When the Sky cameras descend upon Wimbledon it always seems to be a great card and tonight is no exception with some fascinating racing to get my paws into. What a shame if the contract with Sky is not renewed as I for one think they are vital for the sport’s promotion and as a former competitor, I used to love preening myself knowing I would be screened across the nation on the parade (and then winning the race of course! :P). That rests with the powers that be and all a dog can do is focus on picking the Lolly faithful a few winners tonight and that is what I intend to do! Here are a dog’s thoughts on the races:

7:40 – 480m

With a vast array of supremely talented pups plying their trade across the country at the moment it really is exciting times to be involved with top-class racing and one dog who looks destined for the top is Islas Scolari. This dog has pace to burn and a never-say-die attitude: what is not to like! His form is solid with a very respectable loss to Lemon Pluto (one of those rising stars) being his only real blemish over the past two months (he ran a blinder to stay close if you ask me!). Scolari is still young and is thus learning the ropes but has a great run tonight with the King Nicky and Dinner Hunter set to keep a wide course and Joscar looking for the mid-to-rails (the latter is also susceptible to missing the break and has not trialled around the C&D). The danger is in the form of Jaytee Hellcat but drawn in 1 is not ideal for this greyhound and he may come into some trouble with Joscar if he tries to move middle on the run up. This looks a race that all of my doggie treats will be going on and Scolari shouldn’t let me down (if he does it will be a very hungry night for yours truly!).

8:00 – 273m

Rumours circulating that I was set to make a shock reappearance for this race were sadly unfounded for my loyal following: the sofa is far too comfy these days! That said, what a race this is! Of course most of these used to get a great view of my back legs but my old nemesis Lil Risky seems to have lost his appetite slightly (maybe he needs some of my treats?) and You Mind Me always does it the hard way by missing the break. Either of those class acts could win but the bitch that put the final nail in the coffin when it comes to my career,Fernhill Jess, has subsequently gone from strength to strength and has a great draw tonight with the aforementioned tardy trapping of You Mind Me on her inner. The two wide dogs are respected but Jess will have too much pace for them over this long run up and if she can turn the bend, she gets the 273m comfortably and can take her tally to 21 wins for the year (don’t talk to me about records for wins over a year, I still have nightmares about Hove!*). This should be a belter of a race.

8:15 – 480m

Regular readers of the dog blog will know how I think Alien Planet is a great dog but is overrated in top class company and that is what he faces tonight. There is too much emphasis being placed on his shock win on Derby final night and whilst he has progressed, he will not get things all of his own way in this race with Farloe Ironman likely to move middle from trap 1 on the run-up as he did during the Derby in May. It was a great effort from Ironman to make the final of the English Derby but asides from him perplexingly going off favourite for the Classic, he struggles from the red box at Wimbledon and is to be swerved at the prices. Indeed, he does not quite seem the dog he was earlier in the year which is shown by his form at his beloved Hove not being as imperious as in his earlier career (this may be slightly harsh as he has been up against top class colleagues such as Bridge Ruth). There are doubts for me over Ironman enough to suggest that if there is trouble between the rails moving Planet and the mid-moving Ironman, this could pave the way for one of the others. With Westmead Maldini being a true credit to connections and the great, late dam Mega Delight it would be no surprise to see him pick this field up but he is a railer and tardy trapping has been his downfall at most venues over 4 bends and it is exacerbated at Wimbledon (he had a real chance in the Derby two years ago when he was in arguably his best 4 bend form). Therefore, because he is likely to start poorly and move toward the rail from 5, the logical selection is Trevi You Go who might be the best drawn dog of the night. Although he is not in the same class as the rivals mentioned, he has enough pace on the bunny to spring a surprise if there is trouble behind, and trouble is what Jimmy expects!

8:35 – 687m

Well, some bitches really puzzle me (story of my life!) and the biggest puzzle of them all these days is Express Trend. She seems to have it all to me and has been the bearer of many doggie treats for me in the past but she just tends to throw in a ridiculously poor performance now and again inexplicably! I’ve heard murmurings in the kennel that she is prone to get over-excited before racing and perhaps expends too much energy being so enthusiastic about chasing the hare (us dogs can’t get enough of those bunnies!) so this could be the reason for the odd performances but whatever the reason, on her day I would have my treats on her in any six bend race. This looks a good make-up for her to show why I have faith in her (maybe she wants some make-up, who knows!) as she can turn at least handy to likely pace-setter Coolavanny Fairy and make Fairy disappear on the second circuit (sorry I couldn’t resist!). The danger is Bubbly Swallow but she is another bitch that puzzles the life out of me and seems to work best when leading which looks unlikely in this race. Express Trend normally makes these sorts of opponents look very ordinary and I can see her turning on the style tonight (claws crossed!).

8:50 – 480mH

I’ve never really been a fan of hurdles as regular readers will know that I used to be so fast out that I would bang my head on the first one, and this race goes to prove it is hard to find a winner in these contests of late. There doesn’t seem to be a superstar around at the moment of the ilk of Plane Daddy and more recently Olivers Twist and so these contests over the sticks are wide-open. I thought that All Sensation was impressive at Belle Vue last time out and jumped fluently to hold off local hope Barnagrane Barry but his jumping at Wimbledon is questionable having clattered the fourth hurdle in his trial (they aren’t that easy to jump you know!). He is a tentative selection with Lenson Teddy likely to hold up Farloe Bowser but then not quite stay the 480m and Airforce Spririt being erratic. Good luck to anyone brave enough to pick one of these to win with any confidence!

9:10 – 894m

A good selection of marathon performers assemble here and the first comment is that Pony Bride is best swayed after she was given a great opportunity at Belle Vue to overtake her rivals and instead backed off (lame or tired by the looks of it to me). She let the Lolly faithful down badly and I’ve heard that they don’t forgive and forget easily! Dromana Becky is giving her all as a 6 year old (she does know she can retire, right?) but doesn’t quite get this trip anymore (can’t blame her!) and Powerfast Pigeon is nowhere near the force she was a year ago. This leaves it between the heavily supported Capoley Ash and Storm Pockets. Ash never really settled at Paul Sallis’ kennels but suggestions that that was the trainer’s fault are way beyond the mark as Sallis is a top trainer and his dogs always perform to their absolute optimum: it just didn’t work for Ash for some reason (suspected injury is one rumour). Ash has put in a good trial round the 6 bend course here for his new trainer and those with better memories than mine, a dog’s, will remember he loves it round this circuit: the gamble is understandable. What I think that those following Ash have failed to equate for is that this is a long 8-bend course and that plays perfectly into the pockets of Storm (are the puns getting worse?) who will begin her assault on the second circuit. Anything like a clear run, which should be given by the ineffectual Pigeon, on the rails and Pockets will pick-up-a-dog-or-two on the way to winning this one.

9:25 – 480m

Has the Oaks started, been through the Semis, and now I have awoken on the sofa to see the final? No? Well, this would be a credit to the final as many of the greyhound world have suggested and will give huge clues as to how these bitches fancy their chances against each other. Droopys Loner is in no doubt the best front-running bitch in the country but her exertions in the Derby this year show one thing: she does not get this trip. She may be too far gone tonight (and indeed in the Oaks) for this to matter but I have a sneaking suspicion that Bridge Ruth has a tinge of class about her that is different to these bitches and she can pick up Loner tonight. Loner may cut across her but the likelihood of Ruth leading the pacy Droopys Hope (who does her best running down the back) and the railing Belvedere Emma (who looks slightly outclassed in this company) means that she will be set up to mount a serious challenge to Droopys Loner, who’s fan club is nearly as large as mine! In saying this, Ruth’s efforts in the Irish Derby by reaching the Fourth Round is the equivalent of Airforce Diva but the latter’s poor trapping leaves her open to a world of trouble which will be too much considering Loner is likely to run her standard 28.70 pace tonight: that is the mark to beat! I, for one, would argue the Irish Derby Fourth Round is of the same class as the English Derby Semi-Final and whilst that could be debated for eternity, the one fact is that Loner got picked up by three dogs on that night and she only needs Ruth to turn behind her tonight for another tantalisingly close loss to be on the cards.

9:45 – 687m

This is going to be a cracker! Blonde Fletch and Blonde Reagan are likely to ping out with Peggys Style following them which should make a great race out front. Yet, as Mark Wallis has acknowledged both of his pair (Fletch and Reagan) need to lead and they might be their own worst enemeies as they are jostling out front vying for the early lead. Whilst Reagan will likely prevail over his kennel-mate this jostling looks like it could set-up the race for a strong sort in Peggys Style (who was bought from Ireland to run over longer) and Ballyard Buddy. Those on Buddy antepost at 9/2 will still be holding that ticket knowing he was still 4/1 this morning (that price disappeared quicker than I could trap!) but he is far too big as this dog will run through a brick wall reinforced with steel girders that has been concreted over. He can get into trouble and can ill-afford that tonight but with a clear run he is fancied to get his first victory of the competition (and the all-important one!) and with the likely pace-setters battling each other instead of focussing on conserving energy, Buddy will be gaining momentum as he overtakes them round the last.

So there are a dog’s thoughts on the racing and bearing in mind Wimbledon is not my favourite track (I could never run that pesky bend!), I’m sure people will have opinions so please tweet or comment and I promise to respond (as long as I am not napping on the sofa!). Good luck and let’s hope Buddy is my friend tonight!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy

* See http://www.racingpost.com/greyhounds/result_home.sd#resultDay=2010-12-30&raceId=1070681