A fantastic renewal of this unique tournament begins this evening. Whilst German and Spanish humans run around chasing a ball, the action at Sheffield is sure to be far more exciting! Just why the humans don’t jump on the ball and rag it when they have caught it is beyond me but there you go, we are all different I guess. The tournament was won by 25/1 outsider Clerihan Gold last year in a race which turned into a bit of a mess and that is often the case in this competition because of the 4 bend dogs not being able to stay in the final and then getting in the way of the genuine stayers! To be honest, if I was to run a 3 Steps to Victory it would be over the 225m at Romford, the 258m at Hall Green and then the 305m at Nottingham with that long run-up proving critical in me showing my devastating early-pace. Anyways, enough reminiscing and on to finding some value for the Lolly Faithful. Here are my thoughts on the proceedings:

19:58 – Heat 1

This tournament looks perfectly suited to Hometown Honey if she can qualify tonight but she is often best when dictating matters over a longer distance and whether she will be afforded that luxury tonight is another question. She is also potentially hazardously drawn next to the wide Mill Whiskers who has yet to fulfil the potential that he once showed around Sunderland. Kilmeen Bill has pace and a raider from Newcastle must always be respected these days so I think he will lead round which should set the race up for the classy 6-bender, Welton Arthur, who is a live runner in this tournament although his 4 bend pace may prove his downfall in the semi-final if he is not as well-drawn.

20:13 – Heat 2

If Hather George stays, which he has shown brief glimpses of, he would be a clear favourite for this tournament. This looks a penalty kick for him (can you see a football theme emerging?) and he is well worth backing at odds of 5/4 for tonight. It is hard to see how any of these will live with him over this normal 4 bend trip so he should kroos to victory as he is in the form of his life.

20:28 – Heat 3

This is arguably the most competitive of tonight’s heats and is a tough one to call, even for me. Future Gem has shown a great deal of pace but Jazz Tilly has enough early to live with that and should be able to assert from a good draw with Gem moving off at the bend. Sidelight is a runner in this tournament at a big price if she can qualify over this shorter distance as she struggled when fancied in the Bags Track Championship over 4 bends, particularly at Hall Green. Savana Roberto is hard to catch right but he definitely stays and if he qualifies for the final he could be away-and-gone in a messi final and not for catching.

20:43 – Heat 4

There has been a serge of money for Bouncy Bocko antepost based on some flying trial times and people seem to be making too big of a song and dance about him. We all now know that trials are for show and races for dough so he looks far too short now at a best priced 6/1. I obviously prefer the tastier version of dough instead of money but I can advise the Lolly Faithful to be against him tonight and side with the impressive Rewind Express, who has been showing great speed at Hove on RPGTV and can lead the inside to make-all tonight.

20:58 – Heat 5

After a nap this morning I was reading my copy of Dante’s Inferno when I logged onto the computer and nearly fell of the sofa when I saw the price for this dog. Romeo Recruit at 5/2 is barking mad! I will certainly be having many doggie treats on him and when he wins I’ll be buying a villa in Barcelona to enjoy my retirement even more! With a great run with Tibetan Skies not showing the level of form that he did in Ireland and Aghaburren Paddy being a dog more suited to leading 6-bend fields, Recruit will be laying down a marker here and if his breeding as a stayer is confirmed, he is worth siding with in the tournament at 16/1.

21:14 – Heat 6

Bansha Mo has a chance in this tournament but is an in-and-out sort of bitch and she is worth taking on having lost her last 3 races. Lode Vanquish could still a march on the outside and will not be for catching if he does so but I am more inclined to side with the ever gritty Ding Hero to be robben a late lead and stealing this heat. He is too big at 20/1 for the tournament too as he can overtake, he chases and has enough early to qualify for the final and perhaps be the victor.

Here are the recommendations:

20:13 – Hather George – 2 doggie treats @ 5/4

Ding Hero – 1 piece of bread cut in half @ 20/1

So there are a dog’s thoughts on the proceedings tonight and hopefully I’ll be munchen on some doggie treats later this evening. As ever, please comment or tweet me if you have anything to say and I’ll bark back with the enthusiasm I show when a squirrel runs out on me on my walk. Ding Hero should be gritty enough to qualify for the final and I am definitely forming an allianz with Romeo Recruit to win this tournament.

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy

P.S. If you are playing Football pun bingo, there are 10. 😛