Well a lot has been made this week about the quality on show in front of the Sky cameras tonight and whilst the card does seem to be lacking strength in depth, I think people are missing the point that should be made about this evening: have you seen the final? I have only been on this planet for five years but I cannot recall a better field for a final than this one; it is saying something that the Kent Derby winner, Ballycowen Dave, is an easy 25/1 shot for this extraordinary race! Anyway, before dissecting that mouthwatering affair, there are the supporting races and the quirkiness of Henlow means it is always a place to make money as many of the dogs are completely confused by the third bend (if it can even be called that!). Here are a dog’s thoughts on the racing:
7:40 – 460m
The youngsters kick us off and a trial round the track will have been absolutely essential for them to experience the unfamiliarity of the bends that they will not have encountered before. This also means that Killieford Khali can be expected to improve on his decent trial performance and confirm that he comes from a pretty special litter. Lister’s pup was sent off as favourite against his litter-brother Killieford Deal (who is second favourite for the Northern Puppy Derby) in his first race in a P1 at Shawfield and this is a testament to the fact that the kennel expect big things from this lightly-raced puppy. Islas Scolari moved very well in his trial with a good sectional to the bend so Khali may be faced with the task of picking him up, but he should be able to achieve this as Scolari undoubtedly has pace, but seems very green and has yet to win in his fledgling career. Severn Bolt produced a shock in the Romford Puppy Cup in one of the rounds but looks held by the market principals.
8:00 – 428m
Whilst watching RPGTV on Thursday, I saw a very surprising drift in the market for Boher Chieftain over this C&D that I could not ignore so I had a doggie treat on him at 5/1. He then proceeded to drift further like someone in the paddock had confirmed he was in fact the first greyhound in history to lose a leg on his way to the track; he duly proved the doubters wrong by producing a track-record performance over this relatively new distance. Although it was a win, I was still cursing the fact I had missed out on an extra doggie treat by not getting the 6/1 but I was pretty full by then anyway so I expect to eat some more on him tonight! He is a truly top-class dog who has been blighted by injuries in his career but he has a great draw to work from again tonight and can confirm superiority over Bush Standard. Standard fluffed the break from the red box on Thursday night and whilst he is more suited to his berth in three tonight, the class of Chieftain should prevail. Indeed, Standard faces the task of getting in front of the fast-away bitch Jennas Pony who although saves her best work for Romford, is going to be cutting in from five and has enough pace to hold Standard up sufficiently for another Chieftain win: watch the clock!
8:15 – 460m
This is a tough race to call and it would be no surprise to see Lister’s dog, Farloe Brainy, appreciate a seeming class drop and romp to victory. He has had a hard start to his career and my colleague may just have lost his confidence enough to allow the proven course and distance winner, Millridge Duke, to sneak in front and not be caught. Furthermore, Brainy will have to get round the pacy Ballymac Folly and it seems he will have to perhaps wait for another race to get his career back on track. It’s a very tentative recommendation of Duke here but if my paws could grasp a dart I would definitely be throwing it at the card on this one!
8:35 – 277m
Lil Risky is facing a losing streak that he hasn’t encountered since he used to line-up against yours truly and whilst he can be forgiven for losing to such a handsome, intelligent and pacy dog as myself so much (who’s modesty is arguably his best quality), he can win tonight around a venue he enjoys. He faces a task of clearing Big Local who is a powerful railing sprinter who must be respected, but he has not had a trial round here and that is a worry for his lid-pinging potential tonight. Risky has no questions to answer in terms of trapping ability round here and should be able to utilise the red box to poach an early-advantage that will be too much for these barring another miraculous back-to-front performance from Glanmire Phanter. That really was an extraordinary run from Phanter to pick up Risky at Yarmouth but he has subsequently been caught being more interested in the spectators on the sidelines than the hare in the Scurry Cup! Whilst us dogs do love humans, particularly at walk and dinner times, it must be worrying that he came to an abrupt halt having shown no signs of discomfort. A number of reasons have been suggested for his remarkable decision to stop at the sough but it must put serious questions onto Phanter’s temperament and any slight loss of concentration from him tonight will mean that he won’t be able to catch Risky this time.
8:50 – 460m
This looks a really exciting race with plenty of early pace and the question of if Droopys Reason is close enough to challenge the front-runners as he is a real joy to watch in full flow. The fact that sprinter Ballymac Jones is on Reason’s outside could halt his advances when he gets into top gear and so it is a call between the top and bottom for me here. Yeatsie Boy ran a blinder in the heats of the Henlow Derby and a similar performance could see him win this but he will need to be at his very best which is something that he was not in his Semi-Final effort. Even if he does ping the lids, the selection is Ballymac Denis who was a big money purchase for the Stuart Buckland kennel at Hall Green but this faith in him has been fully justified as the Hall Green sprint track-record holder has won many races around the country. His career included finishing fourth in the Henlow Derby last year to an imperious Taylors Sky and so there are no doubts Denis runs this track very well. He can handle the red box and has a good run to work from as he should lead Cash Game and the aformentioned Droopys Reason to turn at least with Jones and Boy and prove to speedy for those rivals; this is a dog with a 27:36 around this C&D which is the time Farloe Warhawk produced in his impressive Semi-Final win last week.
9:10 – 550m
Where have my darts gone? This is a very competitive affair and a case can be made for each of my colleagues but the most tentative of recommendations is to side with Ardmayle Player who ran very well in front here on Thursday. Westmead Aouita no doubt has pace and gets this trip but is not one to rely on to often to produce her best and Thurlesbeg Bound has similar consistency problems: either bringing their A-game would suffice. Another who should win more is Doonane Lad who is marked running on over 575m at Romford so definitely stays and won over the 460m trip before the Derby began; he would be a handful in front but he often has his own ideas about the game. Who said greyhounds should always run to form? I know I certainly made it easier for my followers.
9:25 – 842m
My most avid of dog blog readers will remember me discussing in great detail Powerfast Pigeon and her lack of form this year so I won’t bore you with the same character defamation but she has definitely lost her spark. If she hasn’t, she is far too good for these. I’m always a fan of a bitch in-form, however, and so I don’t think she can be trusted at odds-on so I looked elsewhere for value and stumbled across Hey Kiddo. Whilst he is taking a step up in class if Pigeon is half as good as she used to be, Kiddo has the essential good track knowledge and could get first run at the bunny which might be decisive. I apologise to Pigeon fanciers across the country if she obliges.
9:45 – 460m
So here is that final to savour. I will be lapping it up like I lap up milk and water but the race looks set-up for Farloe Warhawk to improve upon his already tremendous CV. He should be able to lead Be Real as he in fact led the sprinter Ballymac Jones last week and the fact that Taylors Sky has almost certainly become a more all-round performer (shall we open up the “Is he back?” debate), it should give Warhawk enough room to get to the front with Loughteen Blanco and power past the Classic winner. Blanco is running the track well and will take a lot of catching if leading but Warhawk’s beating of Ballymac Eske in the Puppy Derby final is looking more impressive by the day as Eske destroys good fields across the country and he can confirm that he is the one to beat for next year’s Derby. Another Farloe in Farloe Tango might have a word with me about that comment!
So there you go, it looks set for a good night’s racing with everyone eagerly anticipating the finale. As ever please tweet or comment if you have any opinions about my dog blog and as long as I am not on a walk or having a nap, I will happily respond. Speaking of naps, Risky looks a good thing.
Enjoy the racing,
Jimmy
jimmylolly 