So here we are, at the start of the greatest tournament in the world (apart from the National Sprint)! Who will claim the historic prize and wrestle it from the now-retired hero Rio Quattro, who timed his best run of the competition last year to perfection as he reeled in the ever-so-unlucky hound Farloe Blitz? With bookies paying six places and with such a vast contrast in the quality of the field, here are the six hounds for the Lolly Faithful to go to each-way glory with. Here are your finalists (in order of preference):

Droopys Buick (recommended at 40/1 – now 14/1 Joint-Favourite)

Set to become the biggest Newcastle legend since Alan Sheareeeeeeeeeeeeeeer, Droopys Buick has enough early, enough late and enough desire to lift the Greyhound Derby trophy aloft with his paws come Saturday June 4th at Wimbledon. As a pup he had epic battles with Camp Joker (who has franked the form since tremendously) and now that he has trained on, Buick is the complete four bend hound in my eyes. To win the Derby (and thus keep qualifying through 6 gruelling rounds) a hound must have a telling turn of pace at some point of the race: Buick has that. Whether you look at his win at the Monmore Festival where he had a longer lead than my old mum’s hoover, his breathtaking pace in the Juvenile when he was chopped off at the third trying to undertake, or his quickest-of-the-year 28:04 round Wimbledon; good luck knocking this hound out and it will take a good one to beat him in the final, should he get there luck-permitting. Paws crossed.

Jaytee Spartacus (recommended at 80/1 – now 25/1)

I like a hound with desire when they’re losing and they don’t quit their job: the progressive Jaytee Spartacus has that in abundance. In the Puppy Derby final (over course-and-distance) he had no hope of reeling in Droopys Roddick (who was impressive but had his box and a solo – could be in trouble in the first round with the rapid Clondoty Alex next to him) Spartacus drew all his courage to fend off the remainder and bark that THIS IS JAYTEE!!! He has subsequently won the Monmore Puppy Derby (which has thrown decent sorts in the past) by obliterating a field in the first round and then cruising to victory in the final without seeing another colleague. He has taken to Wimbledon well in his trials (could have developed further as a young tyke) and he’s no 80/1 shot that the Lolly Faithful are on.

Lenson Sanchez (66/1)

Lenson Sanchez was unlucky to be eliminated last year and the 2014 Puppy Derby winner (over C&D) can get to the final this year now that he has trained on and become and even more well-rounded hound. He doesn’t chuck his dog towel in if he’s behind, he has enough early if he needs a ping like me, and he should go very well if he can negotiate his tricky first round draw. He has been neglected in the market and by human compilers but not by me.

Ballymac Brogan (100/1)

It is quite staggering to me that this hound who has beaten the best in training over his career 11 times, is 100/1 for Derby glory. Yes he is a bit quirky and can miss the break, yes he can decide to twiddle his toes in behind and not get on with it if he’s not leading, but his human that drives him to work summed it up: “if he leads it will take a good one to catch him”. I’ll have some 100/1 he leads every race and goes off favourite in the final if he achieves the first 5.

Droopys Turin (200/1)

200/1 on one of the fastest dogs in the UK just baffles me. He’s won his last six (posting serious times including at Plough Lane), has trained on from when he was doing 28:04 in A1 round Monmore and he has his box (trap 1) in the first round where he will go off favourite and must go close: he will surely qualify! 200/1?

Pass To Go (200/1)

The final string to add to our bow-wow is a Romford specialist (sub-24 seconds going backwards doing a headstand whilst juggling his balls) who has won a trial stakes and is 200/1 because his times aren’t flashy. Times are an indication in my workplace; who did they beat and why is a much more useful indicator. Pass To Go may eventually be found out but humans thought that about a former Romford specialist (who in fairness ran other tracks well), who came from last-to-first as a typical early-paced hound: Blonde Snapper. At 200/1 I’ll find out if this is the new Snapper.

So there we are! Remember they are all each-way to six places and there is a huge amount of luck needed along the way in the Derby!

Also remember: if you can’t be lucky, be good.

Enjoy the best month of the year,

Jimmy