How exciting! The Derby paws off tonight and over 200 of the finest hounds from across the UK and that other place over the sea do battle in their workplace for the title of Greyhound Derby victor. It is worth noting how hot the weather has been (I had a bath today!!! Grrrrrrr, I enjoyed it really!) and the fact that the track is normally set-up to run like concrete and be as quick as possible to get the track record to go when these super-quick hounds are fresh, so it will be quick! Whether you agree with it or not, that’s how the conditions will inevitably be so you want to be out and in front like I used to be! Here are my thoughts on the Thursday of Round One (3 qualify unless stated):

Heat 1 – 19:25 (2 Qualify)

How BOLD is this from the Lolly dog, the NAP runs in the first race of the tournament! Calco Flyer will have too much for these unless the Irish dog in 4 is something special (he has good middle but you don’t overtake the Flyer).

Heat 2 – 19:39

The first of Team Lolly to grace his paws on the sand is here in Jaytee Spartacus. He has drawn a tough heat and thankfully 3 qualify as Deanridge Pennys stays 750yds and has useful early (for that trip) and Pinpoint Boom has been continually underestimated by nearly everyone since he arrived on the ferry.

Heat 3 – 19:54 (2Q)

Crokers Champ led the 2014 final of this great tournament and whilst he couldn’t hold on that day, the lightly-raced 4 year old has every chance of dazzling the humans in the crowd with his breathtaking early. The mid-tag is a positive for him moving forward as he ended up in 1 in barked final, but he would prefer to be in 3 in my dog’s honest opinion. We shall see but Old Joe Golden isn’t a back-runner by trade and may be led. Holdem Chico is no mug at his level.

Heat 4 – 20:10 (2Q)

Bramble Bruno (ex-Bruno Ya Know) has been spending his working life over the optimum trip of 2 bends but you cannot help but feel his humans bought him to the UK to have a crack at this. He has a tough heat here as Castell Henry, Sparta Flame, Tynwald Rodney and Pinpoint Den can all run but at 7/1 I’ll find out if Bruno stays 480m on an uber fast surface, or whether he needs a licenced taxi.

Heat 5 – 20:26 (2Q)

Any price on Jaytee Jet with a solo take it. 8/13. BOL!

Heat 6 – 20:42

Whether Shutthebackdoor has the necessary early to go with them deeper in the tournament is debatable but he’s the type to win a few rounds turning about 3rd, he can follow first round victor 2015 Bellmore Neymar round and beat him. Hell Letloose is a decent hound at his level and Willy Whitesocks likes to chop the bend so hounds prepare to brace at the first if he’s there!

Heat 7 – 20:58

Triple Category One winner Do It For Twiggy is the selection to beat a perhaps under-the-weather Jaytee Dutch. Uluru Candy is a decent sprinter for Charlie Lister OBE and could go well from the front; Lenson Santi can run if he’s on the bunny which is hard to envisage here; Oakfield Caesar is finally coming to form and could be a lively outsider to go deep in the competition.

Heat 8 – 21:15

Droopys Roddick has only just been uslurped at the head of the antepost list on his own and is a worthy favourite here. Whether he should be so short in this race when he wants to be in trap 1 and has the scintillating early of Clondoty Alex (who needs oxygen at the 4th bend) on his inside is debatable. The value is Knockbawn Caviar who has won a trial stakes and whilst he wants further so he can get on that elusive bunny, he could easily get round the outside here if the anticipated chaos unfurls on his inner.

Heat 9 – 21:32

Eden The Kid, 2015 Derby finalist, wins this running backwards. Could even lead and then the clock-watchers need to start looking for 27-something.

Heat 10 – 21:48

The second of Team Lolly has a go here and Droopys Turin has his box (although he has flown out from 4 before) and this tight railer can turn at least handy to the Irish early of Mucho Macho Man.

Heat 11 – 22:03

Blue Cafu leads and wins this. I’m not a Meerkat, I’m a dog (Woof!), but this is simples.

Heat 12 – 22:18

Lenson Panda (ex-Barnfield Panda) was bought for days like this. Leads and it’s all over. Whether he can run from behind against better sorts later in the tournament is a debate for another day; this will be over after 5 strides.

Heat 13 – 22:35

A decent little contest can go the way of the pacey wide Aventador. He can sweep round as Ballymac Darragh isn’t a railer but isn’t wide either (hence the mid-tag I guess!!!), Greenhill Gem isn’t wide etc.

Here are the recommendations (back as a Lolly Goliath also):

19:25 – T2 – Calco Flyer NAP (2 doggie treats @ 11/8)

20:10 – T6 – Bramble Bruno (1 piece of bread @ 7/1)

20:26 – T6 – Jaytee Jet (have what you like on @ 8/13 – absolute certainty)

21:15 – T5 – Knockbawn Caviar (1 breast of chicken @ 12/1)

21:32 – T4 – Eden The Kid (1 snossidge @ 4/5)

21:48 – T1 – Droopys Turin (1 dog bone @ 9/4)

22:03 – T2 – Blue Cafu (1 slice of ham @ 5/4)

22:18 – T1 – Lenson Panda (1 Ryvita (other rye bread brands available and accepted) @ 4/7

So there we have it! It should be a great night’s racing! One of the best week/months of the year! As ever if you have any comments please tweet me, I don’t bark back – I bite! If you are at Wimbledon or watching on RPGTV look out for the dog in expensive shades as that’s me, in disguise, hiding from my adoring fans (in their millions) and fooling the bookmakers – again!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy