There’s a cracking night ahead of us from Sunderland this evening with a grand total of nearly 50,000 doggie treats to be won across the card! That of course, means that the top class colleagues of mine from across the country have made the long trip up to the North-East and what they meet is a quirky kind of track. With it’s wide straights and narrow turns, Sunderland often sees us dogs running off at the bend, particularly the first, and then righting ourselves to continue our pursuit of the bunny. Therefore, the name of the game here is to be out the front chasing the hare and so early-paced merchants like yours truly are the type you want at this track. The racing is of a high quality throughout and as ever, I have found some value for the Lolly Faithful:

19:34 – Stayers

Lagganmore Milan is a frustrating sort who is without question seen to best effect when he is able to dictate matters. If he can clear the local bitch in trap 2 (who has a ping in her) he can put this race to his doggie bed with his galloping speed in front. Farley Chicken is a decent addition to the staying ranks but proved how invaluable it is to be in the lead around here when he got in all sorts of trouble in the Grand Prix heats when a beaten odds-on shot. He is more than capable of giving Milan a race if he can stay trouble-free but that is no guarantee at Sunderland at all. Killieford Khali has ability when he puts his best paw forward but his bend running leaves a lot to be desired and that is especially exposed around these tight ones.

19:49 – Standard

Airfield Paudie has yet to show his ability in a race on these shores yet and also looks to me as if he struggles to get home, even over this shortish 4 bend trip: he has to be opposed. Ryma Boca is a likeable bitch who is reliable at the boxes and game on the bunny. She is also drawn inside Paudie which will mean that any sort of running-off-at-the-bend shenanigans that occur will play into her paws if she is brave enough and that should mean she can secure a winning position at the first bend. Greenwell Mentor has pace in droves and is always feared but his efforts at Monmore in May were hugely disappointing for a dog of his pace. Pinpoint Lad could be anything from the respected Macari kennel.

20:04 – Marathon

In a race lacking in depth it is still worth opposing Aayamzabella from a woeful draw for her. She is a tight railing bitch who will do anything to be on the inside and with pace inside her (especially from Boherna Bridge) she is going to probably struggle to get a comfortable slot for herself over the first circuit. With that in mind, it is worth taking a chance that King Kane can stay on his marathon bow for his new trainer, Diane Henry. Under Liz McNair he was never tried over this distance which is of concern considering he saw out his 6 bend efforts pretty well but in a paw quality marathon, he can steal a march on these and hold on for dear life towards the end.

20:19 – Standard

Candlelight King is a type made for Sunderland and it would be of huge surprise if he were to not win his first race away from Sheffield here. He has the inside draw to his main rival for the lead, Mill Jolson, who is a young tyke who is surely destined to step down in trip to be seen to full effect. Even if Jolson turns in front of King, it is hard to see how he can maintain the advantage for the full trip as he does not see it out well at all. The only concern for King is the reluctance of his connections to run him away from his home track; in barking that though he was very unlucky in the Derby First Round at Wimbledon in his only start away from home when eliminated having been stamped on down the back straight.

20:34 – Festival Flyer

Everyone’s favourite race here and the value is to back the ever-dependable Skate On to make amends for her defeat in the heats. She has shown in the past that she needs a go at the traps once before she pings (memorably left a quality field for dead on Derby Final night this year) and now she has had a look at the boxes, she can ping and make-all. Cape Impact likes the rails and will be turning left into Baliff Cairo so they will have to both be on their toes. Conna Trigger won the heat ahead of Skate On last week but she is a better class than him when both on song in my dog’s honest opinion. It’s all about the break as ever with these sprints, and Skate On pings like me.

20:49 – Puppy Plate

The effort of Newinn Yolo in the Gymcrack final was quite simply breathtaking in defeat and his pace is being underrated in this contest I feel. Calzaghe George is a very fast young tyke on the bunny but as a youngster, he has been known to throw in some atrocious performances and Yolo has shown he needs no second invitation to chase down his rivals. Yolo is not devoid of early here and with his draw inside his main competitor, he can land the spoils in impressive fashion.

21:04 – Grand Prix Final

Bubbly Gold has excelled since stepping up in trip after his decent campaign in the Derby and he will take all the beating here. He has shown that over this distance he is capable of pinging and leading, and even if he doesn’t get to the front early, he is a classy customer. Tough work for the rest here.

21:19 – Classic Final

Both finals have the feel of inevitability about them and with the withdrawal of Bubbly Rocket in trap 5 helping his cause, defending champion Pinpoint Maxi is simply unopposable to retain his crown. Unbeaten in 7 starts for Kelly Macari, his early pace is quite simply staggering and hopefully we can see him line-up in more Category One tournaments this year. An outstanding training performance to bring him back after nearly a year off with injury due to a broken hock suffered in a trial, his connections and kennel humans deserve this victory. They should get it.

Here are the recommendations:

20:49 – Newinn Yolo – 1 chewstick @ 7/4

So there are my thoughts on the proceedings! As ever, please tweet me if you have any comments and I promise to bark back at you faster than Skate On pings the lids tonight. It should be a cracking night and let’s hope for a demonstration of pace from the wonderful story that is Pinpoint Maxi.

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy