With the Derby fast approaching we are honoured with a tantalising final to the Regency tonight with some seriously fast hounds going further than no hound should have gone before.  My human friends @TheAntePostmen are on Market Heights each-way at 66/1 but they are surely just hoping for a place as the favourite looks to be drawn to attack like he did so impressively in the Semi-Final when pinging nearly as well as me.  Elsewhere on the card, we are treated to a variety of distances and challenges for my colleagues although the decision to run everyone’s favourite race, the sprint, before the Sky cameras roll is surely a complete mistake and so I forgive the humans in charge for their error.  With the Derby dogs all gearing up for their assault on the 250,000 doggie treats, the 4 bend action is not as classy as it can be on a Sky night although there are some useful prospects going round and once 2014 Derby favourite Swift Keith graces the sand at 20:51.  It should be a great night and as ever, I have found the value for the Lolly Faithful:

19:11 – 475m

This quirky trip plays right into the pinging paws of Evanta Evita who has her box tonight and is 6 from 7 over the course and distance.  It’s hard to argue against this likeable bitch who could ruffle a few hairs in the Derby itself during the early rounds with her early pace and feisty attitude.  Loughteen Pedro is a nice sort round here over this trip but he faces a draw outside a pinging bitch this evening and he would ideally like to be in the red trap himself.  Ballygibbon King has lovely back straight pace when he can get on the bunny but I’m unsure if he’s entirely suited to this unique test, especially from an unfavourable draw as he prefers 4 or 5.  Spray Tan caused a minor upset when last seen over the trip but it’s hard to see her compete against this class of dog and whilst Shotgun Harley has been flying of late, he left himself badly at the start when last twice seen and he cannot afford to that this evening, surely.

19:26 – Standard

The well-bred Swift Leonard (half-brother of Swift Hoffman, You Never Listen, Domino Storm etc.) was expected to excel over this galloping circuit last week but after turning second he proved a bitter disappointment and faded down the field; whether that was due to his first look or not is a question to be pondered but it’s hard to make a case for him and the elegant, galloping stride of Crossfield Cesar is hard to oppose on his reappearance here since obliterating a lesser field on debut.  He has since gone quicker twice in trials round the circuit so it’s an ominous sign for his rivals: any odds-against at any point is too big.

19:43 – Stayers

Droopys Flash is arguably the best drawn dog on the card (and that includes Marmalady later with a vacant trap next to her!) as Woodmancote Bert drops himself out and then flies through the final 200m.  Behind Touch Tackle last week, though, Bert’s effort was admirable as he picked off Farley Rio (Irish Derby round winner and Sunderland Grand Prix finalist over a trip) and Droopys Tamera (litter sister to Millwards Teddy) and nearly caught Tybar Hondo on the line.  Whether he was fully chasing the bunny is debatable but if he repeats that effort tonight, he is surely too big to win this by a short-head or greater.  Black Francis has nice early so he can disrupt Flash’s flow and whilst Swift Nemo landed a touch at Romford last Friday for many a human and dog-alike (Lolly Faithful NAP) this is a huge step up in class and she is drawn badly (as a railer).  Bert can overpower these in the dying strides.

19:59 – Bitches

I love a good bitches race and here I will be on the edge of my sofa as 4 really nice looking gals battle out the rails for the honours.  Jaytee Firefly will fly out but has been struggling to get the trip, Domino Storm will cut across and pester her and Westmead Lola will battle hard to overcome that pair but the bitch I want to side with is Glenpadden Love who is not travelling down here to be the bridesmaid.  She’s had some nice performances at Perry Barr, her litter has pace and stays, and she is more than entitled to stay handy to the leading trio and account from them if she can secure a path through.  Marmalady chased down Dower Matt (won since against top class dogs) at Romford but her Hove record is one to put paws over her eyes, and mine.

20:16 – Marathon

Greyhounds are not designed to run 930m but here we are with 6 lunatics having a go over this trip that is 625m past our best: Alma Prince needs this far.  Arguably the most unlucky of the semi-finalists to be knocked out of the Regency, this dog has been absolutely flying at the death and I will hang my two front paws up in shame if he does not get this trip; he will need to as Fizzypop Magic will set a gallop now she is back to some sort of form and Musical Fawn stays 3km let alone 930m.  All that barked, this is a real opportunity for Prince to lay down a marker as a serious dog over a marathon trip where you bark the question throughout: “where is he?!”

20:33 – Hurdle

The dogs have a go here at a sport in which I would certainly have banged my head on the first obstacle and the old timer Soviet Military is showing no signs that he wants his sofa yet: he can make-all.  The dangers are Lenson Royale who has yet to show his Irish prowess yet and Scolari Express is always a capable sort at probably a level below this; the biggest danger is Razldazl Bigbear getting a clear run as he showed frightening tenacity a couple of weeks ago to be knocked on the run-up, outpaced down the back and then surge late to not only claim Express, but run away from him.  That barked, Military has too many gears for these if he can negotiate a slightly perturbing 5 draw for this natural wide talented hurdler.

20:51 – Standard

Swift Keith is rightly favourite here but despite his age, he has had a lot of races in top, top class company and maybe he is a dog to take on with something consistent.  It’s the hardest race on the card, even for me, but I’m siding with Jet Stream Smurf who has taken a liking to this track for Kevin Hutton ever since his first look round here.  He is well-drawn next to the tardy early, wide and often flattering to deceive Droopys Jarrow and Vanfrankie who lacks the sort of early needed for this trip.  If Joes Mixa can get anywhere near Keith early on (he went off long odds-on for his British debut) and Keith is not quite his formidable best, then Smurf can turn handy and show all of his reallly likeable attitude.  It seems strange to me that Keith is going for this before his tilt at the Derby for a second time; maybe it’s because of the Sky night, or maybe he has lost some of his zest: we shall see!

21:08 – Regency Final

What a final this is!  Millwards Teddy is a danger to all if he turns up with his best paw forward as he has gears at any point in any race; Swansalona Diva has shown a superb attitude througout her career and her connections fancy her to steal a march on these; Droopys Cottage is the bitch that will never go away and can never be discounted but has to lead the 1; Market Heights needs to ping like he did in the first round and use his grinding staying ability to his best; Tybar Hondo simply has to lead but I struggle to see why he’s so big at 33/1!  The reason he is, is simply because Touch Tackle pinged from 1 in the first round and is simply a joy to watch in fully flight.  It would be remiss of me not to bark about his brother, Billys Bullet, who broke down in the first round when setting an unbelievable gallop but he is now happily recooperating in his kennel before he gets his sofa in his human’s home: fully deserved!  Let’s hope one of his brothers brings it home for the family:  Tackle or Heights.

Here are the recommendations:

19:43 – Woodmancote Bert – 1 doggie treat @ 8/1

19:59 – Glenpadden Love – 1 breast of chicken @ 5/1

20:16 – Alma Prince – 1 piece of bread @ 7/4

So there are my thoughts on the proceedings! As ever, please tweet me and I promise to bark back at you with more enthusiasm than Bert shows when he’s chasing the leaders in the stayers’ race!  It should be a great night, on the near eve of the Derby, and let’s hope one of Billys Bullet’s brothers does it for the great stayer that he was, and would have become!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy