Well, isn’t a year a long time in greyhound racing! This time last year I recommended Sawpit Sensation to win the Eclipse at 8/1 and he duly obliged for the Lolly Faithful in a stunning all-the-way track record success: I sense a case of dógjà vu tonight. Before we get to that though, there is a brilliant supporting card at Nottingham this evening with Trainer of the Year points being at a premium for the human race that is going to be the closest for many a dog year. As ever, it is always imperative to keep Charlie Lister runners onside as his dogs know this track so well. Here are my thoughts on the card and as ever, some value for the Lolly Faithful:

19:34 – Puppy

Some pretty useful youngsters line-up here and I think it is worth opposing the up-in-class Take The Crown. His style suggests he will need luck in-running as he adjusts to his working life and Droopys Dave can utilise his experience here. Dave has been the perennial houndsmaid in the big Puppy tournaments this year but he has a touch of class about him; also this galloping track should play right to his strengths. He came 2nd in the Puppy Classic here and can account for his loss to Redbrick Stuart in the Northern Puppy Derby by beating his poorly drawn and out-of-form colleague.

19:49 – Bitches

The two Lister runners are at the fore of the market and deservedly so, but Silverview Pinky has been with her trainer since puppy status and will know this track far better than the classy Airforce Diva. Diva has been a revelation since stepping up to six bends for the St. Leger but she crucially missed the break in the final of that competition (although her efforts would have been in vain anyway to the awesome Farloe Tango); this is an all-too-familiar situation with Diva as she struggles to ping the lids consistently and any faults at trap-rise can prove costly against the consistent and likeable Pinky. Pinky has never hit the heights of her litter-sister superbitch Silverview Perky but like her sister, she has excellent early and will take some catching on the bunny. Five Alley Queen is well-drawn but is not in the same class as the aforementioned two.

20:04 – Stayers

A difficult conundrum to paw over here and it is possible to make a case for many of these as they are all pretty equally matched and drawn well. Bubbly Swallow just gets the vote as she is a prolific bitch on Sky and loves nosing the camera to show off to her fans before the race. She has been relinquishing her lead a bit too frequently for my liking of late though, as she is a proven stayer and should be setting a stiffer mark on the bunny than she has been doing. Afewdollarsmore has pace but struggles in this sort of company to win his races. Aayamzalad provided a shock in the Kent St. Leger and has good middle pace but has question marks over this extended 6 bends for me. Tough race to call this.

20:19 – Sprint

The best race on the card sees my favourite sprinting colleague with a great draw and it is worth backing him to account for useful rivals: Jumeirah Dubai. He is 4 from 7 this year and is warming up for a defence of his National Sprint title (around here) with 2 wins at Nottingham preceding tonight. If he pings like me as he normally does, he will take the world of beating especially considering his main rival, Droopys Quincy, has a poor record out of trap 1 with his only win in 4 starts from the red box coming on his debut; Quincy can actually miss the break from any box and whilst his pace is unquestionable, his timing leaves a lot to be desired. Helenas Sailor and Billymatt are prolific winners at their favourite tracks of Hove and Romford respectively, but always seem to fail in top company away from their beloved home venues and that looks set to continue here. Dubai to continue to oil his creaking bones and lay down a marker for the National Sprint.

20:34 – 480m

An interesting contest here sees the pacey Frisby Barney trying to outlast some of his stronger colleagues. He should lead but the presence of Daddyknowsbest on his outside should give him something to think about for the duration as Best has good all-round pace. Hadrians Wall is a likeable sort from the strongest graded track in the country, Newcastle, and he has proven he can mix it with the best in Category One tournaments. He always tries his hardest and can turn in a handy position here before outstaying a tired Barney.

20:49 – Marathon

Aayamzabella is having a season to remember and she will be gracing the Emerald Isle with her presence on the most famous talent show in the world, The Night of Stars, at the end of the year. She has explosive middle pace over a marathon distance and it is hard to see anything stopping her unleashing that here. She ran admirably in the Leger by winning her first round but just found the pace too hot in one of the best Legers of my lifetime, and there is nothing of the class in that tournament here. Barley Bussell could actually run to Ireland in one go if she so wished, but Aayamzabella will be too far ahead here.

21:04 – Standard

For me, it is always worth opposing Droopys Odell when he is not drawn in his beloved red box (or at least with slow starters inside) and whilst in houndsight, he has defeated his poor draws before, he faces a really classy colleague here in Bold Three. Three blasted onto the scene at the start of the year and made a bold attempt at the Irish derby; he needs an extended trip to see his galloping pace to the best of his ability and Nottingham fits the bill for him in that regard. Slippery Sooty actually progressed further in the Irish Derby than the selection, but he is taking his time in getting used to his new kennel in the UK and did not leave as big an impression as Bold Three in the premier Irish classic anyway.

21:19 – Eclipse Final

The Eclipse always produces a stellar final as Nottingham is such a good track for us dogs to run round and here we have no exception. If Exocet rockets out, it will all be over bar the barking but a trap 1 draw is surely a concern for this ex-mid runner. In saying he is an “ex” mid runner, probably implies the wrong thing as he definitely still runs middle, but his connections were tired of the dearth of wide runners in tournaments which led him to being put in trap 6 far too often. That barked, it has backfired here as he has only ran out of 1 once and his trapping ability cannot be guaranteed. That accompanied with the fact he has the brute pace of Calzaghe Davy (another mid runner) next to him means that those two could cause all sorts of bother to each other; if either get a clear they are going to take the world of beating but I cannot see it. Bridge Honcho is likely to get squeezed too and so it leaves the wide runner with the most pace to the bend, Sawpit Sensation, to steal a march on the outside and prove too strong for the whole field. His record is nothing short of sensational being in the first 2 over the Course and Distance in 20 of 21 starts (winning 10 of his last 13). Whilst some of these victories have been against poor fields, it would be foolish to forget he beat the Derby winner of his year, Taylors Sky, and the mighty incomparable speed of Farloe Tango round here in the final last year: it was not even a contest. He does not often ping but when he does, he is truly formidable and Sensation has no problem in coming out of trap 4 (some connections have quipped that it is his preferred trap). He should lead Aghaburren Paddy and whilst Airlie Impact is a Derby runner-up and serial finalist, his gruelling season is surely taking it’s toll on him to have an impact here. Last year, I barked in my dog blog (found here http://is.gd/h9DFtY) that “Sensation is set for a solo out-wide and you ignore this dog at your peril…He has finished outside the top 3 in one of his last twenty-seven starts (he sounds like me!) and he will run through a brick wall for you and will not give in”. How remarkable that a year on, he faces the same test: he can pass it.

Here are the recommendations:

21:19 – Sawpit Sensation – 1 breast of chicken @ 8/1

So there are my thoughts on a night that should make riveting viewing. As ever, if you have any comments please tweet me and I’ll bark back at you faster than Dubai comes out of the traps this evening. In another remarkably strong Eclipse Final, Sensation can once again show he is a truly top class colleague of mine.

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy

A truly magical night’s racing is in prospect for us tonight as the greatest St. Leger final of my lifetime is supported by a classy renewal of the Puppy Derby. The Lolly Faithful were dealt the devastating news that Sidarian Teejay was withdrawn lame yesterday having looked so promising after his gallant second in his Heat and then Semi-Final win, but we can be confident that Fear Emoski will give us plenty to bark about in the St. Leger final where she can run her usual honest race. The supporting card is perhaps not the class of some other Sky cards due to the abundance of Category One tournaments around this period, but nonetheless it is competitive and as ever, there is some value for the Lolly Faithful. Here are my thoughts on the proceedings:

19:34 – Sprint

What better way to start the night than with the most eagerly anticipated race and it looks a very useful battle of my sprinting colleagues. Droopys Quincy is without doubt the fastest in the line-up and on his day he can beat anything over the optimum trip, but at his odds he cannot be trusted as he has some pretty bad off-days. The draw is intriguing and has swayed me to side with Aero Twizzle who is not the best at pinging the lids, but has scintillating early that he has demonstrated at Romford and Peterborough. The presence of Cape Impact on his outside is a concern as he is running very well and rails pretty tightly, but Twizzle can power his way up the inside and assert at the first bend. Lode Henry has early over 4 bends but will possibly struggle stepping down in trip to be in contention and Kizi is useful but struggles in quality affairs: this is a quality affair.

19:49 – Maiden

A rare maiden in front of the Sky cameras can also provide us with the best value for this evening: Nomadic Loner. The formline that sticks out like a rabbit peaking out of a hedge is his beating of Chicago in a trial before the Puppy Derby (who goes off favourite in the Final tonight) and if he can reproduce anything like that effort, he will take a lot of beating. It could be argued that Chicago was lacking in race sharpness but he did not look like he lacked that in the first round when he pinged out nearly as well as me. Aayamzamodel has flattered to deceive of late and looks like she needs a stiffer four bend trip so Loner can lead her. Clonad Girl has shown good early in her races but has failed to stamp her authority on the proceedings and will not relish Loner turning anyway near her. Sundance Storm is a useful local but the 28:59 of Loner around Monmore is a better time than an A1 dog, which Storm appears to be at the moment.

20:04 – Hurdles

A match race here can go in favour of the track specialist Westmead Meteor who won the Springbok here (for Novice hurdlers) earlier in the year. Mash Mad Snowy has gone on to win the Grand National in pretty good style but he struggled in trials around here when tried over these ridiculous obstacles. Meteor can be more fluent and show he is a class act.

20:19 – Bitches

An interesting decision to name this race as “Ladies” has been met with mixed opinions in the kennels as us dogs definitely consider them to be bitches. Anyway, as the spokesdog for the greyhound community I have to bark our feelings at times and on to the race. Jaytee Jules ran a blinder behind Jaytee Lightening in the Olympic Final on her last run and the efforts of her litter-brother Jaytee Hellcat (track record at Limerick) show that they possess great pace and determination. She will have to be on her toes at the traps to beat the pinging Sidelight but if she does that, she should be too strong for her fellow bitches. Zoos Caprice is a useful local but does not quite have the class of Jules.

20:34 – Marathon

This is not the best marathon you are ever likely to see and it is hard to make a case for any of my colleagues with great confidence. A tentative selection goes to Barley Bussell after her track-record effort last time out at Sheffield but she wins few and far between and don’t expect anything from her for a considerable period of the race. Castlehill Aris comes with a decent reputation in Ireland but he has showed tendencies that he deserves a place on the naughty step. Incitatus will run his usual, grinding, one-paced race but will be staying on.

20:49 – Standard

Lough Messi can further enhance his growing reputation on these shores by making up for the news that the human that was named after him has been declared lame this week. His scintillating early at Romford seems to have been transferred to the Plough Lane circuit and if he pings, he can assert from the first bend (he missed the break a few times in Ireland). It might seem barking mad to oppose Farloe Warhawk (who is unbeaten out of trap 1 from 10 starts), but his last race barked volumes to me that he was not the dog of old as he succumbed at the first bend in a way that he simply would not have done a year ago; he seems to have lost a little of his determination. Jaytee Seville disappointed for the Lolly Faithful in the Puppy Derby and has been thrown in the deepest of deep ends in an oversized swimming pool here, but he is talented and Wimbledon should suit. Mountjoy Rebel is perhaps overpriced based on his early season form but it is hard to envisage him leading Messi in his current mood. Lough Messi can show his credentials for the Derby next year here.

21:04 – Puppy Derby Final

A good indicator to potential stars of next year’s Derby can be found in this tournament and one has risen to the fore that every man and his greyhound has taken note of: Chicago. It is desperately disappointing that Sidarian Teejay has been withdrawn for us as he would have given Chicago a race but with his vacancy, it has given Chicago the room to manoeuvre himself on the run-up and utilise his awesome early. The son of Milldean Panther (the legendary Irish dog of yesteryear who is arguably nearly as famous as me) has exploded from the traps in each round and it is hard to envisage him not repeating the feat now he is drawn even better as he does like to turn slightly left out of the boxes. Droopys London has been impressive but he has not met a dog of Chicago’s pace to chase yet and it will be a huge effort for him to overhaul him if he turns behind; he will also have to deal with an unfamiliar draw and the determined Droopys Dave on his inside. Bubbly Beauty and King Kane have shown early in the competition but nothing that comes close to the brute pace of Chicago.

21:19 – St. Leger Final

So here we are. The epic final of a tournament that has been brilliant and demonstrated that there is one superstar of the greyhound world at the moment: Farloe Tango. His style of jogging nonchalantly either at the back or in midfield before deciding to unleash his incomparable explosive speed is a joy to watch and provides huge entertainment; as I barked in my antepost blog he “simply has a different gear to any other hound in training” (the whole blog can be found here http://is.gd/v0si20) and I would not begrudge him the win here and that is the dog’s honest truth. He will have to come and beat Fear Emoski on merit for me though. Humans are pointing out her times have not been impressive but she is still winning her races (unbeaten in the competition and 10 from 12 over a stayer’s trip) and the Regency and Yorkshire St. Leger winner can add to her illustrious collection. Her draw in trap 3 is pretty much perfect for her as she does not like to rail and she can find herself room with Tango likely to start slowly and Droopys Posh looking for the rail. The latter has been a revelation in the tournament but has been caught by Tango in the heats and lost to Emoski in the Semis (although notably making late headway) so it is difficult to argue that she has the ability to win this, however progressive she is. Musical Gaga has shown that she is more suited to 8-bends these days and the fact that Tango overtook her in the Semis shows that he is phenomenal, and she needs a longer trip. Airforce Diva is another revelation but is still unproven as a true stayer for me and will have an early battle with her kennelmate, the gallant Killieford Khali. Fear Emoski as I barked in my blog can show that simply: “she is a winner”

So here are the recommendations:

Fear Emoski – 1 doggie treat to win the St. Leger @ 5/1

So there we are! A fascinating night ahead of us which will culminate in a race that will be barked about for many years to come. As ever, please tweet me if you have comments and I promise to bark back less nonchalantly than Tango will run the first lap this evening. As the Lolly Faithful are well aware, you should Fear the Emoski.

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy