A night to celebrate the humans that take us hounds to work this evening as the Sky cameras descend on Sittingbourne for the Trainers’ Championship.  Much has been barked about the favourable draws that Team Hutton have received (not to mention the quality of his hounds) but he still looks short at 5/4 in a competition format that is always wide open.  Hutton himself sprung a surprise last year when landing a 4-timer at the end of the card to take the title from a seemingly impossible position so who knows what tonight will have in store!  What I do know is that I have found some value for the Lolly Faithful and as ever, there is a goliath recommendation to have an interest in every race for a small cost and a chance to win 56,000 doggie treats this evening!

7:11 – Standard

Some speedy sorts paw off the proceedings and in this we have a few hounds that are much better on the bunny than not so.  With that in mind, Clondoty Alex looks value to lead the inside, just about get home, and start Mark Wallis’ assault on the title in style.  Monty Don has been barked up by his connections but he will have to be on his toes to cope with the natural speed and trapping ability of Alex.  Willy Whitesocks is an interesting runner as he ran well through the Romford Puppy Cup but that form has taken several knocks since. Roxholme Ted is a dog that simply has to lead and whilst he is quick on the bunny, he can’t be trusted to lead from 5.

Lolly Goliath: T2 – Clondoty Alex

7:26 – Puppies

The young tykes have a go here and in Ajlo Legalbeagle we have a potential Derby dog who could be a massive price come May’s showpiece.  Romford is clearly too sharp for him but he has still put in some useful efforts and shown admirable trackcraft that could be utilised to full effect here.  He is prone to missing the kick but is not completely woeful at the start and on this longer run-up than he is used to, he can get himself in a position to attack down the back straight.  10/1 looks massive to my eyes.  Ballymac Lyster is well-bred, well-thought-of and might simply be too good for these but is priced about right for one so young.  Droopys Achieve has yet to set the track alight in race conditions in my dog’s honest opinion and Dorotas Star makes the market here due to the demolition job he did on Achieve.

Goliath: T5 – Ajlo Legalbeagle

7:43 – Sprint

Everyone’s favourite race here and in the unbeaten Glenanore Ace we have a dog with serious early gas.  Should he be so short from trap 1 with Ilewin Allot being a reliable rails-loving pinger? I’m not so sure.  Roxholme Bob looks too big to lead the disappointing Home Raider and although he’s not a natural sprinter, he has always been a colleague of mine with useful early.  Droopys Story has not run since that questionable Romford Puppy Cup and whilst he is well-bred, has questions to answer that he is a sprinter.

Goliath: T5 – Roxholme Bob

7:59 – Stayers

The stayers here looks a match between Roxholme Hottie and Memphis Mafia.  Preference is for the latter as Hottie put in a woeful performance in the Golden Jacket when not afforded the privilege of leading (a real moody bitch effort) and so Mafia could have this wrapped up if he manages to lead her.  If not, he still has a chance of overpowering her as whilst she did stay well at Wimbledon on her staying bow-wow, Hottie still has a question mark that she does actually get this trip.  Droopys Jarrow has become a dog without a trip.

Goliath: T2 – Memphis Mafia

8:16 – Bitches

I love seeing a good bitch battle and here we have the apple of my eye Forest Twilight gracing the screens.  A match between her and the Irish queen Ballydoyle Honey would see many a dog across the land howling and woofing with excitement but until that happens, Twilight can strut her stuff here.  Her price is on the large side due to her coming back from lameness but even though it is the humans’ championship, I doubt connections would let her run unless completely sound and ready to go.  Ballymac Shirley impressed in the BAGS Track Championship at Perry Barr but this is a totally different class.  Forest Sara is well-drawn and will have her supporters to beat her half-sister in trap 2 but unless she isn’t right, I can’t see any bitch in England getting near my darling.

Goliath: T2 – Forest Twilight

8:33 – Super Standard

You’ve got more of chance of seeing myself miss the break than me getting Ballymac Brogan right but he has to lead these surely?  Whether he stays 500m is immaterial here and he could easily be 3 or 4 lengths clear down the back and then it is game over for his rivals.  I daren’t bark too loudly about his chances though as he has made me look foolish before!

Goliath: T4 – Ballymac Brogan

8:51 – Super Stayers

An off-colour (get well soon) Townhill Lad came as a shock to the greyhound world when Droopys Tamera got knocked out of the Golden Jacket on Saturday morning.  Her added presence here gives Billys Bullet something more to think about but the bitch to keep onside in any contest is the admirable Swansalona Diva who can lead the 15/8 reserve and test out any chinks in Bullet’s sadly diminished armour.  A great story it has been for him to come back from a serious hock injury but head has to rule heart and whilst Diva arguably doesn’t stay this far either, she’ll be on the bunny if she leads Dean Childs’ reserve.

Goliath: T5 – Swansalona Diva

9:08 – Standard

If it does come down to the last race of the evening like last year we have a cracker here as Jet Stream Jack is not as quick as these over this trip but he has a monster draw for Kevin Hutton.  Can Domino Storm clear Southfield Jock?  Probably not.  She is likely to head for lane 3 inwards as well but if she does clear then fair play to the goofy yet admirable Bitch of the Year.  A huge negative in this race is for Southfield Jock who simply did not stay this course and distance on the bunny when caught by Swift Whirlwind last year.

Goliath: T6 – Jet Stream Jack

Here are the recommendations:

7:11 – Clondoty Alex – 1 dog bone @ 11/4

7:26 – Ajlo Legalbeagle – 1 piece of bread @ 10/1

7:43 – Roxholme Bob – 1 chewstick @ 4/1

8:16 – Forest Twilight – 3 breasts of chicken @ 7/4

Trainers’ Championship:

Mark Wallis – 1 doggie treat @ 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 with all the excitement I have when seeing the lovely Twilight chasing that bunny tonight!  The plan with Mr Wallis’ victory is to slowly accrue 2nd and 3rds throughout the evening before coming down to that final showdown; hopefully he won’t need it as I can’t see Domino Storm clearing Jock but Wallis is still too big all the same.  The Champion Trainer can become Trainers’ Champion.

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy