Scotland were surprise winners of this years home internationals , although they were not fancied before the start of the meeting , the Scottish were well deserved winners with some outstanding performances

The first heat of the Home Internationals was a sprint event over 300m and Scotland got off to a flier with Droopys Tobeywinning at a very generous 4/1 and this result was  never in doubt from the boxes although it was the other Scottish Entry that was fancied to prevail Pennys Stinger going off a short odds opening up as short as 4/5fav,but missed the break and was never in contention with Barbies Man taking the runners up spot for the Irish

Greenwell Rivershowed his class in the second heat of the Home Internationals over 480m , River showed great early pace and was never in danger from then on running his field into the ground with a new track record , stopping the clock in a time of 28.66 and i would love to see him go for the English Derby although connections are taking of keeping River for the Irish Equivalent , this victory gave Scotland two wins on the trot in the Home internationals , Windy Millar and Slip The Lark fought out second and third with Millar just outstaying Lark

There was a surprise result to the final heat of the Home Internationals over 500m with short price favourite Bubbly Totti  looked a good thing on paper but with a slow start and being crowded on the run up and at the first bend completly ruled out,Tottis chance also fancied on the night was Ardkill Tunoco after his performance in the early heats of the Scottish Derby but was slow out the boxes and lost all chance , Pat Flahertys Greenwell Cool ran a blinder leading up this high class field but was just out fought by Drive On Captainwith the winner going of at 12/1 and making it a good night for Julie Bateson and with Greenwell Cool taking the runners up spot this meant Scotland were outright winners of the Home Internationals

Cabra Cool made it a trap to line success in this years ibetX.com Scottish derby and was a worthy winner for connections and Pat Buckley who came close with World Class in the 2004 Scottish Derby was over the moon with Cabra Cools success

The crowd was electric and Cabra Cool was well bet on the night as he was boxed to perfection, although the punters stayed loyal to Thurlesberg Joker going off a short price favourite but with his usual slow start and finding trouble in running ruled Joker out of taking this top prize for Barrie Draper

The Irish eyes were smiling with a 1-2-3-4 for the Irish , with Cabra Cool away and gone early doors it left a battle for the runner up positions, Daleys Buzz ran on well at a big price of 20/1 with  Drumna Classic taking third spot , with Forest Master although finding trouble at the first bend ran on to take the forth spot

Cabra Cool is now aiming to take his chances in this years English and Irish derbys to take full advantage of the million pound bonus on offer from sponsors ibetX.com

Shawfield Stadium hosts the ibetX.com Scottish Derby Final on Saturday night along with a top class supporting card , also included are live broadcast on sky TV , they will show all live races from 8pm till the Derby final at 9.45pm , they will also show a recording of all the early races , also we will have all the heats of the Home Internationals were we have greyhounds from England , Ireland and Scotland hoping to take home this prestigious prize

The first open race action tonight gets under way at 7.43pm it is an open event over 300m were Meenela Cruiser can show his class tonight , Cruiser has a great record around this track mainly over four bends but he has been running consistently over sprint events in recent months and can get us off to a winning start with main dangers coming from Bubbly Bullet and Afffleck Barony

The 7.56pm is the ibetX.com standardopen race over 480m , and i know Ted Soppit thinks highly of his pup Droopys Gibsonand if getting a clear run he can take all the beating , although he will have many dangers in the race mainly coming from Affleck Lucy and Micks Mein

The first race live on Sky TV is at 8.10pm on the rails Sniper Petra will have the support of the locals but will have to improve to win this , Jethart Jackie can go close with a slick exit and he ran well here last time , Arctic Monkey will go very close with a clear run , but Droopys Taffy may just be too good tonight

The 8.25pm is the first heat of the ibetX.com Home internationalswere we have two greyhounds from England , Ireland and Scotland taking part to see what nation has the best greyhounds , this heat is over 300m and we have a very close race to call many punters will be latching onto Ted Soppits charge Droopys Kez who has mainly been running over four bends but has good early pace also running for England is is ibetX.com who will find this race hard to win , from Ireland we have Barbies Man who competed in this years Scottish Derby but may lack the early pace here , the best of the Irish seems to be Hond The Gond who has top class Irish Form , from Scotland we have Droopys Tobey who also has a great record around this track will go close but my selection here is Pennys Stingerwho is unraced in the UK but he has good Irish Form and has two good recent trials at the track and this can be first blood for Scotland

The 8.40pm is the ibetX.com 500, Da Attic and Flors Power will have the support of the locals but both may have to improve , Droopys Woosnam has not being firing this year and will have to produce his best to prevail also Plough Lane has been running well but will have to step up another gear , Westmead Pal will be staying on strongest at the death but i fancy Killough Bullet to prevail here

8.55pm is the ibetX.com home international 480, from Scotland we have Glengar Alfred who will need to improve vastly to win this , the other Scottish Entry is Greenwell River who was disappointing in this years Scottish Derby although cam back to winning form here last time out and can go close , The English have two top entries Kylegrove Top always runs consistently but there best chance of a winner is Windy Millar who has very good early pace , for Ireland we have Tyrur Laurel and Slip The Lark were both have a great chance of prevailing with Lark coming out on top

9.10pm is the ibetX.com 670over six bends and this is one of the punters favourite distances at the track , Mar City Two has come with a big reputation and is partly owned by Gary Newbond , Agile Minnie will also go close but my selection here is Boherbee Ben who on Sheffield form is closely matched to Mar City Two and Ben will be better value

9.25pm is the last heat of the Home Internationals over 500m , For Scotland both Crown Rover and Greenwell Cool who both ran well in this years Scottish Derby with Rover reaching the Semi Finals will have to improve there trapping to win this heat , England have three entries here due to only one entry from Ireland we start with Drive On Captain who is unlikely to get a clear run , Dotland Hitman was fancied by many to go all the way in this years Scottish Derby will have his supporters but with the classy Bubbly  running he will take all the beating although the only Irish Entry can be Tottis main danger Ardkill Tunoco has great early pace and stays well but may find Totti too strong

the last race live on Sky TV is the final of the ibetX.com Scottish derby and the likely favourite will be Thurleberg Joker who after his performance in the Semi Final will be the punters favourite and if he is up with the pace by halfway there will be only one winner but can he have another trouble free round , the other five entries are from Ireland Cabra Cool will run better tahn  he has been with a better draw on the rails , Drumna Classic has been running well and has good early pace both Forest Master and Daleys Buzz will have to improve to take this top prize , my idea of a winner at a decent price is Must Be Keano who has done little wrong in this event and if staying clear of early trouble he will go close

Tommy Gilmartin

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