Before my colleagues started their campaigns for the Essex Vase, I thought that 10/1 the field was about right for an extremely competitive line-up and so it has proved with the final this evening being very wide open. Romford is a real specialist’s track with it’s tight bends and general lack of room that my colleagues enjoy at more galloping friendly tracks; the only way in Essex is to have a look in a trial before racing round here to be at your best and that can help us tonight. In keeping with the competitiveness of the finale, the supporting card is equally as tough but with that, I can find some value for the Lolly Faithful for dogs that I know will run the track capably. Some humans might suggest it is a night where luck will play a huge part but I think that has more than been factored into the odds for the recommendations and as the Lolly Faithful know from my racing career and career as a freelance journadog, I don’t rely on luck (well maybe a little!). Here are my thoughts on the proceedings:

19:34 – Standard

Ayamzaman was undoubtedly the track champion of this track for at least a year but he is not the force of old and he is worth taking on these days (0 wins from his last 10 starts); if he is anywhere near his formidable best then he will make me look like a silly doggie indeed but we will see in houndsight. Landed At Last ran very well in the Puppy Cup round here and has subsequently produced some useful 24 second runs when pinging the traps; if he pings like me tonight from the best box at Romford, trap 3, then he can get out in front and repel allcomers. Alis Avenger is a nice bitch but struggles against us dogs and Oscars is also not Onfire against this class of rival. Jet Stream Odds takes a step down in class having succumbed to some superb Romford railers (Garryglass Rodge and Bonamassa Rocks) but he is poorly drawn as Ayamzaman still has the early to go up with most in this class and he will have to clear the selection, also.

19:49 – 925m

I know I keep barking on about it but recent track experience is crucial here and whilst my colleagues here will get a ridiculously long look at the track, not a lot of them know it all too well (although that will certainly change this evening!). It is hard to envisage how Risky Emerald will not lead as the two that head the market, Fatice Cream and Buglys Billie, normally drop out the back and time their challenge when most of us dogs have gone back to our kennels. I don’t think Emerald will quite get the trip and I cannot have the grinding nature of Fatice Cream round here and Buglys Billie is not the force of old for me. So, for me, the value in the race comes in the form of Kilbreeze who was crucially given a trial here over 6 bends last week to prepare her for this evening. Her wins-to-runs ratio is nothing special in graded marathon fare, but she was staying on really well against the useful Pony Bride at Crayford over 874m and this extra 51m tonight could see her outrun her price considerably. This is the type of challenge that should be perfect for Kilbreeze and I think there are enough question marks about the two at the fore of the market to take them on.

20:04 – Hurdles

Whilst it is on the short side for him these days, they bark that orange is the colour to be in Essex and that is what Mash Mad Snowy will be adorning tonight. He ran with credit in the Essex Vase to show his liking for the Romford circuit and whilst his back straight pace cannot be utilised fully here, he has just enough early to turn prominently and be too pacey over the obstacles here. Rummy Lord is a course, distance and discipline specialist round here but he has the the one dog to contend with here who seems to want to assasinate his opponents, rather than the hare.

20:19 – Stayers

The antepost favourite for the Essex Vase, Blonde Razor, was very disappointing in the competition and his subsequent run after that, but he has to be taken on trust that he can put those races behind him and win this. He was the subject of an antepost gamble for tonight’s headline race due to his pawchant for the track and distance and he can show his impressive middle pace this evening. Bridge Jane led and beat him in the aforementioned race last week, but she is a bitch who has to lead and Razor is quite capable of pinging out in front of her, or following her round and making amends for his recent defeats. Ding Hero is starting to look like he wants to join me on the sofa but he has been a grand servant.

20:34 – Standard

A race here that looks like it should be in the last few rounds of the Derby with some scintillating performers. Bubbly Rocket lives up to his name up to the bend but is poorly drawn next to the rail-loving ping machine that is Garryglass Rodge. That accompanied with the rails admirer that is Dower Matt means there could be chaos on the inside here. Southern Mesut produced a brilliant 4.57 sectional in winning last week and if he goes close to that again, he could sneak in front but Lough Messi can live with anything to the bend here and he has the draw to make him value. He can turn inside Southern Mesut and dominate the proceedings as the railers vie for positions. He has been known to miss the break but has yet to do so at Romford and his early pace to catch up with Farloe Warhawk recently on Sky at Wimbledon was stunning due to his poor start: he should ping here. Droopys Quincy is hard to catch right but has huge early on his day and although poorly drawn, is a danger in any race. A proper 7/2 the field contest here that we can take advantage of.

20:49 – Stayers

Aghaburren Paddy is a nice sort once he’s on the bunny and whilst he has to lead, he can do so here and account for the nice bitch that is Bridge Ruth. Ruth was another one of those fancied runners in the Essex Vase that didn’t quite live up to expectations, whereas Paddy showed his pace on the bunny to superb effect in the heats when he stormed round Essex like Mark Wright on a night out. Moody Paul has hit a real low in terms of form as he was a really useful puppy who initially transferred that to some eyecatching runs over this course and distance, he is best watched for now though (as long as he’s not in the front today of course!). Bubbly Charlie is beginning to become a dog without a distance but he plugs on gamely whatever task he is given.

21:04 – Marathon

A bitch that likes being in the media spotlight more than Katie Price can lead a procession to her crown of Winning-Most Greyhound on Sky this year. Bubbly Swallow seems to grow an extra leg after she has nosed the camera to delight her fans and she has an easier-than-normal assignment to dazzle the millions of greyhounds watching the action this evening from their sofas. She can lead here and there is nothing in the race that I can see that has the potential to back run her.

21:19 – Essex Vase Final

A very intriguing contest to conclude this Category One tournament can go to the brilliantly consistent Hather George. The Derby and St. Leger Semi-Finalist can add to his 3 Steps to Victory win by landing this competition over his pawfect distance. He has now had the crucial two looks at the track when struggling in the heats (which was no surprise) before asserting and winning his Semi-Final. He is such a game colleague of mine that he can ping and lead, turn handy and assert or come from a long way off to win if the opportunity arrives to run his race. A case can be made for all of the others though, but their prices are about right whereas George should be clear favourite on all-given form and his draw. Hipower Rhino will have to ping like he did in his Semi-Final and may struggle to do so from the red box; Regal Bailio has finally shown his Derby form over this suitable distance for him but he could not live with George in the Semi; Reel Trickyone is a dog that has to lead and does not really possess sufficient early to guarantee that this evening; Adageo Bob is a gutsy character who could win if the gaps appear for him at the right times; Killieford Khali has nice early and then stays well although he finds it difficult to get his head in front against really class dogs. A fascinating race in prospect here but the value is definitely with the ever-dependable Hather George.

Here are the recommendations:

Hather George – 1 dog bone @ 11/4

So there we are, it really does look like an enthralling night’s viewing and I for one am really looking forward to it. As ever, if you have any comments please tweet me and I promise to get back to you provided I am not staring at my food bowl in desperate anticipation for my meal. The Essex Vase final is well open, but George is a well reem dog who can deliver the doggie treats for us this evening.