Right then here we go!  The Derby reaches the 3rd Round live on Sky Sports this evening and we get to see the Derby 2017 winner in all of his (or her) glory: we just don’t know who they are yet!  Four of Team Lolly survive in a competition that has produced a few minor shocks but that is to be expected when the best hounds from across the UK and Ireland take each other on!  It’s a swelteringly hot day, I’ve had to endure a cruel wash down with a hose by my humans (why do they punish me like this?!) in order to enjoy my 3rd nap of the morning outside, so I expect the track to be lightning fast this evening.  That should play into the paws of the front-runners but this competition has proven that round Towcester the ability to stay on strongly is a huge asset so with all that to bear in mind, here are my thoughts for the action:

7:16 – Heat 1

Two hounds that have taken to the track by storm battle for early  supremacy on the inside here in Carn Brea and Pacey Bambi.  Brea (Silver to his followers) and Bambi (the Skater) look to have similar early pace to the bend in my dog’s honest opinion and with Minglers Toure looking to move across, Sallows Ford can enjoy a clear run round the outside and pick up the pieces if any trouble ensues.

Selection: T6 – Sallows Ford

7:31 – Heat 2

Shaneboy Freddie is in the swan-howl of his career but he’s not quite ready for his sofa yet as he has flown out in both rounds so far and made-all.  He is a devillishly difficult colleague of mine to pass and if he can lead Droopys Who on the inside, he can add another victory to his account.   Whilst Bruisers Bullet has a powerful galloping stride as he gets going, not many can overtake Freddie on that pesky bunny!  If Dorotas Vic stopped taking an ill-advised lie-down in the boxes, he would be a huge danger out wide.

Selection: T3 – Shaneboy Freddie

7:48 – Heat 3

Two of Team Lolly trade blows here and it is now time for Droopys Buick to ridiscover his trapping paws!  If he can ping like I used to then he can lead Cloran Paddy (who is running the track very well) and Buick has yet to be picked up on the bunny in his scintillating career.  King Eden has pace and ability but his tardy starts out of the boxes before pacing up will start to get exposed at this level now.

Selection: T3 – Droopys Buick

8:04 – Heat 4

College Paradise took a rather discernable liking for his colleague at the first bend in the second round and that has to play on the mind of his supporters.  Whether it was deliberate or not is debatable but any sort of lack of concentration can help defending champ Jaytee Jet secure a passage high-wide-and-not-so-handsome-as-me.  Paradise will have the useful early of railing Liam Og next to him to deal with and that could prove too much of a hindrance.

Selection: T6 – Jaytee Jet

8:21 – Heat 5

The seeding of Clares Rocket has been barked about in numerous circles and here he now finds himself in trap 1 where he moved middle on the run-up in his trial from the box.  That means Priceless Brandy will have to be on his toes from trap-rise and whilst his stunning early was breathtaking in the second round, he will have Rocket on his inner and the early of Crossfield Hugo on his outer this time around.  That means Fweshfromthesesh has a chance to poach a cheap lead outside and capitalise on what looks a messy make-up.

Selection: T6 – Fweshfromthesesh

8:38 – Heat 6

2015 Irish Derby winner and multiple-Category One finalist Ballymac Matt looks like he has no desires to retire, despite his antics with bitches off the track!  Here he has a great draw to work from with no real pace on his outer.  Tyrur Shay lit up the track in the second round when he flew out for arguably the first time in his career; he surely cannot repeat that feat this evening and will therefore have to negotiate Forest Con out wide.  Con is just not getting home over this arduous 500m trip and Matt has the inherent ability and attitude to back run him on the rail.

Selection: T1 – Ballymac Matt

8:56 – Heat 7

Calico Ranger (Holdem Spy Jr) did the Lolly Faithful proud in the second round with a gallant display round the outside; hopefully he can continue to keep qualifying in such vein!  Thankfully, Hiya Butt’s ridiculous “mid-tag” has been taken off him and from 3 he can use his devastating early to pace up.  That decision to change his seeding could be that connections had him fully wound-up for a victory in the second round and with that in mind, he might even put in a flat performance this evening.  Regardless of that speculation, Cable Bay is one of the few hounds who has ran the track fluently in this competition and with a complete solo (as he looks like he wants to be in 4 round here anyway), he will have his eyes on the leaders far too early.   Provided he doesn’t tuck in behind the pack on the 3rd bend as many do at the Northamptonshire circuit, the old-timer can pick up a well-deserved victory and looks very big to do so.

Selection: T4 – Cable Bay NAP

9:13 – Heat 8

In perhaps the most competitive heat, the lack of a genuine front-runner means this could easily be a race to the first bend.  If Astute Missile can trap level and then hold his pitch from the inside lane, he can assume command here down the back and this powerful colleague is unlikely to be caught.  Coolavanny Mason is a gallant contender but seems to lack a gameplan in terms of actually winning a race and looks an uneasy favourite.  Murrys Act capitalised on the track flying on the wide outside in the first round and also seems a dog who runs best fresh.

Selection: T1 – Astute Missile NB

Here are the recommendations:

7:31 – Shaneboy Freddie – 1 doggie treat @ 3/1

8:38 – Ballymac Matt – 1 breast of chicken @ 11/4

8:56 – Cable Bay – 2 dog bones @ 13/2

9:13 – Astute Missile – 2 pieces of bread @ 13/2

So there are my thoughts on the proceedings! As ever, if you have any comments please don’t hesitate to tweet me and provided I’m not in a head-induced coma, I’ll bark right back at you!  On the hottest day of the year, let’s hope all of the hounds produced a great night of action and return safe and sound!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy