennelhand Pete Vernon pictured with Benkaat Blue who will line-up in the second semi-final of tonights Primus Telecom Henlow Puppy Derby.
THREE-TIMES champion trainer Mark Wallis believes Benkaat Blue represents his best chance of tasting glory in this year’s Primus Telecom Puppy Derby at Henlow.
Tonight the Lakenheath handler will send out both Benkaat Blue and Aero Bellagio in the semi-finals of the Category One competition at the Bedfordshire circuit.
Having watched Benkaat Blue post a facile three-and-three-quarter-length victory in heat four of the opening round seven days ago, Wallis will be hoping the son of Droopys Scolari can repeat the trick in the second semi-final of the competition.
“Benkaat Blue ran a great race from a terrible draw in trap five and ended up winning very well,” said Wallis.
“He has been in trap four in the semi-final meaning he will need to have secure another good break from the traps. If he does he will have a major chance of making the final.”
Despite not running out a winner of his first round heat, Aero Bellagio will join his kennel-mate in the semi-finals after finishing a solid second behind Droopys Stevie in race five of the opening heats.
“Aero Bellagio faces a really tough ask in the third semi-final as he has been draw in the outside box which is wider than ideal for him,” added Wallis. “The draw means he will have to work that bit harder if he is to make it through.”
The Imperial Kennels handler also plans to launch a triple assault during the first round of this year’s Ladbrokes Golden Jacket at Crayford.
Run over a stamina sapping trip of 714m, the Category One prize is worth £15,000 to the winner.
Flying the flag for the Wallis camp will be Mountjoy Orion, Aldataro Lass and the relatively unexposed Carden Twilight.
“Mountjoy Orion has run well around Crayford while Aldataro Lass has been in good form and raced in the competition last year,” added Wallis. “Carden Twilight is very unexposed and has the most scope for improvement. Hopefully they can all get past the first round.”
On Saturday, Wallis saw his and Paul Sallis’ Imperial Rock-Its team move to the top of the Betdaq Premier League standings following round two of the inaugural four leg final at Yarmouth.
The pair will carry a slender one-and-a-half-point lead going into leg three of the competition which will take place at Doncaster a week tomorrow.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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