The Golden Sprint always lures a top quality field and this year is no exception. The Lolly Faithful were on Blonde Snapper last year at 8/1 who subsequently went on to win the Derby, and there is definitely some value to be found in this year’s collection of my colleagues. The Golden Sprint for me is a relatively simple conundrum in that unless you are in the first 2 or 3 greyhounds at the first bend, it is hard to envisage you being able to compete for this Category One prize. So here are my thoughts on the antepost market and a couple of overpriced dogs in the heats:

Borna Monty has just about assumed outright favouritism and it is without question that this dog likes the track and trip: he is on a six-timer tonight. He has yet to prove himself on a regular basis against top quality opposition (which is in abundance in this tournament) and he is now on the short-side of a price where it would be worth parting with one of my beloved doggie treats. Droopys Loner is an admirable bitch and it is hard to not like her; the Derby semi-finalist from last year will surely go close as she warmed up with an emphatic victory last week so she is feared, but not value for me. Farloe Barracuda is a rising star for the Draper’s impressive kennel and this is definitely a warm-up for the Derby for him. It is hard to see him not going deep in the Derby if he takes to Wimbledon as a sprinting type normally goes far (King Lee, Droopys Loner and of course Blonde Snapper) but he is unproven around Romford and he has shown he does not like certain tracks. The value in the assortment of favourites is to go with the proven dog over this Course and Distance: Ayamzaman.

Ayamzaman has failed to discover another track that is to his liking, perhaps because he doesn’t get the 462m at Yarmouth, or perhaps just because he may be a “one-track dog”. I, for one, liked every track (even Wimbledon in the end!) but for Ayamzaman he is definitely a dog who’s home form is far stronger than his away. In his quest to find another track he likes, his form looks scratchy, but he was the joint-most winning greyhound last year because of his ability at Romford and he can win perhaps the easiest of the heats tonight to lay down a serious marker: this is his territory.

Of the rest of the field, if Slick Santiago stays fit he is a very fast hound but he is more injury prone than that human Darren Anderton (showing my age there in retirement) and so cannot be trusted in an antepost market for me. Glanmire Lad has put in some very suspect performances this term and so if he brings his best to the sand then he will be a force, but he is plenty short enough considering the consistency of Loner, for instance. Cluxtons Free bolted up in the Monmore Puppy Derby but that was with a very favourable draw and the nature of Romford being a tighter track to that in Wolverhampton concerns me, as does his draw in 4 tonight.

So then we get down to the other recommendation for the loyal Lolly Faithful for this year’s competition. Loughteen Blanco is too big at a standout 16/1 as he has the early to turn at least second or third even if he meets some of the sprinting types. He is a hugely likeable dog and was subject to a terrible draw on Trainers Championship night so had little chance in that race after the chaos unfolded. He can be forgiven that as he doesn’t choose his box and whilst the red box is a concern tonight, he has a great draw to work from as Yahtzee will be moving out mid-to-wide, as will Santiago and Borna Monty: Blanco can move middle-to-rails and muscle his way round the inside. He is worth backing tonight at 4/1.

Lil Risky just does not seem the force of old when I used to battle it out with him (I say battle it out but there was only likely to be one winner), and whilst he can be forgiven for losing to a track-record from Barracuda last week, he is missing the break more than he did in his prime and he is suitably priced now. Dusseldorf is an all-or-nothing type and the ex-Irish raider has not shown enough of his “all” style to suggest he can be a player in a tournament on these shores. Nans Turbo and Sharons Return are stalwarts of the Essex track and are respected at bigger prices, although they lack the class of the top of the field by some way. Turbo can however capitalise on Cluxtons Free’s draw and claim his heat at a juicy 10/3.

So here are the recommendations:

Antepost:

20:18 – Loughteen Blanco – 1 piece of bread @ 4/1
20:34 – Nans Turbo – 1 dog bone @ 10/3

So there are a dog’s thoughts on the proceedings that begin in Essex tonight. As ever, please comment or tweet me if you have any thoughts and I’ll bark back at you like I’ve just seen a squirrel up a tree. Not many have come to Romford and beaten Ayamzaman and ayamza believer in him for this tournament.

Enjoy the racing,

Jimy