2 minutes Like Wildfire will compete in the Friday's race at The Gardens, which is the richest staying race in the sport.
Incredible talent, Like Wildfire, will make a highly anticipated return to The Gardens this Friday, competing in the richest staying race in the sport, The Ladbrokes 715.
This greyhound, known for his ability to dominate fields and shatter track records, burst onto the scene with an explosive start reminiscent of "a boom bigger than Ben Hur."
Here at betting.bet, we anticipate Friday to be a big day for greyhound betting!
Despite his brilliant start, winning six consecutive races, the premier prize in the staying category has eluded this exceptional chaser. Now an 18-time winner with £80,000 in earnings, some expected his prize money to be significantly higher by this stage. In February, his original owner-breeder Michael Ivers sold him to Tim Aloisi for a sum that, while reasonable, wasn't particularly lavish.
Under Aloisi's care, Like Wildfire has claimed victory in six out of seven races. Aloisi has managed his progression carefully, allowing the three-year-old to gradually build confidence.
"If you look at his overall record he's a very, very good dog," Aloisi noted.
He also mentioned the tendency of the media to overhype certain dogs, which can lead to unrealistic expectations.
As preparation for the £500,000 prize race, Like Wildfire recently completed a 600-meter trial at The Gardens, where he holds the track record of 33.88 seconds, this time running just a few lengths outside that mark. He is set to compete from box three in heat four, against formidable competitors including Canya Amy, the Group 1 Association Cup runner-up.
Aloisi's other contender, Zipping Neutron, will run in heat three from box four, posting a trial time slightly slower than Like Wildfire. Both dogs have adapted well to their new environment, an important factor as they get accustomed to the starting boxes and lure once more. "Like Wildfire hasn't had a 700 since January, but we didn't want to go into this series a bit flat; we'd rather have him fresh and still on the way up,” said Aloisi, optimistic about the upcoming heats. “He'll take a lot out of Friday's heat run. If he can make the final, he'll be a lot better for it."
For Zipping Neutron, Aloisi believes the greyhound remains underrated and expects him to perform strongly, praising his record at The Gardens.
As the world's richest staying race approaches, Like Wildfire faces a pivotal moment to leverage his immense talent.
"Whatever he does across the next two weeks, it's only the start again with him back over the distance," Aloisi concluded, signalling a new chapter for this remarkable greyhound.