In a year that is set to see the desperate closure of Wimbledon and then Hall Green towards the end of the year (probably) let’s rejoice in the quirks of the Birmingham circuit as my colleagues attempt to negotiate the notorious 2nd bend this evening!  It looks a fairly average card for a Sky night with some of the Brummie locals making up the numbers but there is still enough class to get our teeth stuck into! As ever, as we move into 2017, I have found the value for the Lolly Faithful which essentially revolves around selecting the proven open racers that have hopefully had a look at the track beforehand!

7:11 – Maiden

Bubbly Mustang has been bought by the Champagne Club as a Derby prospect (currently 66/1) and with his two trials at Hall Green being progressive and with plenty in paw of these rivals, he can trap out from the red box (which he seems to crave anyway) and make-all here relatively comfortably.  Hovex Blaze for Andy Griffiths has an open racing profile but has yet to really spark into life on these shores yet and his tendency to finish in the places looks to continue here.  Roys Boy and Acomb Alvin will do well to beat a pacey dog like Mustang without a trial here; Drahbeg Princess struggles to win A2’s so is dismissed and Boherglass Swell is arguably the fastest grader at the track but doesn’t trap well enough to be open class just yet.

7:26 – Super Stayers

The arrogant division of the stayers here, with the self-proclaimed “super” ones having a go can go the way of the dog with the draw and the potential to be useful over this trip.  Newlawn Simon has had a look at the boxes with a sprint trial and can pace up on the inside as Strauss and Dart head for lane 4/5.  Blastoff Bonnie is the danger after putting in a particularly useful sectional for the 630m boxes but Shlowdown Aoife is known as a local dog that is allergic to sand as he courses the hare out wide so it’s going to be tough for Bonnie to have things all her own way out wide as Aoife has competed in top grade here to a good standard.  Simon is well-bred and can relish the extra trip to stretch his legs.

7:43 – Marathon

There could be barks and howls from the locals here as ex-A3 Droopys Lucinda returns to her home track where she used to be capable of 28:50 for the 4 bends back in the day.  Whilst those sort of times are a distant memory as she has decided to drop herself out these days, she is still too big to catch Maireads Ivy at this circuit as Lucinda has shown that she simply depises Romford!  It is questionable whether Ribble Atom actually stays a true marathon trip so she should be catchable and Karchi ran his trial round the venue like he’d never seen a dog track or hare before!!!

7:59 – Sprint

Everyone’s favourite race takes centre stage just before primetime viewing at 8 o’ clock with Ela Ela Genie in his box to pace up on the inside and brave the first bend decisively.  I was unconvinced with Walk The Talk’s trial over course and distance although he is respected as a decent open sprinter and the presence in the fastest dog to the bend at HG, Kavarna, in trap 5 should put paid to the chances of the unexposed Ballymac Noble.  Draws win sprints and the Genie is set to make our wishes come true!

8:16 – Standard

A tough race to be definitive on but the presence of Glenkeel in trap 2 who has trialled like he has had too many milk and waters when stumbling round the second bend (twice!) means the local Danzey Express can rail round the inner and get on the bunny.  Let Me Tell You is a progressive local from A5 to A1 but it is hard to envisage him clearing Young’s wayward dog in 2.  Leons Buck is not the force of old when he could do 28:50 round here when it was his local track and litter sisters Borntobefast and Million Jay are matched not only in their ability, but in their terrible draws for bang railing bitches.

8:33 – Stayers

In what is effectively the consolation to the Prestige final, Bubbly Express, has been crying out for trap 1 in his career and can utilise it decisively after missing out in the heats in a desperately close call for 2nd.  Geelo Bullet missed the break badly in the heats and whilst he ran ok thereafter, he can ill-afford not to get on the bunny now he has upped in class from intertrack level.  Bang On Giles is proving expensive to follow as he is sadly now almost certainly a dog without a trip.  After a flying ping break in his first look at the circuit, Eskes Champ now looks regressive but his presence in 5 gives Leger hero in 6, Ferryforth Fran, a chance to run high-wide-and-not-so-handsome-as-me but he surely needs further than 630m in my dog’s honest opinion!

8:51 – Standard

The continually underestimated Castell Henry has his box here to again pace up, make the bend, and not be caught as a lively Derby outsider. Macs On Storm tends to miss the kick and Tynwald Rodney has hardly been the most reliable of trappers in his career. Danzey Exception is apparently ungradeable at the Hall Green circuit but struggles in this type of class and Barricane Tiger has been found out round here on this card this time last year.  Corrin Boyshane is the danger to Henry but it’s hard to be too optimistic about his chances after posting a trial time over 29 seconds last week.

9:08 – Prestige Final

Connections of Razldazl Allstar must have breathed a huge sigh of relief after he qualified in 2nd position from a hopelessly poor first 3 bends in the heats, but that experience can surely put him in good stead to utilise a ridiculously favourable draw.  Rubys Razzle is a bang railer next to him, as is the 4 and so any likely scrimmaging inside caused by all 5 runners looking for the rails can aid the challenge of the Irish raider. His price is beginning to now look short but it is still hard to make a positive case for any of the others in the field representing value from such a messy look to the race.

Recommendations:

7:26 – Newlawn Simon (1 doggie treat @ 10/3)

7:43 – Droopys Lucinda (1 breast of chicken @ 5/2)

7:59 – Ela Ela Genie (1 dog bone @ 7/4)

8:51 – Castell Henry (1 piece of bread @ 10/3)

9:08 – Razldazl Allstar (1 chewstick @ 15/8)

As ever, if you have any comments going into 2017 please don’t hesitate to tweet me and I promise to bark back at you quicker than me chasing a squirrel in my field where my human lets me off my pesky lead!  Barking of 2017, let’s all get behind us hounds this year and look to the future as we embark on a new adventure centred around the ever-improving Towcester!!!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy