A superb opening night to the Derby did little to disappoint as the track was lit up by the star attractions, none moreso than Clares Rocket who flew round Towcester to a stunning new track record of 28:77.  Elsewhere, Droopys Buick got Team Lolly off to a flier as he scorched to the corner and looked as classy as ever as he pulverised his competitors with his relentless galloping style.  It was a night of few shocks although Tyrur Shay did show how hard it is to win from the back as a wide as he desperately lunged for the line to no avail at long odds-on; he will surely keep qualifying but can he give dogs that much of a head start every round?  On to Day 2 we go and as ever, I have found the value for the Lolly Faithful:

7:31 – Heat 11

Dorotas Woo Hoo hails from the magnificent Ballymac Vic x Droopys Danneel litter and he can get favourite backers off to a good start here.  Bubbly Turbo has great early but simply finds the 500m too demanding so Woo Hoo can follow him round the outside and pounce.  Castell Henry seems to have lost his early zip that made him a real handful to defeat but it would be no surprise if he were to give Turbo a run for his doggie treats to the corner.  Jaytee President is improving with each look at the track but Woo Hoo is expected to face tougher assignments along the way than this.

Selection: T6 – Dorotas Woo Hoo

7:47 – Heat 12

Bentekes Bocko has some serious Irish form to his card but with only one look at the track and a lack of experience from these traps in particular means that he can be taken on here with Minnies Highway.  Highway has gone from strength to strength at Hall Green (where the grade is notoriously strong) and left a top grade field for dead there recently which is some effort; having trialled well around the Northamptonshire venue he stands out as real value from his favoured box to rail and prove tough to peg back.

Selection: T1 – Minnies Highway

8:02 – Heat 13

Team Lolly’s Cloran Paddy makes his introduction to the proceedings here and he has been selected as a dog who gets the trip strongly and can thus keep qualifying.  There looks to be value in opposing him here though as he is not certain to get a clear run and Bubbly Express is boxed to be competitive.  Paul Young’s charge is yet to find his optimum trip but there is no doubting that he would prefer trap 0, let alone 1, and has no excuses this evening to defend the rails and get after that pesky bunny.  He looks a nice value call if he can clear Burgess Papa at the first, who isn’t blessed with natural early.

Selection: T1 – Bubbly Express

8:18 – Heat 14

Lenson Rocky has been a likeable sort throughout his career but there has to be stamina doubts for him and Master Kelly is a dog that needs no second invitation round here.  The local is poised to have a great run at the first bend as Swift Hansel has been cutting in approaching the turn in his trials so Kelly can swoop round the outside and put pressure on the weary legs of Rocky as he turns for home.

Selection: T6 – Master Kelly

8:35 – Heat 15

Drive On Tipp is fancied to go far in the tournament but he has a horror draw for a bang railer here and his desperation for the rails means that he is worth taking on here.  Black Zack is somewhat of an underrated dog for his ability and he has shown around Hove that his galloping style is a potent weapon on the bunny.  He has a great make-up to work from here and if Tipp encouters traffic problems, Richard Rees’ charge could easily make-all here.

Selection: T5 – Black Zack

8:51 – Heat 16

Arguably the most anticipated race of the whole week sees two fancied colleagues for the whole competition in Bruisers Bullet and Bubbly Bluebird pitted against each other.  This is not just a two hound race though with Newinn Shadow having serious pace (shown by his flying trials) and Dorotas Vic being a dog that looks destined to join his more esteemed brothers in the coming months.  Connections therefore must be just holding there paws together praying they can survive this heat but the draw has worked out hugely in favour of Bruisers Bullet and he has to be fancied to hold his position on the rails and beat Bluebird: he should be favourite in my dog’s honest opinion.  Bluebird for me is undoubtedly a fast dog but he has question marks over his gumption when faced with a serious battle on his paws; Bullet has already managed to break the heart of Clares Rocket at this track and he can claim another scalp here.

Selection: T2 – Bruisers Bullet NAP

9:08 – Heat 17

A tough heat to call here and with mid-moving Jaytee Denver in trap 1 likely to cause some problems it could turn into a scrappy affair.  If that is the case then Carlos Court is a genuine wide runner and can keep out of the traffic and swoop round the outside; he has tended to flatter to deceive throughout his career but on his day he’s a useful sort and can win a race like this.

Selection: T6 – Carlos Court

9:24 – Heat 18

The Wildcat enters the fray for Team Lolly here and his effortless pace is going to be a potent weapon throughout this competition.  He runs Towcester very well and the only concern with him is his inconsistent trapping.  If he can manage to ping like I used to then he is one of the fastest hounds in the competition in my opinion and can go deep in the tournament.  Newinn Blitz has his own ideas about the game but is a quick hound when he gets on with it on the bunny and can prove the biggest danger.

Selection: T3 – Dorotas Wildcat

9:41 – Heat 19

When selecting Team Lolly I was debating about whether to include Toy Soldier as he has been on my mind for a while for the tournament yet his last trial was particularly underwhelming.  He skewed out of the boxes and then never seemed to really stride out as he posted a slow time; it must be barked on that particular day that the times seemed to be all over the place based on when the bowser had been round so a chance is taken on him at a huge price.  As mentioned before, Hall Green’s grade is strong and the Soldier has become nigh-on-unbeatable round the Birmingham track as he has won from the front and miraculously picked up a high class field from the back when he missed the kick.  That sort of desire can see him keep qualifying in the Derby and at a mammoth 500/1 his odds could tumble if he can win a heat.  He meets arguably the best wide runner in the competition for me in Fweshfromthesesh and his pinging early-paced efforts as he stays powerfully out wide are going to be assets that can see him go deep in the tournament.  He is virtually guaranteed a good draw each round and these two can have a real race here.  Coolavanny Mason is useful and is another whose strong running style can see him keep qualifying; I fancy the Soldier to beat him to the bend if they trap level though.

Selection: T6 – Fweshfromthesesh

9:57 – Heat 20

Madabout Eoghan has blasted himself onto the scene with his relentless railing proving an extremely useful weapon round Towcester which even led him to have the track record at one point.  He is a bit of an enigmatic sort however and perhaps his puppyishness will come to haunt him later in the tournament but he has to be fancied to be too good for these.  Droopys Acrobat is not particularly well-housed in trap 1 and could be moving middle on the run up to give Frankies Lady some problems; all of this will be in behind Eoghan though if he can produce one of his scintillating pings.

Selection: T4 – Madabout Eoghan NB

10:14 – Heat 21

Hiya Butt is a magnificent early-paced hound but he looks awfully short in price to last home here as he barely gets an easy 480m let alone Towcesters stiff test!  Pacey Bambi has taken a real liking to the Northamptonshire circuit and is huge value to turn in the slipsteam of Butt and outstay him round the final turn.  Stay Loose is getting no younger and is perhaps on the wane but is not easily dismissed.  Keplar Nine could prove more of a threat out wide as he has trialled particularly well in preparation.

Selection: T3 – Pacey Bambi

Here are the recommendations:

7:47 – Minnies Highway – 1 doggie treat @ 8/1

8:02 – Bubbly Express – 2 breasts of chicken @ 9/2

8:35 – Black Zack – 1 piece of bread @ 7/2

8:51 – Bruisers Bullet – 2 dog bones @ 2/1

9:41 – Fweshfromthesesh – 1 chewstick @ 11/8

9:57 – Madabout Eoghan – 1 sausage @ 9/4

So there are my thoughts on the proceedings! As ever, if you have any comments please don’t hesitate to tweet me and I promise to bark right back at you!  Derby fever is starting to take hold as we settle into the competition and let’s hope for another cracking night of action!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy