First staged in 1928 at the old Carntyne track in the east of the city, the Scottish Derby has for 80 years been run in Glasgow – apart from in 1987-88 when it was hosted by the old Powderhall Stadium in Edinburgh.

Won by the UK's leading trainers such as Charlie Lister and Nick Savva, in recent years their Irish-based counterparts have played a starring role with Paul Hennessy and Fraser Black winning.

Fraser's victory with Droopys Marco in 2005 summed up the international flavour of the competition – the Scottish handler, based in Ireland, winning for English owners Martin Wakefield and Laurence Blunt!

The mighty Westmead Hawk, so famous he now features in Madame Tussauds, featured in one of the most memorable Scottish Derby finals when he rousing finish was not quite enough to beat Fear Me.

Fear Me became the fourth of now five Scottish Derby wins for Charlie Lister, his successes in Scotland, as well as those at Wimbledon helping him land the tag 'the Derby King'!

And Lister is back with big chances in the 2009 renewal . . .

IbetX.com Scottish Derby finals, live on Sky Sports click here to bet

ONLY six greyhounds now have the chance to claim the first leg of greyhound racing’s Triple Crown in Saturday’s IbetX.com Scottish Derby final.
There's £25,000 for winning, plus the chance to go for a £1m bonus and greyhound immortality should any of the six go on to claim gold in the English Derby at Wimbledon and Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park. It's a tall order.
This year's competition has been full of shocks and surprises - just< look at the six greyhounds I thought would make the decider (below) -
but the final is nevertheless a classy one. It might be without a Charlie Lister-trained runner after the shock elimination of Ninja Jamie and Farloe Reason on Tuesday, but there is nevertheless Classic-winning credentials aplenty among those gunning for glory at 9.45pm on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.

THE favourite is THURLESBEG JOKER and he can provide Barrie Draper with a first Derby victory. The only English-trained runner in the field against five Irish-based dogs, the youngster runner in the line-up has been showing cracking pace throughout the event and can be expected to unleash another powerful back-straight surge to glory. He'll have to be brave to catch either Cabra Cool or Must Be Keano, but is improving all the while and, in a clean-run race, should be good enough.

CABRA COOL looks the biggest danger. His trainer Pat Buckley has had finalists before at Shawfield and this dog ran well in the semis when challenging for the lead behind Must Be Keano, although could never quite get past him. Trap one might now bring out the best in him.

DRUMNA CLASSIC is effectively representing Ireland's newest track, Drumbo Park in Belfast, as the track record there. Trained by Seamus McGarry, he has shown great early speed to get competitive.

MUST BE KEANO is trained by Fraser Black, a man who won the Derby with Droopys Marco in 2005, and the Scotsman, based in Ireland, has brought this dog to fever pitch quickly. He's not been led in all rounds and another flying start will be the order of the day.

FOREST MASTER is the second of Black's finalists. The oldest runner in the field, he looks to be coming back to form at the right time and could be a lively outsider.

DALEYS BUZZ is trained by Paul Hennessy, who won the event last year with Tyrur Kieran. Another experienced performer, he is matching the best in Ireland (second in the Tote Gold Cup at Shelbourne) and Scotland just now.

Picks: 6-1-4

IbetX.com Scottish Derby semi-finals, live on Sky Sports


First semi (8.25pm) - click here to bet

Ninja Jamie has not handled the traps at Shawfield as well as his litter brother FARLOE REASON, but has a quickfire chance to reverse Saturday's quarter-finals in the first semi-final. He again has the safe haven of the rails, but there is no reason (pardon the pun) to desert Charlie Lister's pre-competition 'second string'. This time last year he was winning the Blue Riband at Hall Green and is clearly running into some of his best form. Another fast start can see him dictate from the off. He will be helped by the fact that slow-starting Crown Rover is pitched inside, although Farloe Reason will have to be at his best early to thwart the fast-starting Must Be Keano. Cabra Cool is better than we have seen and, in a field of railers, would seem to have come out badly in the draw in six. But sometimes that can help and he is not passed over easily.

Picks 4 1 6 - click here to bet


Second semi (9pm)

SLIP THE LARK can strike for Ireland and Pat Buckley. A dog with scintillating early pace he handled the wide draw on Saturday, vindicating Buckley's decision to seed him, and trap five should pose no problem here. Indeed, it looks perfect for him. Set to crack clear, he race will be on for the qualifying spots with Thurlesbeg Joker's all-round pace possibly too much for Mill Pinpoint, Head Iton Ellis and Forest Master. This trio have run storming campaigns so far, but of the trio there is just a chance, crazily perhaps given he is plenty older, that Forest Master is open to the most improvement. He has been one of Fraser Black's best dogs of recent season and the trainer has experience of winning the Scottish Derby with Droopys Marco a few years back.

Picks 5 6 4 - click here to bet

SATURDAY, APRIL 4th

Heat one (8.17)

A GREAT way to kick off the Ibetx.com Scottish Derby second round. Litter brothers Ninja Jamie and Farloe Reason do battle on the inside and the draw must favour Ninja Jamie. He missed the break in Tuesday's heats and can be expected to come away better. Windy Millar could lead up, especially with slow-starting railer Drive On Captain inside. Thurlesbeg Joker has a massive chance as he's clearly appreciating the similar contours of Shawfield to home track Sheffield. But the real value bet here could be ARDKILL TUNOCO. Pat Buckley has always thought highly of him and was telling anyone who listened at Wimbledon that the dog could run. Things didn't quite happen for him there, but Pat's confidence was belatedly vindicated in the heats. He can only go one way i.e forward, and a burst of early pace can see him make all.

Picks 5 6 1

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Heat two (8.44)

The Irish hold sway here and their CABRA COOL can capitalise on what is generally a field of slow starters. He showed great pace to lead his field a merry dance in the heats and confidence in him is two-fold. First he was beaten by an in-form machine in Thurlesbeg Joker, no disgrace, and, secondly, he must be open to improvement. Ja Mann came into the competition as possibly Ireland's number one entry – he's already been backed for both the Ibetx Scottish Derby and the English Derby. He showed pace but looked ill at ease around the track first time. Ironically, the switch to the outside might just help Owen McKenna's dog and he should not be passed over. The battle for early supremacy on the inside will be fought out by Glengar Alfred and Drumna Classic, with the latter just fancied to come out on top. An Irish one-two-three?

Picks 3 5 2

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Heat three (8.44)

DOTLAND HIT MAN was one of the stars of the first round. An exceptional burst of middle pace sorted the men from the boys then, and a repeat can see him in command off the second. Forest Master is not getting any younger but ran pretty well in the heats and has the slow-starting Da Attic inside, which suggests a prominent slot for him is on the cards at the turn. Head Iton Ellis is the youngest runner in the field and his proximity to Thurlesbeg Joker in the heats suggests that was a good run and his lack of experience also means he has plenty of scope for further gains. Must Be Keano will look to get a flyer from the middle and, if putting the pace to the race, might just surprise all at a price.

Picks 5 3 4

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Heat four (9.38)

SLIP THE LARK can strike for Ireland. One of the best trackers there were the other side of the Irish Sea last year, Pat Buckley's dog can prove the decision to give him a wide seed to be spot on as he's expected to crack clear on the outside. Once in front, his rivals will struggle. I can see a long, long lead for him down the back and, while sure to be coming back to his field, the advantage can be a decent enough one to hold on. Crown Rover came into the event with a host of trials behind him. But there is no substitute for race action and the Scottish hope will come on heaps for that run. He's very strong also and any chinks in Slip The Lark's armour off the last bend will be exploited. Tyrur Laurel is not winning many races these days but is always difficult to keep out of he frame.

Picks 6 2 4

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TUESDAY, MARCH 31

IbetX.com Scottish Derby heats.

HEAT 1 (8.09pm)

NINJA JAMIE looks the one to beat here. He was not far off the track record in a recent trial over course and distance, has won a Category One event in the shape of the Yarmouth Derby and is trained by the five-time Scottish Derby-winning trainer Charlie Lister. Enough said. Try either leading Irish tracker Slip The Lark of the fast-on-the-bunny Windy Millar to chase Jamie home.

Picks: 2-4-5

HEAT 2 (8.22pm)

DOTLAND HIT MAN went close to winning last year's All England Cup at Newcastle and was only beaten by Boherna Best. That's top-drawer form and one which will stand him in good stead here. His comeback trials from winter rest have been very good and Shawfield plays to his strengths, its long back-straight perfect for a dog with searing middle pace. Tyrur Laurel has reached the final of many a valuable event and should qualify for the second round. Daleys Buzz has shown ability in trials

Picks: 4-3-2

HEAT 3 (8.35pm)

JESTERS NAP was one of last year's leading puppies. He was bred by his trainer Jim Daly from Norwich and boasts a terrific turn of early pace. After winter rest he's two from two, with fluent wins at both Wimbledon and Belle Vue, with good times clocked at both tracks. And while others went faster at Shawfield in a recent trials session, his time came after an horrendous journey for Daly and his charge up to Scotland. Anyone got a helicopter spare? Drive On Captain can lead the challenge to Jesters Nap in this contest. Ardkill Tunoco boasts good Irish form.

Picks: 5-1-6

HEAT 4 (8.48pm)

CROWN ROVER is the pride of Scotland in terms of this year's ibetX Derby. He is a hugely talented dog with an engine which suggests he also has a future over further than 480 metres. But Shawfield tests stamina as much as speed, and Crown Rover has it in abundance. He has had only one race this year, but has been given plenty of trials at his local track, so should be race-fit. Kylegrove Top reached the final last year and has claims. Lleytons Dote arrives with a big reputation from Ireland.

Picks: 3-5-4

HEAT 5 (9.01pm)

JA MANN arguably leads Ireland's challenge in Scotland this year. Trained by Owen McKenna, son of legendary handler Ger, Ja Mann ran well in the recent Tote Gold Cup at Shelbourne Park, and could be considered a touch unlucky during that campaign. With luck, his Shawfield campaign can be a good one with a turn of all-round speed and a nice draw in the first round. Farloe Reason, a litter brother of Ninja Jamie, is top-class and will be tough to beat. Da Attic runs the track well

Picks: 1-3-4

HEAT 6 (9.14pm)

FOREST MASTER can roll back the years. Into his fourth year now, Fraser Black's dog has shown in recent races he retains ability by chasing home the likes of Ja Mann and Tyrur Kenny at Shelbourne Park. They were better races than he takes part in here. His trial at Shawfield was also impressive and a middle draw should suit, especially with Shadayid (drawn inside him) not the most consistent of trappers now. A weak affair can go to a dog from the kennel which supplied the 2005 Scottish Derby winner, Droopys Marco. Mill Pinpoint has pace at both ends.

Picks: 4-1-3

HEAT 7 (9.27pm)

What a race! BALLYMAC RUSO has already reached a Classic final in the shape of last year's Irish Derby final at Shelbourne Park. He has enjoyed a softly-softly approach to 2009 but will have to be on-song in what is the toughest of the eight first-round heats. But he showed great early dash in winning at Hove last time and, with a slow-starter outside in Tyrur Kirk, can pounce on this race early. Irish raider Cabra Cool is usually fast away and will capitalise if Ballymac misses the start. Thurlesbeg Joker broke the track record at Sheffield in his last start. Head Iton Ellis has shown huge potential. Tyrur Kirk packs a finish. Tough to call.

Picks: 1-3-6

HEAT 8 (9.40pm)

Competitive if not as classy of some of the other heats. GREENWELL COOL gets the vote on the basis of a decent showing in the Monmore Puppy Derby and a second in a race over course and distance last week. Tyrur Jay is an Irish raider deserving of real respect, from a kennel (Paul Hennessy) that supplied not just the winner but track record holder in Tyrur Kieran 12 months ago. Mikes Mein trialled well at the weekend and enters calculations.

Picks: 4-3-5

SO can you name the six greyhounds who will make the ibetX.com Scottish Derby?

It's certainly a good test and only the strongest, not just fastest, will survive the four-round schedule and make the final six from an original entry of 48.

My outright fancy is NINJA JAMIE. He comes from a kennel in the form of Charlie Lister which has won the Scottish Derby five times; he annihilated a good quality field at Wimbledon and repeated the dose at Sheffield; his style of running looks suited to the all-round gallop which is Shawfield and he rates among the top three fastest dogs in the UK.
The best of the Irish contingent, numerically the strongest from the Emerald Isle there has been, could be JA MANN. He has impressed many with his performances in Ireland of late and his trainer Owen McKenna will be keen on rivalling the success of compatriot Paul Hennessy (won twice) at Shawfield. JESTERS NAP has as much natural speed as anything in the event, likewise DOTLAND HIT MAN, while the likelihood of a race home-trained victory could rest with how CROWN ROVER fares. He remains a dog with huge potential, now is the time to deliver. DRIVE ON CAPTAIN will be a tasty price ante-post, but he could be the type to keep on qualifying.

My six (finalists?!) against the field:

NINJA JAMIE
JA MANN
DOTLAND HIT MAN
JESTERS NAP
CROWN ROVER
DRIVE ON CAPTAIN

The ibetX.com Scottish Derby is a four-round competition. The first round is on Tuesday, March 31, the second round on Saturday, April 4, the semi-finals on Tuesday, April 7 and the final on Saturday, April 11.