A welcome addition to the greyhound calendar this evening sees the Pinpoint Healthcare Final adorn the Sky cameras in a new slot for Newcastle on TV.  The heats threw up few surprises and so tonight we will see a fascinating battle between the early-paced types and whether the stronger dogs can catch them on a likely quick Sky track.  Elsewhere, the card has a feel of it being a favourite’s night off the front and whilst that was a dangerous approach to adopt at Newcastle in years gone by, those pesky bookmakers have gradually got the lively locals down to the prices they should be (when we used to get ludicrous prices on them!).  With that balanced out, it means that the established open racing sorts look on the big side in a few affairs this evening and that’s where, as ever, I have found the value for the Lolly Faithful:

19:11 – Puppy

The young tykes have a go in the opener and in it we have the very useful prospect Droopys Vodka who is a local that thrived on being in the 3 box last week and can make-all again tonight.  Swift Carter is a gutsy hound who is always good for a place and a straight forecast of those two is a consideration; that barked, Calzaghe Lisa caught the eye last week behind Vodka and might spoil the party for those backing what appears a very readable 1-2.

19:26 – Sprint

Everyone’s favourite race can go the way of the best sprinter in the country: Walshes Hill.

19:43 – British Bred

The best bred hounds in the world compete here and whilst he has just become a veteran, the admirable Hadrians Wall can show that he’s not quite ready for his sofa just yet.  Quick enough still to come second to Walshes Hill in a sprint last week (beaten out of sight, mind) that shows that he can still shift and he’s a jealous sort on the bunny. The 2 and the 3 are slow-away types so Wall can lead them and if he can get a length ahead of Burnfoot Alpha, it will take a very good effort from that dog to pick him up.  9/2 looks too big on the Newcastle stalwart.

19:59 – Seniors

The greybeards show the young tykes how it’s done here and Greenwell Lark is holding her form well so the ever-dependable bitch can beat her fellow pensioners here.  Scotswood Road doesn’t come out, especially from 5, so Lark has a great run to the bend and she is definitely not for picking up if she leads and has enough back straight pace to catch any of these if they get a march on her.  Killacola Ka Ka is a local who can be useful if he gets a sight of the bunny but I’d be happy for Lark to turn behind him and pick him up; Pond Mozart is in his box but is perhaps showing his age more than his compatriots here.

20:16 – Stayers

Lowgate Jasper has been competing against the best staying types in the country and holding his head up high against them with some eye-catching displays.  The way he picked up a decent field in the 480m round of the 3 Steps to Victory was a particularly useful effort and that form surely sees him go clear here and beat these.  The danger is Magical Reid who makes his staying bow-wow and has always looked a powerful galloper round Newcastle; his problem is that he’s a natural railer so 3 might not be conducive to him getting a clear if the 1 or 2 come out at all and if he gets an interrupted passage, it’s hard to see him picking up Jasper unless his next assignment is taking off at Newcastle airport.

20:33 – Standard

A decent race this with proven Category One winners taking each other on from pretty favourable draws for the field.  Calzaghe George could lead which would surely see him cut loose on a fast Sky track, but the selection is Northern Puppy Derby winner Kneejerkreaction who loves it round here and especially from trap 4.  He can lead the 2014 Monmore Puppy Derby winner Farloe Nutter (failed to progress significantly since) and at least follow George down the back where he can outstay him.  The concern is that he’s like his brothers who have struggled since being stepped up into all-aged company but he should still arguably be favourite in this as drawn.  Good race.

20:51 – Maiden Final

The withdrawal of the 6 has given the 5 a great chance of catching Pinpoint Classic this evening but it is still worth playing Kelly Macari’s charge to set a ferocious pace on a quick Sky track.  Sub-4.60 sectionals are flying round Brough Park and whilst he would probably prefer to be in 4 rather than 2, he will edge across and lead these at the bend by 1 or 2 lengths.  The 1 is very well drawn and if it can run like anything at all, it surely goes close.  Not close enough, though.

21:08 – Pinpoint Healthcare Final

A fascinating final of this inaugural tournament here as Pinpoint Finas and Conna Trigger attempt to lead early and not be caught this evening.  Their main problem, however, could be each other as in all likelinesss they’ll be together down the back and probably exert themselves too much trying to beat the other: look behind you lads! Newinn Yolo is an extremely fast colleague of mine and whilst he broke his trap 1 voodoo in the heats, he was arguably fortunate to turn the bend unscathed from a tardy start and was chasing Trigger who had missed the break and was thus closer than he could have been.  The value in this race is my fellow tweeting greyhound @VikingJackDog.  A clever hound not only with his typing but on the sand, he swooped round the outside in the heats and then cleverly cut inside a tiring Pinpoint Finas to assert by the line.  With the likely ferocious pace up front, he can turn 3rd and time his challenge to perfection.  He is capable of having a shocker from the boxes and I’ve had barks with him about that (just ping like me, it’s not hard?) but if he can reproduce his 4.60 sectional from the heats then he can capitalise on a shrewd move by his connections to take him up to a track that is tailor-made to his strengths.

Here are the recommendations:

19:43 – Hadrians Wall – 1 doggie treat @ 9/2

19:59 – Greenwell Lark – 1 breast of chicken @ 7/4

20:16 – Lowgate Jasper – 1 piece of bread @ 7/4

20:51 – Pinpoint Classic – 1 dog bone @ 7/4

21:08 – Viking Jack – 1 chewstick @ 5/2

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 Walshes Hill comes out of his favourite traps tonight!  It should be a great night as it always is at Newcastle, and let’s hope we are on the right side of those pesky bookmakers!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy