The Sky cameras descend upon Hall Green this evening with the St. Leger hero Fizzypop Buddy looking to start his first full campaign with a victory in this prestigious competition.  It is easy to forget that he is still very inexperienced due to his exploits and he is entitled to improve further this year which would be ominous for his 6 bend rivals.  Elsewhere, it is a decent card with a local flavour to it which should not go ignored as Hall Green’s kennel strength has risen in recent years, shown by their commendable 3rd place finish in the BAGS Track Championship against titans Towcester and Newcastle.  The “best of the rest” title that Hall Green effectively received there should not go ignored this evening when assessing their dog’s chances and the best bet of the year so far can be found in the track’s star.  There is a Lolly Goliath advised for the Faithful who wish to have an interest in every race for a small cost (we’re looking for a big profit of £50,000 tonight!) and I’ve found the value for those singles players out there:

19:11 – Puppy

The young tykes paw off the action here and a useful contest can be upstaged by the rapidly improving local Quivers Manor.  Manor has shot through the aformentioned strong grade at Hall Green and his progress was only halted by the well-bred bitch Ballymac Madge (Ballymac Bull x Moyar Kite) who’s exploits in the past couple of months include being on the floor in a graded contest and still getting up on the line to win in a memorable contest; when Madge led Manor down the back in their contest he didn’t have an answer for her but that would be folly to dismiss that as a paw effort.  From 5 this evening, he can be characteristically slow away before pacing up and riding the bend (like a proper dog) to lay down his challenge down the back.  It’s a strong race, however, with the likeable Castell Henry (who won at Romford for the Lolly Faithful on Sky at 8/1 last week) who has useful early and gets the trip and Mystical Dreamer who caught the sadly now-retired Droopys Sarafina to land the Sussex Puppy Cup; neither have had a look at the track though which is a recipe for disaster at Hall Green as dogs invariably swing off at the 2nd bend in particular, losing ground in the process.  Romeo In Milan is a quick hound but it is questionable whether he stays and I would expect Quivers Manor to progress past him in the not-too-distant future: perhaps tonight.

Lolly Goliath: T5 – Quivers Manor

7:26 – Super Stayers

The comeback of Billys Bullet is a joy to behold as the unquestionable stayer of 2015 suffered an awful injury down the back straight during the Regency when he was so far clear; sentiment aside however, the 2015 Prestige champion looked to my eyes like he didn’t stay in his trial around the Birmingham venue.  He is strongly taken on at odds-on.  Racenight Jenny has been disappointing since lighting up the first round of the St. Leger in 2014 but if she retains any of her former ability, she should be able to lead the mid-to-rails to hamper Bullet (who didn’t ping in his aforementioned trial either).  Trapper Kate is a bitch going places but is desperate for trap 0 and her draw is a disaster for connections.  The dog to get onside here is the in-form Barnish Panther who needs to negotiate the wide Oneco Sky (who pings and then drops himself out over the first circuit) and then get on the bunny where ‘Barney’ is rapid on the flat.  Unlucky to be withdrawn for the Great North Run final last year (where he surely would have gone close), whether ‘Barney’ actually stays 670m is questionable but this is not a strong contest and quotes of 9/2 are too big for a dog that could easily be on the bunny out wide down the back after he posted a rapid trial over the 480m here (the quickest of the session by some distance).  Uncharacteristically, he flew out at Wimbledon in his Springbok Trial Stakes victory and whilst he looks a live contender for the Springbok, a change of tracks is also a blessing for this enigmatic dog who it took what seemed like an eternity to register his first UK victory last year.  Now connections have got to the bottom of him, he’s a dog to keep onside in contests where he is simply quicker than the opposition.

Goliath: T6 – Barnish Panther

7:43 – Maiden

As I’ve barked already, the local runners could have a field day this evening and whilst Barricane Tiger could be a class above these in due course and almost certainly wins if he gets on the bunny, the bitches Ballymac Spacer and Nippy Chick are class acts round this course and distance.  Spacer has won useful sprint races and rushes up from her favourite trap 1 in strong A1 contests so Tiger will have to be paw perfect to clear her, but the value in the race is Chick. Never posting a flashy time, this bitch just gets the job done out wide round here by flashing out and making-all in around 28:80: that could easily be good enough.  Ballymac Moran has been driven by his humans (dogs can’t drive) down to Wimbledon a couple of times (with a Derby entry in mind possibly?) and landed a huge gamble in A2 company last month: he clearly has ability and should not be dismissed entirely.

Goliath – T6 – Nippy Chick

7:59 – Sprint

Everyone’s favourite race here sees the winningmost open racer of 2015, Cape Impact, draw time on his work and hang up his racing muzzle.  A hound that loves trap 1, has always been a useful sprinter and has arguably improved as he comes to terms with his greybeard can see off his career in style here.  He’s not won at Hall Green before from 2 efforts but don’t be put off this dog leading the inside here where he’ll rail them to death.  Quivers Lima is a useful early-paced local and the presence of Kavarna, who you do not lead round Hall Green in any company, will put paid to the gamble on Romeo Assembly out wide.

Goliath: T1 – Cape Impact

8:16 – Standard

It’s not often I fall off my beloved sofa.  When I do, it’s normally due to my pre-nap routine of stretches and licking the armchair being disturbed by a ridiculous price on a greyhound: step forward Paradise Cuba.  It is hard to see how this Derby-bound hound gets beaten tonight with anything like a level start.  A superstar for the Hall Green Intertrack team, he’s won at Swindon and on finals day at Perry Barr before returning a triumphant dog with a devastating display of early and middle speed against arguably the 5 best dogs at Hall Green; the grader tried to compete with this dog by having him in 5 with pace either side of him and the railers drawn in their favoured boxes. Cuba blew them away.  Kilkenny Treve is a sprinting hound who is well in himself, he can hassle Supreme Turbo on the inside enough to stop either from getting near to the selection.  From trap 6, this is like finding doggie treats littered on the street.

Goliath: T6 – Paradise Cuba

8:33 –  Stayers

The draw is so crucial in greyhound racing and this is a prime example of a bitch with an absolute solo at 10/1: Garryglass Zara.  Trapper Kerry is a rails-lover like her litter-sister Kate so is going straight left, Leons Buck wants the middle-to-rails ground and arguably doesn’t stay and Cabra Miller is a dog blessed with pace but Towcester hounds seem to struggle on their travels for whatever reason (he ideally wants to be middle too).  That leaves Garryglass Pixie who trialled well for the first 5 bends but is struggling to get home which was certainly evident in her defeat over 750m at Romford where she cramped with at least 100m to go. Zara can stay high-wide-and-not-so-handsome-as-me to make her odds look very generous; she has useful looking form at Wimbledon, posted a good time for the C&D behind the Prestige favourite this evening and can avoid the inevitable chaos on her inside.

Goliath: T6 – Garryglass Zara

8:51 – Standard

Two experienced, versatile stalwarts of the open-racing scene line-up here in Blackstone Marco and Calco Flyer and both are hounds that if they lead, you are not picking them up (you cannot write them off from in behind either!).  Without their preferred draw nearer the rails though, preference is for Ballymac Darragh to upset the established pair with his time of 28:57 round the venue showing his liking for the track.  He’ll most likely move mid-to-rails on the run-up which could give him that all important impetous at the first bend to assert over the 3 and 4.  Fabulous Expert is no mug but the old adage of a good dog beats a good bitch could be her undoing in this particular contest as drawn.

Goliath: T1 – Ballymac Darragh

9:08 – Prestige Final

At the start of this competition, it was hard to see who could get near Fizzypop Buddy in the field and so he was advised to the Lolly Faithful as favourite at 7/2.  After his beneficial further sighting of the track in the heats, he can win decisively here.  It has been barked elsewhere that Elwick Glory is well-drawn in trap 1 but I’m not so sure as I think Wiki Waki Woo rails round here and Deanridge Pennys rushes to the rail on the run-up in my dog’s honest opinion.  If Buddy can negotiate the talented but often clumsy Farneys Cookie, I can’t see Ferryforth Fran picking him up and it will be all over bar the woofing.

Goliath: T5 – Fizzypop Buddy

Here are the recommendations:

7:11 – Quivers Manor – 1 doggie treat @ 6/1

7:26 – Barnish Panther – 1 piece of bread @ 9/2

8:16 – Paradise Cuba – 3 chewstix @ 15/8

8:33 – Garryglass Zara – 1 breast of chicken @ 10/1

Already Advised:

Prestige:

Fizzypop Buddy – 1 dog bone @ 7/2

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 louder than you will hear me on Sky Sport this evening when Cuba turns down the back: “WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!” It should be a great night’s entertainment, and let’s hope a buddy sorts the Faithful out.

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy

The first Sky Sports card of 2016 greets us tonight with a Coronation Cup final to savour as the Lolly Faithful have Bubbly Gold and Chaotic Lynda running for us (16/1 and 33/1) as our antepost selections: at least top 4 for either would give us great profit!  They both were chosen on their ability to keep qualifying and will chase their hearts out in pursuit of their competitors and that pesky hare over the 575m at Romford; it must be barked that this is Bubbly Gold’s 9th Category 1 final!  Elsewhere we have a competitive card that arguably lacks in quality but the usual protagonists from Romford Friday nights are in action so hopefully I have found some value for the Lolly Faithful.  Play along in every race with the Lolly Goliath which after being launched last year proved profitable and good entertainment for those that followed!  Here are my thoughts on the proceedings:

7:11 – Winner of One

This race, specifically for hounds that have won one race at the track, throws up an intriguing puzzle.  Normally at Romford, the dog out in front has a good chance of clinging on so colleagues of mine used to the boxes and making the bend in front have a great chance.  On that basis, Blackthorn Brae can lead the outside and post a time around 24 seconds to continue his progression from useful A1 form over the course and distance to open class.  Young Romeo is a danger with a clear run round the inside as he clearly has pace but whether Romford is suited to his middle paced style is questionable. Rock of Avoca landed a nice gamble before Christmas for the Lolly Faithful but has been disappointing since when droped to the minimum trip; the form of that win is also paw with Kentish Rose (who nearly caught him) failing to get her nose in front on numerous occasions since and so if Avoca leads, he is almost certainly still vulnerable.  Gortkelly Nidge has been disappointing since a promising start to his career.

Lolly Goliath: T6 – Blackthorn Brae

7:26 – Puppies

The young tykes have a go here and in the favourite, Droopys Sarafina, we own her sister Droopys Zarkava (a.k.a. Sophie).  She is a worthy favourite drawn in 1 and having won impressively round the track before but the presence of Holdem Rio (who looks tailor-made for Romford) and Bang On Ella means that Sarafina will have to be on her toes as those two rivals both ping out and rail.  That leaves a great draw in 4 for Castell Henry whose form is perhaps misleading as he completely missed the break (actually hit the left side of his box) at the BAGS Track Championship final at Perry Barr and he is no 8/1 shot round this venue where he is proven.  On the draw with 5 not set to hold him up, Henry could hoover up here.

Goliath: T4 – Castell Henry

7:43 – British Bred

The best bred dogs in the world preside in this race and with it, comes the best bet of the night in Calco Flyer to show he is a different class to these, despite his age.  At his peak he was 3rd in the 2014 Eclipse and has been a solid, dependable hound in top company around the country with his win on Derby final night last year typical of his ability to ping the lids, show decent early and stay every yard of a 480m trip; he won’t have to stay as far today but if he leads at any point this dog does not get picked up.  The dangers come in Wednesday Adams who invariably misses the kick but then shows brutal pace up (as he did in A2 company last year when completely missing it) who has a solo to the bend this evening with Flemish Status being tardy away and looking to gain down the back.  That is not to disregard Status who has electric chasing pace and is a forecast dog for those that like to be greedier than me when presented with sausages!

Goliath: T2 – Calco Flyer

7:59 – Hurdle

Those hounds who like to jump a hurdle whilst chasing that elusive hare line up here and there are some seriously quick dogs on display: particularly Bubbly Ninja.  Ninja’s problem is that he tends to race like a crab looking (and occasionally attacking) his competitors so if he keeps his eyes on the prize he wins this by a mile, but he is also as likely to fall sideways over an obstacle!  The classiest performer in the line-up is the old boy Alittlelesslip who has competed against the best hurdlers over the last couple of years with aplomb and showed he still retains his enthusiasm for his job by scoring from last to first in Wimbledon’s top grade last time out.  If Ninja runs off at the first or second bend, then Slip has a solo as Razldazl Bigbear is tardy to the bend so the selection can get on that bunny: he stays further than this too.  Bua Frank is a decent jumper around Crayford but lacks the genuine speed of some of these and Soviet Jackson is an inconsistent sort who turns up when he wants.

Goliath: T3 – Alittlelesslip

8:16 – Standard

Two of the top competitors round this course and distance line-up here in their preferred boxes and on the draw, favourite Laughing Gravy can get the better of the likeable Clondoty Alex.  Alex will have the early of Special Guvna to clear and whilst Canvas Costa struggles to get home, he posted the fastest visual sectional to the bend at Romford that I’ve ever seen last year when he came from under the traps, was 3 lengths clear of the rapid pinger Bolshoi Booze after 3 strides, and kept so low for at least half the run-up in an exhibition of sprinting technique that was quite extraordinary: he is perhaps big at 7/1.  Costa’s presence will give Alex plenty of work to get round the bend unscathed.  Gravy on the other paw has Sneezys Hero to clear who flew out in A1 last time but likes to run middle and so the selection (who concerningly, I’ve always believed prefers being in 5 than 6) can make the bend and hopefully avoid a damaging collision as he invariably attacks and chops the corner.  Perhaps a race best to watch as that old addage of “whoever leads wins” comes to the fore between some seriously quick hounds to the bend: Gravy the tentative selection to mop up.

Goliath: T6 – Laughing Gravy

8:33 – Stayers

In effectively the Coronation Cup consolation race, we have a favourite in Ribble Aon who the Lolly Faithful got involved in one of the biggest gambles in many a year at the track as she was smashed last week from 9/2 into 7/4f; she pinged like me and absolutely hosed up but this is a huge step up in class and the market has more than found her.  The dog that is continually underrated over this course and distance is the value here in Jaytee Berlin who loves it in trap 1 (even in the much maligned 1 box at Romford) and if he pings has enough early to lead Savana Razzle and Corrin Bob, who are not devoid of early but will struggle to clear the selection in my dog’s honest opinion.  Even if Aon gets a flier from the same box as last week’s demolition job, Berlin can still turn second and see how good that bitch really is as he does not give up lightly (very nearly got up on the St. Leger final card over 480m at Wimbledon).

Goliath: T1 – Jaytee Berlin

8:51 – Marathon

Due to her inconsistency, Bubbly Time often makes a great market for her rivals and here she is more than capable of getting turned over as favourite as she so frustratingly does time and again for her followers: if she fancies it she is arguably unbeatable over this trip, however.  She also has the early over this trip of Rearguard Bond (got up in a messy, messy affair last time out after flopping out) and Black Francis who are two sizable dogs looking for the rails pretty religiously; Time might overtake them on the outside or might just fly out and lead but she’s too short to be relied upon as drawn.  Quite incredibly, the bitch who is unbeaten over this course and distance and is 5 from 7 in general at Romford can be backed at 4/1 with a beautiful draw: Gleneagle Tina is huge value.  Drawn in between the slow hounds Be Witch and Pittsburgh Storm she can easily lead them up and then get after the leader on the inside who will almost certainly get pestered by one of their rivals for the rails.  Tina has shown at Monmore and now Romford that she does not give up wherever she is situated in a race, she’s as genuine as they come, and if Time has her all-too-often paw performance, this is Tina’s race.

Goliath: T5 – Gleneagle Tina

9:08 – Coronation Cup Final

These Romford tournaments over 575m are great occasions throughout the year and here we have a race that could be landed by any of the 6 hounds lining up.  Patchys Kerry is looking for a second tournament victory over the course and distance having landed one last year (denying the legend Adageo Bob who memorably came back later in the year to claim his much-deserved Romford competition win) and Jet Stream Sound is a favourite looking to make amends for a shock defeat as Evens favourite in another Romford tournament in 2015.  Those two bring real form to the table and can easily claim this prize but the value lies in Bubbly Gold picking up the field in a race that looks destined for chaos.  Chaotic by name, and chaotic by nature, Lynda (an each-way selection for the Lolly Faithful) is “the fastest bitch” her human Kim Billingham has ever trained as she will either chase and chase the hounds in front of her, or wait and wait for the hounds behind her if she leads: she’s a fascinating character who can create a huge pile-up between likely leaders Sound and Whirlwind for the others behind to get involved.  Gold has decent enough pinging prowess to be at the bend with Kerry and Millwards Master and if he can negotiate that first couple of bends relatively well, Lynda can set the race up for him and 8/1 is too big for this mercurial character in himself.

Goliath: T2 – Bubbly Gold

Here are the recommendations:

7:26: Castell Henry – 1 doggie treat @ 8/1

7:43: Calco Flyer – 1 piece of bread @ 2/1

8:33: Jaytee Berlin – 1 dog bone @ 5/1

8:51: Gleneagle Tina – 2 breasts of chicken @ 4/1

9:08: Bubbly Gold – 1 chewstick @ 8/1

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 Calco Flyer makes the bend tonight.  Ex-Snappers Lad has been a grand servant to his profession and you’ll hear me going woof, woof, woof on the terraces of Romford tonight if he leads at any point!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy