These Monmore Festivals always seem to entice top greyhounds to compete and that is no exception today where we have four fascinating, quality finals. My colleagues will have to deal with an onslaught of rain but hopefully the Lolly Faithful’s spirits will not be dampened if a couple of my fancies win this afternoon. Here are a dog’s thoughts on the proceedings:

15:08 – Puppy Derby Final

It almost goes without saying for anyone that has watched him that Golden Wonder will turn left out of the boxes and trap 4 could leave him in a perilous situation. I think few could argue that he is currently the fastest dog in this race but it is hard to see how he will not encounter early trouble, especially with the terribly drawn Bonamassa Rocks being a tight railer too: things do not bode well for Remember Scotie or Strategic Review unless the ping, which is not entirely out of the question. It is also of note to bark how pleasing it is to see a Rayvin Giovanni pup (in Scotie) looking to have the potential to fulfil the promise that his father showed before his unfortunate injury. The value in this race, which is extremely competitive, is to side with Cluxtons Free to ping out again from a good draw and not be for catching. Free was brought in as a reserve for this competition but certainly did not run like one in the heats as he showed great pace from a good start to overpower the in-form Strategic Review. With the inevitable chaos somewhere on the inside, it is the call to side with Free who has a good draw next to the tardy starter Johnnys Boy.

15:43 – 630 Final

This trip at Monmore is all about the break as the traps are virtually on the bend. With that in mind Blonde Reagan is a real danger if he rediscovers his trapping boots; especially considering his surprisingly gutsy performance to win his heat, a sign that he is a dog that really is a true champion. He cannot be relied upon to ping though and with that in mind, the recommendation is to side with Jazz Tilly to ping out again from her red box and make all. She is a very likeable sort and has the scope to improve further on her performance from Monday afternoon: she could be anything. Ballyard Buddy will no doubt run his grinding race but he never strikes me as a dog to side with at short prices and whilst feared, Tilly could be away-and-gone. The ridiculous late running of Romeo Patriot is feared but he is surely destined to go over a marathon trip sooner rather than later as he does not get involved until the final strides over this distance.

16:14 – Dogs Final

The Lolly Faithful are currently on Newinn Rocket at 10/1 antepost and the track specialist can show that he needed the run on Monday to beat this supreme field. Bold Three is making into a serious contender for Sallis in the Derby as he has early and gets the 480m with ease; he also showed his fontain of knowledge for the track on Monday with a bold success but he is plenty short enough against these classy types. Mags Gamble is always feared in any race but his draw looks perilous to me with Benkaat Blue being able to ping and Airlie Impact’s pace, however wide, should be feared in any race. Newinn Rocket to make all but a case could be made for any of these greyhounds if I’m an honest dog.

16:47 – Bitches Final

Well, what a litter we have developing here with Jaytee Jules showing all of the class and pace of her Juvenile hopeful brother, Jaytee Hellcat. Rumour in the kennels has it that more of this litter are expected to be running soon and it is worth paying serious attention to them: she can frank that comment by beating these superb bitches. The Lolly Faithful were on her in the heats at 10/3 and a similar performance will be too much for even these classy bitches. Airforce Allstar is a danger but will head for the rails giving Jules a nice run. Express Flame missed the break in the heats and whilst classy, will not benefit any more from being in trap 4, especially with a back-to-form Jaytee Cuba outside of her. Jules looks good here if she can repeat her debut performance, which of course is not a certainty.

One recommendation for the Lolly Faithful today then:

15:43 – Jazz Tilly – 1pt @ 9/4

So there are a dog’s thoughts on the proceedings. Apologies for the lateness of the dog blog but I fell asleep on the sofa earlier and only woke up when I fell off. Please comment or tweet me if you have anything to say to me and I’ll bark back at you, nicely of course.

The Springbok is always an intriguing affair as my colleagues who are fast on the flat but have lost their way meet the dogs who are genuinely talented jumpers. It is also a great competition to find value and the Lolly Faithful will hopefully be happy with this one when he jumps to success on the first Sky night of the year on 19th March. Last year, the elegant jumping of Westmead Melanie proved too classy for her rivals and so one would think to go for a dog who was schooled as a jumper, like Melanie, to win the Springbok this time around. I, a dog, never think normally though and the value is to go with the greyhound who has yet to show he is a truly natural hurdler. If he improves his hurdling he will jump around Wimbledon faster than most of his rivals could go on the flat – the value this year is to back Droopys Lorenzo.

Last year’s Derby Quarter-Finalist has been primed for this tournament for months, regardless of Sky sponsorship or suchforth that has meant that the entries are limited to just 31 runners this year: the owners wanted him in this tournament. Lorenzo’s flat career is one of sheer pace; 28:16 at Monmore, 28:28 at Perry Barr and most significantly, a staggering 28:33 at Wimbledon. That run at Wimbledon shows he handles the track well which was then backed up by an 8 length success in a trial stakes for the Springbok at this track. That led to the Racing Manager at Wimbledon not accepting him for a subsequent trial stakes as he needed to be able to appreciate the pace of the other dogs who were left in Lorenzo’s wake: this dog is in a different class.

Lorenzo was arguably unlucky to get knocked out in the Derby last year as he met the blistering Razldazl Rioga who denied him his all-important lead: that will not be a problem in this tournament. So the question is, who are his rivals? Westmead Meteor has shown he likes Wimbledon and jumps well but this is a dog who could not win an A1 at Hall Green; it is hard to envisage him competing no matter how well he goes over the sticks. Lenson Johnny has proven he can jump well and he beat his kennelmate Lenson Teddy in a trial (who is no slouch on the bunny over hurdles) but he has shown glimpses of why he is going over the sticks as he has been guilty of throwing in a dodgy performance now and again: his consistency is a huge issue. The rest of the market look as though they have been put over hurdles for a reason too, unfortunately Daddy Knowsbest is the prime example for that argument.

The dog with perhaps the best value in terms of potential is Aero Bellagio. At a standout 40/1 he looks big for a dog that could live with Ballymac Eske’s pace as a puppy, but again, he has been missing for a while and the question of whether he was chasing the hare or Eske on that occasion is left to your discretion. If I was to have one of my beloved doggie treats on an each-way shot, it would be Bellagio, but I would be far happier in taking a bet on him to lose the final by a short-head.

So here is the recommendation for the Lolly Faithful, provided with my food steaking plan:

Droopys Lorenzo – 3 Doggie Treats @ 7/4

So there are a dog’s thoughts on the Springbok, please comment or tweet me if you have any thoughts on what I have barked. Lorenzo may have questions to prove over hurdles but Dean Childs believes he will improve his jumping and if that is the case, he will win this tournament by a long way. As long as he doesn’t fall at any of the obstacles, he could run through the hurdles and beat this field.

So after an intriguing tournament, the Lolly Faithful are feeling pretty pleased with themselves having had two of their most beloved doggie treats on White Soks Roks at 8/1 antepost (now best-priced Evs). Before the masses of Followers get too excited, however, he hasn’t won it yet! Another performance like the two he has produced so far would surely seal it but I, as a greyhound, know that it is not that easy (even I lost, occassionally). So here are my thoughts on the final and how it could unfold:

Soks has his perfect draw in trap six in order to utilise his superb early-pace with his elegant, long stride leaving others in his wake. If he misses it, though, his litter-brother Paulines Pride is perfectly well-equipped to punish his brother in a typically ugly sibling rivalry for these youngsters. The problem for Pride is that he has yet to show the early of his nearest-and-dearest and so Soks would have to miss the break terribly for him to figure for me; as we know from my first dog blog, it is very hard to pass dogs on the bends at Crayford and one can’t envisage Pride beating Soks for pace on the straights.

So where is the challenge going to come from? Droopys Xavier is a likeable sort, especially on the bunny, and has a great draw to work from with two tardy trappers either side: he is a danger. His limitations may have been exposed in the Semi-Final though in that he lacks that extra yard of pace to make him a serious consideration in Category One tournaments and whilst he is valiant, for me there needs to be a huge rail bias or significant trouble behind him for him to pick up the Jacket tomorrow morning. He could have a significant role to play in dragging Eden Rumble or Pony Bride with him on the first circuit, where they can both use their finishing pace to take the Silver Jacket (which surely should be it’s title). Preference is for the former.

‘Gavin’, as he is affectionately known away from his workplace, is full of desire which has shown him run two valiant performances to get to a final that many did not expect him to achieve. Eden Rumble is too big at 12/1 considering that the (unfortunately) terribly drawn Crinkill Jewel is shorter than him. ‘Gavin’ simply does not know when he is beaten and if he can stay in contention on the first circuit, which should be achievable with Xavier’s early dragging him along, his finishing pace can gain the Silver Jacket for his growing following. Pony Bride is always to be feared as she runs forever and a day and then a morning after that, but she has shown elements of being a quirky bitch who should win more than she does over a longer trip so it is a better call to be with Rumble to chase the shadow of Soks.

Whatever the outcome, it should be a great race and let’s hope the track is fair for all of my colleagues as the track staff have had terrible trouble with going biases, both ways, over the past weeks. The recommendation is Eden Rumble (1/2 a Dog Bone e/w @ 12/1). May the best dog (or bitch) win!

Go get that bunny young Soks!

Enjoy the race,

Jimmy

Well, the first round proved to be just as exciting as it was billed up to be! Advantage definitely went to my early-paced colleagues on the whole, with the tight bends proving a menace for dogs to try and overtake. I expect a similar pattern in the Semis with the stronger dogs having less room for error this time around with only 2 qualifying and therefore having less stragglers to pick up in order to qualify. The good news for the Lolly Faithful is that we had two of our antepost dogfolio win in the first round, White Soks Roks and Ding Hero, so we can move into the Semis with confidence. The only dissapointment for us was Aero Gaga who looked well short of his best and he might be looking to hang up his collar soon. So let’s look at the Semis for tomorrow morning and try to help all those bleary-eyed Crayford folk who may have one too many milk-and-waters tonight.

11:23 – 1st Semi-Final

One thing is for sure, there is plenty of pace to the bend in this one! Farloe Elektra missed her kick in the first round but she has the ability to ping and produce early; however her chance is diminished with the impressive Droopys Xavier drawn on her immediate outside. Xavier waited at the sough when on the bunny in his heat (and personally I can’t blame him as I would have done!) and any mistakes like that could be punished, so he is best swerved for me until he shows more focus. Lottes Girl was admirable in her efforts in the heats but this was probably exacerbated by White Soks Roks tiring on the run-in, who will have come on leaps and bounds for that all-the-way success of his in the last heat. He is still the one to be feared in this tournament for me but he may have more of a race on his hands this time with the fast-up Oneco Cool likely to pose a problem around the first circuit. The negative for Cool is that he failed to overtake Bubbly Swallow (which I suppose is excusable) when he tried several times and so his temperament has yet to be proven on these shores for me. With Lode Vanquish unlikely to steal a lead at the first bend like he did in his heat win, I will be with White Soks Roks to come on for his heat win and beat Droopys Xavier in that order.

12:08 – 2nd Semi-Final

This looks a three dog race between Boherna Bridge, Paulines Pride and Ding Hero as it is hard to see Airforce Harlem improving on his run and Buglys Billie and almost certainly Pony Bride likely to be leaving it too late (they both need longer for me). The value must be with our antepost Ding Hero producing a similar effort to his heat performance where he matched antepost favourite Blonde Reagan for the first circuit before powering away from the disappointing Reagan. That form should stand the highest scrutiny because as I mentioned in my antepost dog blog, Reagan on the bunny is a fearful proposition and Hero matched him claw-to-claw. With Boherna Bridge preferring a mid-course he will likely give room for Hero to assert on the rails, with Bridge needing to produce a career best (pretty much like his heat win) to be able to live with Hero and the favourite, Paulines Pride. Pride seemed a bit one-paced in the heats and whilst his one pace is an extremely quick one, over a marathon distance you often need a change of gear at crucial times to break clear of the pack and get on the bunny (a tactic I adopted over the sprint trip). Pride is an uneasy favourite for me here and if he gets on the bunny he is likely to prove too strong, but if he turns behind either the 1 or 2 dog, then it is game on! Hero to beat Pride for me.

12:57 – 3rd Semi-Final

The weakest looking Semi on paper has produced a dream draw for the comfortable outright favourite, Bubbly Swallow, and quotes of about 4/7 are about right for her chances here. Ballymac Swift is normally tardy over the first circuit and can only hope to get dragged by the jolly, whilst Eden Rumble decided she fancied a jog for the first lap in the heats: I almost forgot she was in the race she was that far back! Whilst she produced a tremendous finish (presumably with all of that conserved energy after her lap of jogging), that will almost certainly be punished by a flying Swallow. Freedom Cache caught the eye for me and I’ve been trying to get my paws into his career and what has gone wrong for him. A dog full of potential and pace, he has never really found a trip, but he ran well in his heat and can also utilise his draw next to the aforementioned Rumble. King Lauchlan ran out of legs (I’m pretty sure he started with 4) in the slowest of the heats and that sort of effort will not be able to produce a qualifying performance against these types. Crinkill Jewel ran OK in her heat but made little impression on the leader and seemed happy to follow him round. It will be Bubbly Swallow to beat Freedom Cache for me, probably by a fair distance.

So there we are, a dog’s thoughts on the Semis which should give us further clues for an inevitably impressive final, whoever qualifies. I have one recommendation for the Lolly Faithful in Ding Hero (1 doggie treat @ 5/1) as he looks overpriced but the other two Semis look about right to me. Let’s hope Soks meets him in the final!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy

A fascinating, quality field of my colleagues line-up at Crayford for the Golden Jacket this year and it should be a tournament to savour. Before I learned how to type with my paws, followers of my recommendations will remember we had Blue Bee last year at 20/1 to win this Category One event and a similar approach to this year’s competition should bring dividends for the Lolly Faithful.

So, what does it take to win the Jacket? Crayford is one of the tightest tracks in the UK and passing dogs (around the bends especially) is particularly tough: being in the lead is the strategy (as it was for my career). Although ran over a marathon distance, it is almost essential that a dog has enough early to get to a prominent position by the first bend to avoid scrimmaging that will almost certainly lead to failure. This circuit is like the Monaco Formula 1 track that these humans drive their non-roadworthy vehicles around: you cannot overtake. As we saw with the final last year, Blue Bee made the bend and was brave enough to drive into the traffic to lead and then it was game over for her rivals: we need a similar sort for this year.

Of the main protagonists, Blonde Reagan has just about assumed favouritism around the 6/1 mark which is fully deserved for the Marathon and Stayer of the Year. He is imperious in front and fits the bill for the Jacket in that sense. If he traps out in each round, it is hard to envisage a dog in either England or Ireland overtaking him over 6 or 8 bends, especially around Crayford where it is so tight. That is the problem though, “if”. Mark Wallis admitted himself that “he is a dog that needs to lead” and that seems to be a shrewd assessment from the Trainer of the Year as we saw when Reagan missed the break in the Monmore Festival and ran a disappointing last (having been sent off odds-on). Therefore, 6/1 seems about the right price to me as backers will almost certainly be relying on him to trap three times in a row: which is about what those odds represent.

The others at the fore of the market that I’ve been getting my paws into are Bubbly Swallow and Paulines Pride. Swallow is a fast bitch (and believe me, I’m a fan of that) but she has always struck me as a bitch without a distance. She has early (a tick for the Crayford column) and can stay but she looked ill-at-ease around this circuit last year and missed the break twice, which proved her downfall in the Semis. There is no doubt she has improved over the past year and has ran creditably, but she offers little value at 7/1 for a bitch that has yet to show the consistency and determination to win a Category One tournament. The price on Paulines Pride is arguably worse and will certainly be getting none of my beloved doggie treats. He has ran the track brilliantly recently with two eye-catching times but this tournament is a whole different kettle of fish to those races (sorry, briefly distracted about the thought of eating fish…). His other form is unremarkable, including barely holding on against Navarone who was an expensive purchase (reportedly £10,000) but struggled to compete in graded fare at Hall Green (which is a modest standard) before being moved after his former trainer, Chris Kyme, retired. Therefore, Pride has yet to prove he is anywhere near up to the standard of these colleagues and whilst he may prove me wrong, the Lolly Faithful know that I rarely get it that far off (well, that’s what I tell myself anyway!).

Therefore, step forward the best value in the tournament: White Soks Roks. He looks cracking value for a dog who has early, stays and has beaten top-class opponents in Ireland and has thus proved his credentials. People who follow me on Twitter will know that I have been keeping a close eye on Soks (apart from at dinner time when I watch the bowls religiously) and his progress after being moved over here temporarily. He has barked to me that he is here for “UK Domination” and the price of 8/1 is too good to ignore on a dog with so much confidence after his Night of the Stars success. The form-lines of “Faw” (fast-away) in Ireland on a consistent basis show that he can ping and he has beaten the marathon star in Ireland, Future Boy, convincingly over a similar distance which is form that should be taken seriously. Soks’ trial over 4 bends was uninspiring having been beaten by Ballymac Swift (who is tardy for the first four bends – her effort in the Ted Hegarty Marathon showed that) but a dog can be forgiven for one bad trial in a new country at a new track; he has had time to settle now and should be well-up for this tournament.

As for the rest of the field, such is the quality at the top of the market it is hard to envisage any major shocks, but there is still value in breaking a doggie treat in half and going each-way on a couple of railers. This is because the top of the market is loaded with wide-runners and so if they all progress as expected, it is likely that they could cause trouble for each other. Therefore, Bubbly Swallow has had her backers for that reason, but there is far more value in siding with two dogs further out in the betting: Ding Hero and Aero Gaga. Hero has yet to run round this track which is a huge concern but if he can qualify from what looks like a tough heat with pace next to him (in Farloe Elektra) and of course the aforementioned Blonde Reagan (who is very well-drawn), Hero is too big at 33/1 in this tournament. He adjusts to new tracks well, is versatile and dependable to give his all and is a colleague that has great early when he times his break well (I will be having barks with him on improving his consistency). Aero Gaga is too big at 33/1 too. Whilst he is not the force of old that won the Ted Hegarty Marathon just over a year ago, he still has enough pace to be a threat in this tournament over this 714m trip. Over the past year he has shown signs that he would relish a shorter trip than the long marathons that he used to thrive on (I think any marathon is long by the way, it’s ridiculous!) so this trip at Crayford should be ideal and he is a tight railer who has enough early to avoid traffic problems. He has also drawn a soft looking heat with the dogs either side of him (Eden Rumble and Carden Twilight) both possessing pace but lacking in quality against dogs with real class, like Aero Gaga. Peggys Style is the main danger in this heat but her back-running style is not ideal to Crayford and I can envisage Gaga picking up a cheap lead in the heat and thus progressing to a harder challenge in the next round: which he is more than capable of dealing with.

Here are the recommendations for the loyal Lolly Faithful then:

White Soks Roks (2 doggie treats @ 8/1)
Ding Hero (1 dog bone broken in half @ 33/1)
Aero Gaga (1/2 a chewstick @ 33/1)

So there we are, as ever if you have any opinions on the dog blog then please tweet or comment and I’ll get back to you provided I’m not having a nap or looking for squirrels on my walk. It should be a fantastic tournament and it would be remiss of me not to conclude this dog blog by saying: Happy Birthday Young Soks!

P.S. Please save the celebrating for after your victory in this tournament.

Well the Lolly faithtful are in for a treat tonight at Nottingham as they go to traps with two runners in the final of the Eclipse. With both Sawpit Sensation and Farloe Tango advised each-way for a few doggie treats then just a top 4 finish for either will get me barking from the rooftops (if I can work out how to climb)! I will certainly be running round in a circle and wagging my tail furiously if either of them are close at the third bend and I will give a more detailed appreciation of the race later in the dog blog. Besides that, we have a competitive card and as ever at Nottingham, remember that Charlie Lister uses this track to school his puppies in the early stages of their career so they will all know the track inside out, regardless of what the form may tell you to the contrary! Here are a dog’s thoughts on the racing with some nice prices for the value-hunters club, for which I am a member of:

7:40 – 500m

The youngsters kick us off and it has not been made any easier for the little tykes in the fact that it is an all-railer field. The possibility of trouble looks more certain than Rylan appearing on The Only Way is Essex (and you thought I wasn’t a fan of Saturday Night T.V. from my sofa!) and so the likely winner is the pup that leads for me. Therefore, the call is to side with Farley Seymour to overcome the stripes and attack the first bend and pinch an unassailable lead. The obvious danger is the strong Teejays Bluehawk but he normally has to overtake the whole field and against youngsters it will be no easy feat and his draw in trap 5 adds further claims to Seymour having a good draw to work from. Romeo Hi Rumble is progressive but again leaves himself too much to do for me with so many railers likely to be in front of him.

8:00 – 480m

Whilst times can often be misleading due to questionable going allowances, the fact that Bit View Micko is the recent track-record holder shows he has enough pace to pick these up. Indeed, Droopys Vito recently returned from a lengthy lay-off and whilst he is respected and does have a good draw, he hasn’t had a run round Nottingham (although normally not a huge negative) and will be running mid-to-wide which would give Micko room to exploit on the inside. Boher Chieftain is a dog that is ignored at your peril but has shown that he is uncomfortable with dogs being too close to him on the inside and the fact he struggles to fully get the 480m (a fact Lister has recognised) means that if Micko is close to him, he may just run out of legs. The worry could be Final McCoy who has his moments of blistering pace but is far too inconsistent to consider a selection on a regular basis, and is rather feared than backed in races.

8:15 – 500m

The lads line-up in this affair and despite my annoyance at not being able to get my doggie treats on a bet with most firms, I have managed to get a few of my beloved chewstix on Romeo Recruit in this one. Yes, he was disappointing in the Eclipse but is far more suited to a middle-berth (which he was denied the luxury of in the Semis) and Longwood Fantasy is one of the most overrated dogs in training for me. Fantasy is undoubtedly one of the fastest of my colleagues around but he wins too few for his pace and tends to go down as an “unlucky-second” too much for my liking considering the shortness of his price. The fact his trapping is often awry will play further into the hands of Recruit who dominated the Produce Stakes round here with consummate ease (I may have been reading a dictionary in my retirement!). Killieford Khali is a progressive Lister youngster and mustn’t be discounted but he would prefer to be in 6 and the fact he likes to cut the bend may put the end to his chances with Recruit likely to be there as a powerful force on his inside. If that is the case and Recruit turns in front, this race will be Romeo done.

8:35 – 305m

It’s amazing how many top class sprinters have appeared since I hung up my collar (maybe they were too intimidated to leave their kennel) and in this race we have two who are worthy of my former crown of Sprinter of the Year. From a sprinter’s perspective, I prefer Jumeirah Dubai as he is more of a known quantity than Drumna Ice and with the latter not having his best draw in 4 (being a wide runner who has also not had a trial round here) would mean any mistakes from Ice and Dubai will be away-and-gone. Before I receive tons of angry letters through my kennel box citing my hypocritical approach to Lister’s runner here, Ice was a late purchase for the trainer from Ireland and so will not have the normal experience of his runners around here. Whack Wallop is no mug and Fridays Dynamo has pace which could also further hinder Ice on the outside. If Dubai wins, my doggie double will have come in (with Recruit) and I will be off to the U.A.E myself (although I’ll definitely be a hot dog over there!).

8:50 – 905m

Just when I thought these maniac marathon performers couldn’t run any longer, they are now running over 905m: absurd! Anyways, one bitch who definitely gets this distance and can foil a gamble on Aero Rebel is Tyrur Pudsy (“he’s finally picked a Lister dog”, I hear you cry!). These marathons are always tough to call these days without a dependable superstar but these two look a slightly different class to the field and although Rebel flew round over 6 bends here, she will be crying out for the line from what I have seen. This is an extreme distance and although Pudsy is definitely one-paced, her one-pace goes on forever and she can pick up these, even if Rebel is miles clear. Indeed, after he recent exertions on Children In Need, it would be fitting for Pudsy to continue her winning streak after her T.V. appearance (I really do need to get out more don’t I? Don’t answer that! :P).

9:10 – 500m

With the six-bend race failing to fill it is the turn of the ladies here and who doesn’t like a bitches race? I, for one, will be glued to the television! Farloe Elektra would have been one of those hopefuls in the binned stayers race and she will be a handful if turning close, but she is not known for overtaking and over this distance she may not be allowed the luxury of the lead. The bitch that looks set to get back to winning ways for me is Ballymac Floreck who has been disappointing of late, but has a tinge of class and should have enough room if she does indeed move slightly middle from the blue box. The unknown entity of Calzaghe Naomi cannot be ignored but it will be tough for her in her first race against five of the fairer sex and she is best watched for now, hopefully not at the front galloping away! The other danger is Salacres Gem, but as her litter-brothers share the same problem as her in not wanting to overtake and go-on away from the field if it is close (see Meadow Bank Owl and Excellent Boy for examples), I think that she is best swerved in open class. The fact Gem fails to have a diamond draw as a railer doesn’t bode well for the bitch either (does that pun work? Answers posted to my kennel box).

9:25 – 500m

This is a very competitive race but the three standout contenders can be seperated when considering their draws. Bold Three was very assertive in his win last week but that was third time lucky for him (ironic hey?) since a lay-off and he can’t be trusted to produce a run like that time-and-time again. His presence means that Newmarket Flyway isn’t likely to get his own way throughout the race which he often needs due to his back-running style but he of course wins if he is close to the likely leader: Tyrur Willyjoe. Willyjoe came to these shores with a decent reputation in Ireland but took time to find his paws. Now, he is showing signs of a gutsy front-runner who chases the bunny with great desire (I know how he feels!) and tonight is the night he is expected to really come-of-age for me. A great run round the outside can land this one for Willy.

9:45 – 500m

Another “Willie” is fancied to win the Eclipse and send the Lolly faithful to bed very happy: Sawpit Sensation. This race has more connotations than one cares to think of but whatever the outcome of the inside 5, Sensation is set for a solo out-wide and you ignore this dog at you’re peril (ask my colleagues in Ireland about their Derby efforts against him!). He has finished outside the top 3 in one of his last twenty-seven starts (he sounds like me!) and he will run through a brick wall for you and will not give in. Whilst the inside dogs are likely to be scrimmaging (unless Taylors Sky or Hather George get an absolute flier), this will pave the way for Sensation to produce a sensational turn of foot down the back-straight. The dog blog followers are on Farloe Tango as well and with all of his quirks, he could destroy this field if he feels like it (maybe I need to have a bark with him) but the fact that Sky and Paddy are likely to get in each other’s way, and George is probably not quick enough to beat all of these without ridiculous trouble, watch out for Sensation. He will be coming for you!

So there are a dog’s thoughts on the proceedings tonight on what could be a very prosperous night for the Lolly faithful in terms of food for the next few weeks/months/years (dependent on steaks placed of course!). As ever please tweet or comment if you have any thoughts on my opinions but I must warn you I am a bit sensitive after some tough news about one of my hobbies today. During my retirement I have enjoyed a round of golf and it is a sad day for me with the news that belly-putters are set to be banned (I struggle to grip the short putter with my paws) and so whilst my scores on golf tracks is likely to shoot through the roof, my score on dog tracks will increase dramatically with a Sensational win tonight. Go get them Sawpit!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy

When the Sky cameras descend upon Wimbledon it always seems to be a great card and tonight is no exception with some fascinating racing to get my paws into. What a shame if the contract with Sky is not renewed as I for one think they are vital for the sport’s promotion and as a former competitor, I used to love preening myself knowing I would be screened across the nation on the parade (and then winning the race of course! :P). That rests with the powers that be and all a dog can do is focus on picking the Lolly faithful a few winners tonight and that is what I intend to do! Here are a dog’s thoughts on the races:

7:40 – 480m

With a vast array of supremely talented pups plying their trade across the country at the moment it really is exciting times to be involved with top-class racing and one dog who looks destined for the top is Islas Scolari. This dog has pace to burn and a never-say-die attitude: what is not to like! His form is solid with a very respectable loss to Lemon Pluto (one of those rising stars) being his only real blemish over the past two months (he ran a blinder to stay close if you ask me!). Scolari is still young and is thus learning the ropes but has a great run tonight with the King Nicky and Dinner Hunter set to keep a wide course and Joscar looking for the mid-to-rails (the latter is also susceptible to missing the break and has not trialled around the C&D). The danger is in the form of Jaytee Hellcat but drawn in 1 is not ideal for this greyhound and he may come into some trouble with Joscar if he tries to move middle on the run up. This looks a race that all of my doggie treats will be going on and Scolari shouldn’t let me down (if he does it will be a very hungry night for yours truly!).

8:00 – 273m

Rumours circulating that I was set to make a shock reappearance for this race were sadly unfounded for my loyal following: the sofa is far too comfy these days! That said, what a race this is! Of course most of these used to get a great view of my back legs but my old nemesis Lil Risky seems to have lost his appetite slightly (maybe he needs some of my treats?) and You Mind Me always does it the hard way by missing the break. Either of those class acts could win but the bitch that put the final nail in the coffin when it comes to my career,Fernhill Jess, has subsequently gone from strength to strength and has a great draw tonight with the aforementioned tardy trapping of You Mind Me on her inner. The two wide dogs are respected but Jess will have too much pace for them over this long run up and if she can turn the bend, she gets the 273m comfortably and can take her tally to 21 wins for the year (don’t talk to me about records for wins over a year, I still have nightmares about Hove!*). This should be a belter of a race.

8:15 – 480m

Regular readers of the dog blog will know how I think Alien Planet is a great dog but is overrated in top class company and that is what he faces tonight. There is too much emphasis being placed on his shock win on Derby final night and whilst he has progressed, he will not get things all of his own way in this race with Farloe Ironman likely to move middle from trap 1 on the run-up as he did during the Derby in May. It was a great effort from Ironman to make the final of the English Derby but asides from him perplexingly going off favourite for the Classic, he struggles from the red box at Wimbledon and is to be swerved at the prices. Indeed, he does not quite seem the dog he was earlier in the year which is shown by his form at his beloved Hove not being as imperious as in his earlier career (this may be slightly harsh as he has been up against top class colleagues such as Bridge Ruth). There are doubts for me over Ironman enough to suggest that if there is trouble between the rails moving Planet and the mid-moving Ironman, this could pave the way for one of the others. With Westmead Maldini being a true credit to connections and the great, late dam Mega Delight it would be no surprise to see him pick this field up but he is a railer and tardy trapping has been his downfall at most venues over 4 bends and it is exacerbated at Wimbledon (he had a real chance in the Derby two years ago when he was in arguably his best 4 bend form). Therefore, because he is likely to start poorly and move toward the rail from 5, the logical selection is Trevi You Go who might be the best drawn dog of the night. Although he is not in the same class as the rivals mentioned, he has enough pace on the bunny to spring a surprise if there is trouble behind, and trouble is what Jimmy expects!

8:35 – 687m

Well, some bitches really puzzle me (story of my life!) and the biggest puzzle of them all these days is Express Trend. She seems to have it all to me and has been the bearer of many doggie treats for me in the past but she just tends to throw in a ridiculously poor performance now and again inexplicably! I’ve heard murmurings in the kennel that she is prone to get over-excited before racing and perhaps expends too much energy being so enthusiastic about chasing the hare (us dogs can’t get enough of those bunnies!) so this could be the reason for the odd performances but whatever the reason, on her day I would have my treats on her in any six bend race. This looks a good make-up for her to show why I have faith in her (maybe she wants some make-up, who knows!) as she can turn at least handy to likely pace-setter Coolavanny Fairy and make Fairy disappear on the second circuit (sorry I couldn’t resist!). The danger is Bubbly Swallow but she is another bitch that puzzles the life out of me and seems to work best when leading which looks unlikely in this race. Express Trend normally makes these sorts of opponents look very ordinary and I can see her turning on the style tonight (claws crossed!).

8:50 – 480mH

I’ve never really been a fan of hurdles as regular readers will know that I used to be so fast out that I would bang my head on the first one, and this race goes to prove it is hard to find a winner in these contests of late. There doesn’t seem to be a superstar around at the moment of the ilk of Plane Daddy and more recently Olivers Twist and so these contests over the sticks are wide-open. I thought that All Sensation was impressive at Belle Vue last time out and jumped fluently to hold off local hope Barnagrane Barry but his jumping at Wimbledon is questionable having clattered the fourth hurdle in his trial (they aren’t that easy to jump you know!). He is a tentative selection with Lenson Teddy likely to hold up Farloe Bowser but then not quite stay the 480m and Airforce Spririt being erratic. Good luck to anyone brave enough to pick one of these to win with any confidence!

9:10 – 894m

A good selection of marathon performers assemble here and the first comment is that Pony Bride is best swayed after she was given a great opportunity at Belle Vue to overtake her rivals and instead backed off (lame or tired by the looks of it to me). She let the Lolly faithful down badly and I’ve heard that they don’t forgive and forget easily! Dromana Becky is giving her all as a 6 year old (she does know she can retire, right?) but doesn’t quite get this trip anymore (can’t blame her!) and Powerfast Pigeon is nowhere near the force she was a year ago. This leaves it between the heavily supported Capoley Ash and Storm Pockets. Ash never really settled at Paul Sallis’ kennels but suggestions that that was the trainer’s fault are way beyond the mark as Sallis is a top trainer and his dogs always perform to their absolute optimum: it just didn’t work for Ash for some reason (suspected injury is one rumour). Ash has put in a good trial round the 6 bend course here for his new trainer and those with better memories than mine, a dog’s, will remember he loves it round this circuit: the gamble is understandable. What I think that those following Ash have failed to equate for is that this is a long 8-bend course and that plays perfectly into the pockets of Storm (are the puns getting worse?) who will begin her assault on the second circuit. Anything like a clear run, which should be given by the ineffectual Pigeon, on the rails and Pockets will pick-up-a-dog-or-two on the way to winning this one.

9:25 – 480m

Has the Oaks started, been through the Semis, and now I have awoken on the sofa to see the final? No? Well, this would be a credit to the final as many of the greyhound world have suggested and will give huge clues as to how these bitches fancy their chances against each other. Droopys Loner is in no doubt the best front-running bitch in the country but her exertions in the Derby this year show one thing: she does not get this trip. She may be too far gone tonight (and indeed in the Oaks) for this to matter but I have a sneaking suspicion that Bridge Ruth has a tinge of class about her that is different to these bitches and she can pick up Loner tonight. Loner may cut across her but the likelihood of Ruth leading the pacy Droopys Hope (who does her best running down the back) and the railing Belvedere Emma (who looks slightly outclassed in this company) means that she will be set up to mount a serious challenge to Droopys Loner, who’s fan club is nearly as large as mine! In saying this, Ruth’s efforts in the Irish Derby by reaching the Fourth Round is the equivalent of Airforce Diva but the latter’s poor trapping leaves her open to a world of trouble which will be too much considering Loner is likely to run her standard 28.70 pace tonight: that is the mark to beat! I, for one, would argue the Irish Derby Fourth Round is of the same class as the English Derby Semi-Final and whilst that could be debated for eternity, the one fact is that Loner got picked up by three dogs on that night and she only needs Ruth to turn behind her tonight for another tantalisingly close loss to be on the cards.

9:45 – 687m

This is going to be a cracker! Blonde Fletch and Blonde Reagan are likely to ping out with Peggys Style following them which should make a great race out front. Yet, as Mark Wallis has acknowledged both of his pair (Fletch and Reagan) need to lead and they might be their own worst enemeies as they are jostling out front vying for the early lead. Whilst Reagan will likely prevail over his kennel-mate this jostling looks like it could set-up the race for a strong sort in Peggys Style (who was bought from Ireland to run over longer) and Ballyard Buddy. Those on Buddy antepost at 9/2 will still be holding that ticket knowing he was still 4/1 this morning (that price disappeared quicker than I could trap!) but he is far too big as this dog will run through a brick wall reinforced with steel girders that has been concreted over. He can get into trouble and can ill-afford that tonight but with a clear run he is fancied to get his first victory of the competition (and the all-important one!) and with the likely pace-setters battling each other instead of focussing on conserving energy, Buddy will be gaining momentum as he overtakes them round the last.

So there are a dog’s thoughts on the racing and bearing in mind Wimbledon is not my favourite track (I could never run that pesky bend!), I’m sure people will have opinions so please tweet or comment and I promise to respond (as long as I am not napping on the sofa!). Good luck and let’s hope Buddy is my friend tonight!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy

* See http://www.racingpost.com/greyhounds/result_home.sd#resultDay=2010-12-30&raceId=1070681

Well, what a great card we have tonight if my old nemesis Lil Risky can only go to Monmore tonight as a reserve! Admittedly if I was ever asked to be a reserve I’d have gone and hid in my bed in the kennels but surely this was a mistake by the RM at Monmore; if not I am literally dogfounded. Anyway, I promise not to mention his omission anymore (well maybe once!) in this dog blog and more importantly, try and find some winners for the Lolly faithful this evening. Here are my thoughts on the racing:

19:40 – 480m

Just when I had made my peace with the RM he throws in this conundrum to kick start the night with! A very intriguing puppy race with the very promising, unbeaten ex-Irish import Melodys Midnight taking his first look at the track; as a puppy the fact he has not been round is of extreme concern and he is best swerved on this occassion. Lemon Pluto is shaping into a decent sort but his litter-brother is struggling to get his head in-front in graded class at Hall Green and so he looks plenty short enough at the prices (again he has not had a sighter of the Wolverhampton circuit). A dog that knows this track well and is on a four-time at his home track is Sidelight who looks far too overpriced given his scintillating form in graded fare. Of course, it is a step up for him tonight and he struggled on his travels but he beat Final McCoy round here in his last race (who bolted clear to win a festival dogs tournament against some very useful sorts earlier in the year) and that scalp for Sidelight looks like it could kickstart his open racing career tonight.

20:00 – 416m

This peculiar distance is all about the trapping as the boxes are virtually on the bend and the dog who leads up normally poaches a winning advantage. I, of course, would have walked this contest and so would Lil Risky (there’s my one mention!) but the dog fancied to lead them up and make-all is the well-drawn Fridays Dynamo. He has shown good two-bend speed recently and if he breaks he should have a clear run round the first two bends. Black Silver knows this C&D well but has only 1 win in his last 11 starts so is not one to have confidence in, even if he looks well-drawn being in red and next to the mid-moving Gilbeyhall Ned. Ned is not out of this either if he pings from an unfamiliar location but Fridays Dynamo would have probably given Lil Risky a race (oh dear that’s two!) and should beat these.

20:15 – 480m

Derby second Farloe Ironman is struggling to reproduce that form and having not had a look at the track, is worth taking on with the locally trained Whittle Murtagh. Ironman undoubtedly has great early but so does Kim Billingham’s charge and just that extra little bit of course knowledge could sway it in favour of Murtagh tonight. Another aspect to factor in is that all 5 of the inside dogs will be diving for the rails here so trap 1 is perhaps the best place to be if there is scrimmaging and he manages to hold his pitch. Graigues Orchard is poorly drawn and has a bad performance in him and Fifis Legend thrives in lesser classes to this.

20:35 – 684m

This race looks more certain than me getting incredibly excited when the postman delivers the mail (nothing’s ever for me sadly). Ballyard Buddy is the St. Leger favourite and for good reason following his last exertions in front of the Sky cameras with a superb battling performance and should celebrate his sixth win in a row with a less demanding assignment here. Farloe Elektra (litter-sister to Farloe Ironman) undoubtedly has pace and could slip clear but Buddy is a very powerful dog who looks as though he could chase down anything over this trip at the moment. Balmi Blue definitely gets the trip but seems to lack gears and Bower Hawk is respected although his age is starting to show.

20:50 – 480m

It’s a good job that I can go back and edit my dog blog as if I thought the last was an absolute certainty, this looks even moreso (insert witty postman anecdote here). The scintillating early-pace of Droopys Loner is a joy to watch and with the withdrawal of Rockburst Pearl, Loner can sprint clear of these and not be for catching. Sharies Miller flew from the traps in the heats which she will need to repeat but even that was not good enough as Loner extended a huge lead down the back-straight. Admittedly, Miller stayed on gamely to only lose by 3/4 length but Loner is super-consistent and at least a repeat of her victory margin in the heats looks the call here.

21:10 – 630m

This final looks a lot harder to call with cases to be made for all the runners. These traps are on the other side of the track to the 416m boxes but they are still close to the bend and trapping for these six-benders is quite pivotal in many of these affairs. It is an intriguing puzzle to find a six-bender who traps and most of these seem to have similar sort of pace over the first two bends so it is worth siding with the best drawn of the dogs here in Granard Bound. Ballymac Wander has more scope than these but could be squeezed as Mark My Words can ping from this red box (as he did in the August Festival Stayers over C&D) and Ding Hero is likely to turn left from the orange box which could hinder Wander’s ability to lead. The fact Wander lost to Coolavanny Fairy who is a decent bitch on the bunny over 575m at Romford but nothing to write home about (if you did write about her could you send it to me please?) shows she is vulnerable. Granard is Bound to gain an early advantage here (I write all my own material if you were wondering!) and he could just about hold on against these stronger types. This should be fascinating.

21:25 – 480m

Newinn Rocket is starting to find his paws again after a dip in form following his Puppy Derby success over C&D but his record from the red box is one that I’m sure he howls in horror about. Aero Tobias is often caught sleeping in the boxes (maybe there’s a mini-sofa in there) which could prove his downfall but one dog that has caught the eye over recent weeks is Tyrur Willyjoe. He came from Ireland with some useful form on the Emerald Isle but took a few races to get settled into the climate of the er-glorious British summer, but now seems to have realised the game doesn’t change just because he’s in a different country. He showed good early in the heats and if Tobias is caught snoring and Rocket fails to shake-off his trap one hoodoo, Willyjoe can prove too much out wide.

21:45 – 835m

The finale of the night has the feel that it will be one to savour with these marathon performers beating one and another in different formations each time they go to the boxes! There is no doubt that if the pace is ferocious as they battle out in front this would pave the way for a strong-running sort such as Storm Pockets and that very well might be the case, but the value (and dogs and humans alike enjoy a bit of value!) is to side with the ever-game, honest Aero Gaga. He is always worth a doggie treat as he is a tremendously consistent sort who produces valiant performances time and again in front of the Sky cameras and he should turn handy enough to Blonde Reagan and prove too strong for him once in contention. Of course, Reagan’s time was the fastest of the round but the fact Wallis has admitted he “has to lead” is a worry with Pantone Ava drawn next to him, and if she can bustle him up a bit, Gaga will have the run of the rails and will attempt to hold off Pockets when her inevitable challenge comes. He did just that in the Ted Hegarty Marathon last Decemeber in Ireland and a similar scenario could pan out tonight: he just looks too big! Lottes Girl is of course a danger but if anyone could predict what she is likely to do in a race then I’m sure they could make a claim to be the next Dr Doolittle!

So there are a dog’s thoughts on the racing tonight and as ever, please comment or tweet me (or even better send me a letter!) if you agree or disagree with a canine’s perspective. Two of the races look a certainty to me but that is almost never the case in greyhound racing (unless I was running of course) and the only certainty about dogs at the moment is that I will receive no letters from my beloved postman tomorrow. Sad times I know but I’m sure I’ll get over it in time.

I’m over it.

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy

An incredibly competitive card awaits us in front of the Sky cameras tonight and there are many opinions on all of the races which should make some fascinating viewing. One aspect that has not seemingly had a mention is that my Geordie colleagues inform me that the going has been favouring the outside at Newcastle for a while now and so that is worth holding in consideration when watching the first few races tonight. Today on the BAGS card there were two trap 1 winners but both were sent off at big prices which suggests that the locals are savvy to the problems that inside favouring dogs seem to be encountering. That’s why I always took the middle ground apart from when I used to get carried away and nearly run off the track around the second bend: I still won though! Anyway enough reminiscing about my career, let’s focus on the dogs running tonight and we start with another ground old campaigner like myself:

19:40 – 480m

Boher Paddy has always been a dog blessed with pace and determination and enters as a veteran for the first time this evening. In this five-dog affair the danger was perhaps the dog that was withdrawn (Manilla Flash) who has been known to trailblaze from the front but without him in the race it is hard to envisage anything else than a facile success for Lister’s stalwart. Graysland Bubba might provide some sort of a race but Paddy could arguably lead these and that would indeed be game over from the first bend. He never quite achieved his Category One success but he can demonstrate why he was feared by so many as a serious contender in any race throughout his career tonight. You won’t get rich backing him though!

20:00 – 290m

My old adversary Lil Risky cost me a few of my beloved doggie treats last week when missing the break (I’m sure he did it to spite me!) and he lines up against some very formidable speedy types tonight. Indeed, I would have had my work cut out to beat all of these but the one sprinter that stands out due to his track experience is Jumeirah Dubai. He has seen the traps and track recently (a very good 17.04 run would probably win this if he were to repeat) and although Risky started his career around here, that was a year-and-a-half ago and us greyhounds don’t have that good a memory! Drumcove Lad undoubtedly has pace but has had his fair share of injury problems and those looked like there were hindering him in his last start. There is no doubt that some will fancy Swabys Tony at a fancy price as he has pace but he doesn’t win as many as he should, hence the price. The other interesting runner is Drumnsa Major who is improving but may get squeezed by Risky and the rails-moving Lad which will set the race up for Dubai: that’s the theory anyway!

20:15 – 480m

Regular readers of this dog blog will know I have made a point of suggesting that Alien Planet has been overrated a lot this year, largely down to his surprise success against very useful pups on Derby final night. Well now the dog has come of age and although I still think I was right to a certain extent (I’m a stubborn old dog!), an unfamiliar draw cannot be the sole reason for this dog being 9/4 surely! He looks good to me. Lemon Velvet is no doubt a very speedy bitch with a good set of formlines from Ireland but Alien Planet oozes class and anything like a level break will see him surge clear on the dash for the turn and cut in to more familiar territory. Droopys Hope is also a nice sort who competed at the highest level as a pup when winning the Gymcrack but Planet looks a step up even from that class. Where are my doggie treats because they are going on him!

20:35 – 670m

A slight class drop for Mill Whiskers can see him demonstrate his pace here out wide and if the going is as I’ve been informed, he looks a good thing for this race. There are doubts about his temperament and consistency at times but he has enough class to see off the interesting youngster Lookoutforflash and the hugely unlucky Shambo Shine who was clear in her last race at Henlow before it was voided. Those two could provide a challenge but Kelly Macari’s charge could turn into something a bit special over a stayers trip if he can gain some consistency.

20:50 – 480m

So here I am banging on about the going and I fancy the inside two here! Us dogs can be fickle you know! Brunswick Jenny was superb last week when leading and can do it from both ways but I have a soft spot for Bansha Mo and if she can break slightly better she can get to the front and show her class. Mo has not quite hit the heights of her form when she burst onto the scene pre-season but she seems to have a tinge of class against other bitches and can show that tonight.

21:10 – 670m

The Great North Run final looks set-up to be a cracker! As I begin to salivate thinking about crackers I might also be doing so because it is almost impossible to call this race due to the quality of the field and connotations that could occur. Therefore, the Lolly way is to go for the value and that looks to me that it belongs to the paws of Derrane Jake. The others prominent in the betting, Welton Arthur and Ballyard Buddy, have lots of claims for this title but there are question marks about them. Arthur was disqualified earlier in the year and whilst many felt this was harsh (particularly Elaine Parker!), he did move his head slightly towards his fellow competitor and so he must be very careful not to repeat such antics if bad thoughts come into his head: that is too big a doubt for me against this class of opponent. Ballyard Buddy on the other hand has been running these Newcastle bends very wide and whilst he might improve for the run and arguably should do, he may just be carrying a little niggle as he appears to be checking when turning. Therefore, the mesmeric run from Derrane Jake in the Semi-Finals shows that this dog is full of running and whilst Arthur could be away-and-gone, Jake could follow him and give him a race this time. A great race in prospect.

21:25 – 480m

Another superb final with some very promising puppies taking to the stage but the one with the most top level experience, Killieford Deal, also is the one for me to take this race from out wide. He has not been trapping particularly well of late but he is undoubtedly very useful from the front and the back and his wise old head on young shoulders should be enough to win this. Jaytee Hellcat is well-drawn and very pacey but runs the bends a bit erratically which should give Deal enough time to get competitive and assert. Another useful prospect is Express Flame but Hellcat showed he had more pace than him in the Semi-Final and it is hard to see a reversal of that form. Indeed, Lemon Pluto beat Deal in the Semis but it was a good run from Lister’s charge to just qualify and if he traps anywhere near to the level he is capable, then I will be dining on many a treat tonight!

21:45 – 480m

The All England Cup final provides us with a stellar cast and the money for Mags Gamble is a plunge as big as that Austrian sky-diver’s the other day! 3/1 was undoubtedly too big on William’s charge who has progressed significantly since his win in the Monmore Gold Cup and he definitely loves it round here (9 wins from 10 starts). Another though, who has taken to the track like a duck to the water on top of the Polish pitch last night, is Bubbly Phoenix and he can prove the market-doubters wrong by holding his position at the first bend next to the fast up Denwill Star and unleash his pace on the back-straight. He is six from six since his return from injury and showed on Derby final night that he was capable of winning the premier competition in England; this type of galloping circuit arguably suits his style better though! Times can often be misleading and their is perhaps too much being read into Gamble running 10 spots quicker than Phoenix and so I think the class of the latter will come through tonight. Gamble is extremely talented but Phoenix seems to be a bit special and he hopefully will show that tonight. This is not to discount the other runners, however, as Skywalker Louie will always give his best and Whittle Murtagh is building a superb profile; you feel they will have to produce a career best to even be competitive though. Tudor Prince is worth a mention as he has a good make-up but despite reaching many finals over the years, he struggles to win at the highest level.

So there are a dog’s thoughts on the proceedings tonight in what promises to be a memorable evening. As ever please tweet or comment if you have anything to say about the dog blog and I’ll try to type as fast as I can with my increasingly agile paws as they become used to keyboards. One thing is for sure, the night will be more exciting than watching a referee throw a ball around a sodden pitch last night. Do they have a roof at Newcastle? Let’s hope it doesn’t rain….

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy

Well a lot has been made this week about the quality on show in front of the Sky cameras tonight and whilst the card does seem to be lacking strength in depth, I think people are missing the point that should be made about this evening: have you seen the final? I have only been on this planet for five years but I cannot recall a better field for a final than this one; it is saying something that the Kent Derby winner, Ballycowen Dave, is an easy 25/1 shot for this extraordinary race! Anyway, before dissecting that mouthwatering affair, there are the supporting races and the quirkiness of Henlow means it is always a place to make money as many of the dogs are completely confused by the third bend (if it can even be called that!). Here are a dog’s thoughts on the racing:

7:40 – 460m

The youngsters kick us off and a trial round the track will have been absolutely essential for them to experience the unfamiliarity of the bends that they will not have encountered before. This also means that Killieford Khali can be expected to improve on his decent trial performance and confirm that he comes from a pretty special litter. Lister’s pup was sent off as favourite against his litter-brother Killieford Deal (who is second favourite for the Northern Puppy Derby) in his first race in a P1 at Shawfield and this is a testament to the fact that the kennel expect big things from this lightly-raced puppy. Islas Scolari moved very well in his trial with a good sectional to the bend so Khali may be faced with the task of picking him up, but he should be able to achieve this as Scolari undoubtedly has pace, but seems very green and has yet to win in his fledgling career. Severn Bolt produced a shock in the Romford Puppy Cup in one of the rounds but looks held by the market principals.

8:00 – 428m

Whilst watching RPGTV on Thursday, I saw a very surprising drift in the market for Boher Chieftain over this C&D that I could not ignore so I had a doggie treat on him at 5/1. He then proceeded to drift further like someone in the paddock had confirmed he was in fact the first greyhound in history to lose a leg on his way to the track; he duly proved the doubters wrong by producing a track-record performance over this relatively new distance. Although it was a win, I was still cursing the fact I had missed out on an extra doggie treat by not getting the 6/1 but I was pretty full by then anyway so I expect to eat some more on him tonight! He is a truly top-class dog who has been blighted by injuries in his career but he has a great draw to work from again tonight and can confirm superiority over Bush Standard. Standard fluffed the break from the red box on Thursday night and whilst he is more suited to his berth in three tonight, the class of Chieftain should prevail. Indeed, Standard faces the task of getting in front of the fast-away bitch Jennas Pony who although saves her best work for Romford, is going to be cutting in from five and has enough pace to hold Standard up sufficiently for another Chieftain win: watch the clock!

8:15 – 460m

This is a tough race to call and it would be no surprise to see Lister’s dog, Farloe Brainy, appreciate a seeming class drop and romp to victory. He has had a hard start to his career and my colleague may just have lost his confidence enough to allow the proven course and distance winner, Millridge Duke, to sneak in front and not be caught. Furthermore, Brainy will have to get round the pacy Ballymac Folly and it seems he will have to perhaps wait for another race to get his career back on track. It’s a very tentative recommendation of Duke here but if my paws could grasp a dart I would definitely be throwing it at the card on this one!

8:35 – 277m

Lil Risky is facing a losing streak that he hasn’t encountered since he used to line-up against yours truly and whilst he can be forgiven for losing to such a handsome, intelligent and pacy dog as myself so much (who’s modesty is arguably his best quality), he can win tonight around a venue he enjoys. He faces a task of clearing Big Local who is a powerful railing sprinter who must be respected, but he has not had a trial round here and that is a worry for his lid-pinging potential tonight. Risky has no questions to answer in terms of trapping ability round here and should be able to utilise the red box to poach an early-advantage that will be too much for these barring another miraculous back-to-front performance from Glanmire Phanter. That really was an extraordinary run from Phanter to pick up Risky at Yarmouth but he has subsequently been caught being more interested in the spectators on the sidelines than the hare in the Scurry Cup! Whilst us dogs do love humans, particularly at walk and dinner times, it must be worrying that he came to an abrupt halt having shown no signs of discomfort. A number of reasons have been suggested for his remarkable decision to stop at the sough but it must put serious questions onto Phanter’s temperament and any slight loss of concentration from him tonight will mean that he won’t be able to catch Risky this time.

8:50 – 460m

This looks a really exciting race with plenty of early pace and the question of if Droopys Reason is close enough to challenge the front-runners as he is a real joy to watch in full flow. The fact that sprinter Ballymac Jones is on Reason’s outside could halt his advances when he gets into top gear and so it is a call between the top and bottom for me here. Yeatsie Boy ran a blinder in the heats of the Henlow Derby and a similar performance could see him win this but he will need to be at his very best which is something that he was not in his Semi-Final effort. Even if he does ping the lids, the selection is Ballymac Denis who was a big money purchase for the Stuart Buckland kennel at Hall Green but this faith in him has been fully justified as the Hall Green sprint track-record holder has won many races around the country. His career included finishing fourth in the Henlow Derby last year to an imperious Taylors Sky and so there are no doubts Denis runs this track very well. He can handle the red box and has a good run to work from as he should lead Cash Game and the aformentioned Droopys Reason to turn at least with Jones and Boy and prove to speedy for those rivals; this is a dog with a 27:36 around this C&D which is the time Farloe Warhawk produced in his impressive Semi-Final win last week.

9:10 – 550m

Where have my darts gone? This is a very competitive affair and a case can be made for each of my colleagues but the most tentative of recommendations is to side with Ardmayle Player who ran very well in front here on Thursday. Westmead Aouita no doubt has pace and gets this trip but is not one to rely on to often to produce her best and Thurlesbeg Bound has similar consistency problems: either bringing their A-game would suffice. Another who should win more is Doonane Lad who is marked running on over 575m at Romford so definitely stays and won over the 460m trip before the Derby began; he would be a handful in front but he often has his own ideas about the game. Who said greyhounds should always run to form? I know I certainly made it easier for my followers.

9:25 – 842m

My most avid of dog blog readers will remember me discussing in great detail Powerfast Pigeon and her lack of form this year so I won’t bore you with the same character defamation but she has definitely lost her spark. If she hasn’t, she is far too good for these. I’m always a fan of a bitch in-form, however, and so I don’t think she can be trusted at odds-on so I looked elsewhere for value and stumbled across Hey Kiddo. Whilst he is taking a step up in class if Pigeon is half as good as she used to be, Kiddo has the essential good track knowledge and could get first run at the bunny which might be decisive. I apologise to Pigeon fanciers across the country if she obliges.

9:45 – 460m

So here is that final to savour. I will be lapping it up like I lap up milk and water but the race looks set-up for Farloe Warhawk to improve upon his already tremendous CV. He should be able to lead Be Real as he in fact led the sprinter Ballymac Jones last week and the fact that Taylors Sky has almost certainly become a more all-round performer (shall we open up the “Is he back?” debate), it should give Warhawk enough room to get to the front with Loughteen Blanco and power past the Classic winner. Blanco is running the track well and will take a lot of catching if leading but Warhawk’s beating of Ballymac Eske in the Puppy Derby final is looking more impressive by the day as Eske destroys good fields across the country and he can confirm that he is the one to beat for next year’s Derby. Another Farloe in Farloe Tango might have a word with me about that comment!

So there you go, it looks set for a good night’s racing with everyone eagerly anticipating the finale. As ever please tweet or comment if you have any opinions about my dog blog and as long as I am not on a walk or having a nap, I will happily respond. Speaking of naps, Risky looks a good thing.

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy