A great card from Yarmouth this evening sees the remarkable staying bitch Musical Gaga attempting to get her paws on the illustrious TV Trophy; indeed, it is hard to make a case for her not creating more publicity than when she wore a meat dress, which she famously ate before getting to the traps. The supporting card has a feel of the young pretenders trying to make a name for themselves accompanied by some Sky stalwarts and that should lead to an intriguing night’s action. I have recently earned enough doggie treats to purchase a new Surhound Sound TV which should give me some great viewing from the comfort of my ever-reliable sofa. As ever, I have found some value for the Lolly Faithful tonight and so we should all be dining in style come 9:30 this evening:

19:34 – Puppies

These little tykes are always hard to predict and none moreso than my young colleague Swift Keith who is worth taking on when he is short, despite his obvious pace and potential. His run at Monmore was nothing short of disastrous last time out and whilst any dog should always be forgiven one run, another missed break from trap 1 will have his backers in disarray here. It makes more sense to side with Droopys Posh who is showing admirable qualities as as fine young bitch and even though the 462m here is on the short side for this destined stayer, she was superb at Hove against her fairer sex and in houndsight, we should have backed her in the Ladies final on the South Coast. Moody Paul is apparently in no reference to his trainer Paul Young, but his human mentor cannot be happy with his draw out in 4 and he makes little appeal as an inexperienced pup from an unfamiliar berth. Posh to prove too classy here.

19:49 – Maiden

A rare maiden for the Sky cameras here and it is one to really not write home about. As I am at home, however, I will do a little and bark that Donnys Angel has good breeding with litter-sister Toosey Beannie plying her trade in decent stayers races. With that in mind, Angel’s early speed, track knowledge and potential to stay based on her sister suggests she will have too much for these. She also has a good draw so a 28:16 or near to her best should be enough to prevail.

20:04 – Marathon

It would be remiss of me not to mention a colleague who is joining me in the good-life on the sofa after an outstanding career: happy retirement Aero Gaga. The superb, gutsy and honest Gaga is not as controversial as his namesake but he has created many headlines over the years including taking on the Irish and beating them in their own dogyard; he can have one last dog-song here and win from the front. He has an excellent draw to work from with the tardy but game Storm Pockets on his inside and so he can assert and await the inevitable challenge from the rail-hugging Aayamzabella, who would jump over a dog to get to the rails it seems. Her performance was remarkable in the TV Trophy Semi-Finals to nearly get up and whilst she made Gaga look like he was standing still in that race, the old-timer is a different dog on the bunny. The former Mallogs Holly, Aaaaayamzabella (sorry I forget how many ‘A’s), will win with anything like a clear run but it is hard to envisage her getting one. Em Millie has the best draw of the night and ran her heart out last week so could be a touch of value at 16/1; Gaga will make that academic, however.

20:19 – Dogs

The fellas line up here and whilst bragging rights of this race will surely lead to some one-line barks towards Musical Gaga in the kennels after, it is a race that looks difficult to call from a value perspective. Young Golden gets the narrow vote as he has a decent draw and is undoubtedly from a pacey litter, but none of the litter seem to have developed the knack of winning based on their potential and whilst the Gymcrack winner will be able to flaunt that trophy for the rest of his life, he struggles to win races for me. Droopys Reason is in that mould as well as when I paws for thought, I always consider him an unlucky dog in races as opposed to a consistent sort. He can turn up on any day though and you ignore him in a race of this nature at your peril. Late Starter also has a good looking form-card for this race and will have his supporters, although his natural pace is a worry if Young Golden displays some of the ability that he did last week in chasing the forlorn hope of overtaking the Derby champion Sidaz Jack. Golden to just win his medal here.

20:34 – Sprint

Nothing like a classy sprint to get me sat up in an awkward position that I wished I’d never got myself into, and here we have a great contest. Lord Save Us is a powerful sort when he gets the boxes but he has been known to stand up in them which as far as I could make out when I was running, wasn’t ideal. Andlyns Asabat is poorly drawn between him and the interesting Wacka but if any of these get a cheap lead then they will claim the plaudits here I am sure. Asabat is perhaps the most reliable from the boxes but Wacka is looking for his 5th win in 6 races and any Lister dog round this circuit should be feared. With the potential for crowding between those similarly matched types, it is worth backing the track-record holder, Monleek Town, to rediscover his magic from as wide a box as I can remember him coming out of (bearing in mind my memory extends between my last meal and my last walk normally). Town has struggled this term but with his newly-acquired wide tag he has been given space to work from here and hopefully he can regain the form that saw him fancied against the likes of the now-retired superstars Lil Risky and Fernhill Jess; those two even gave me something to think about so those formlines for Town are more impressive than the three fancied runners in the race and his odds of 7/1 more than account for his poorer showings recently.

20:49 – Standard

The most fancied dog of the day lines up here and when all things are considered, it is worth joining in the party as we all stand-up on our sofas and bark this one to victory. Airtech Alfie looks a good thing here. He has all-round pace that should be too much for these and whilst Forest Trick may lead him, she doesn’t really rail so she can afford Alfie plenty of room. The reason for not getting too carried away with Alfie and throwing my whole bowl of food for this evening at him is that Tyrur Willyjoe is in ominous form at his home track and he is a hugely talented performer on his day. He may not have hit the heights of his potential when arriving from Ireland, but he has shown he can throw a collar in the works of a well-backed dog and so whilst Alfie is fancied, the Faithful do not want to see Willyjoe on the bunny.

21:04 – Stayers

A fantastic afternoon for us at Monmore for the Gold Cup card was enhanced by the fluent, impressive performance of Sidelight round her local track. Her legion of supporters cheered her all the way home there after a typical ping break and she will need that whole legion to turn up in East Anglia today to get her through the final 65m that she will struggle with. She also has to contend with the occassional pinging qualities of Bubbly Swallow and Droopys Xavier on her inside and neither of those two like to relinquish their position wherever they are situated in a race. Whilst those three battle for the inside, it is worth backing a Lister dog who flatters to deceive at times, but is a talented performer over a 6-bend trip nonetheless: Killieford Khali can swoop round the outside to take this. He is often frustrating in his endeavours but I’ve liked him since he was a pup and he can repay my faith in him here by entertaining us in front of the Sky cameras today: us dogs love the limelight!

21:19 – TV Trophy

Barking of limelight, it is hard to think of a dog in the spotlight more than Gaga and whilst she would argue she was born this way, it has taken a while for her to reach the heights that have led her to be the darling of the paparazzi. Her stunning 462m sectional last week was faster than Sidaz Jack’s time for the Standard course and if that wasn’t enough, she carried on to break the track-record in a scintillating time. If she leads tonight it is all over; it is hard to see her not leading. Blonde Reagan may give her something to think about early on but his prowess has diminished over the course of this year and he is sadly a shadow of his former majestic self. That leaves the one question that is almost not a question: can Farloe Tango catch her? The last time these two met, I actually recommended backing Tango to do exactly that and whilst he got no sort of run that night, Gaga was arguably lapping him before he got going. If Tango gets a clear run though, this could be a race to savour. Most probably a procession though, I must admit.

So here are the recommendations for the Lolly Faithful:

Killieford Khali – 1 dog bone @ 9/2

As ever, if you have any comments or questions regarding the dog blog, please don’t hesitate to tweet me and I promise to bark back with the sort of definition I will be receiving from my new Surhound Sound TV tonight. The common dogsensus is that Airtech Alfie is the bet of the night, and we the Lolly Faithful, will be over the moon if Alfie wins.

This Category One tournament is often dominated by the strong Northern kennels and in particular local trainers, which has to be taken into account when assessing the value antepost. I think this year’s competition is fascinating from a value perspective and the Lolly Faithful have several reasons to be confident that we can earn some doggie treats from this renewal; intriguingly only two qualify from each heat and so the fact that Express Master and Loughteen Blanco (who lead the betting) are drawn together with unfavourable draws for both give us a huge advantage antepost. The local dogs are also underrated historically in this tournament as the track stalwart of yesteryear, Skywalker Louie, produced an epic performance to overtake the much-maligned Boher Paddy last year at a huge 10/1, which when I paws for thought, was too dismissive of such a course specialist. We will not make the same mistake this year: I am positively wagging for this tournament!

Express Master was desperately unlucky for us in the Sussex Cup as he met a rejuvenated Loughteen Blanco in the final, who reproduced his sparkling form from last year to deny us an antepost doggie treat bonanza. Ironically, it was Blanco who had lost for us the previous year with an oh-so agonising defeat and so I am still licking my wounds (and occassionally sensitive areas when I get bored) for those defeats. With that barked, I am an admirer of both of these early-paced merchants and they will be a live threat in this tournament if they qualify tonight, and judging by the way Master was running all over Blanco on the rails-side in the Sussex Cup final, these two could be their own worst nightmare this evening: there is no value in them antepost based on that.

Therefore, that creates value in the rest of the market. Whilst Glenpadden Bolt produced a career best last week and an action replay of that three times will go very close, he has yet to prove his consistency so is plenty short enough around 10/1. Airlie Impact is a much travelled campaigner these days considering his entirely Hove-based antics in the early part of his career, and whilst he has proven he is not a one-track-wonder, and surely delighted connections with his Derby Silver Medal (a fantastic achievement), it is a hard campaign in the English Derby and it might take him just slightly longer to fully regain his appetite for the hare. Any sort of niggle or tiredness in Impact will be exposed by the local stalwarts. Calzaghe Davy was another consideration, but his lacklustre performance at Sunderland last time out is hard to get out of my mind. Whilst I normally like dreaming about chasing squirrels and eating the world’s largest bowl of cooked chicken, it is hard to not still have nightmares about his jog around the back in front of the Sky cameras. Maybe he got camera shy or maybe he lacks the necessary quality to compete at the top level: he is certainly a fast dog around Coventry but elsewhere he is best watched for now.

Which leaves us with the first of our two nominations to have the metal to take the Steel City cup. Elaine Parker, as ever, has a strong team for her home tournament and she can look for a sensational double with the new superstar of her kennel, Pay Freeze, showing why he should be antepost favourite for this tournament in my opinion. 6 out of 7 wins at his home track is not telling the whole story as he has beaten some high-class colleagues round the Sheffield circuit and he has all of the attributes of pace, desire and trackcraft to step up his already lofty reputation by winning a Category One tournament. His draw in the heats has worked out favourably as there is little pace inside him so he can poach an early lead from his poorly drawn railing kennelmate, Droopys Pride, and demonstrate his raw pace around his most familiar workplace: home advantage is huge for him in this tournament.

The same case can be made for Kowloon Conner who is extremely hard to beat around this Course and Distance and it is about time that the Draper kennel had a change of fortune with their superstars: Conner is one of them. He has less of a reputation than some of his kennelmates but that should not consitute in dismissing him as a serious performer and it takes a good dog to beat him round Sheffield. He has drawn a simple assignment for his heat where he can lead the ever-consistent Hather George, yet that rival is starting to look more at the sofa that I am now lying on than the track and perhaps enjoyed his Swan Song in the Derby, where he was extremely valiant. Whilst he was tipped elsewhere at 20/1, I missed the price as I was having a nap on the chair I’m not supposed to go on. Although that nap was delightful, I am now ruing the decision. Despite that momentarily lapse on my part, he is still worth backing at 16/1 as he will match any of the dogs in this tournament for pace to the first bend and that is when we will see his underrated class come through: a tinge of class that he certainly demonstrates at Sheffield.

So here are the recommendations for the Lolly Faithful:

Kowloon Conner – 1 chewstick ripped in two @ 16/1

After some near misses for these antepost bets (albeit with nice each-way doggie treats collected) it is time for the Lolly Faithful to steel a winner in a Category One tournament: these local heroes can do that for us.

The Select Stakes is always a fascinating contest and whilst the quality in depth of this year’s field is questionable, it has certainly provided for an intriguing race for my colleagues. The Select Stayers is even more intriguing with the absence of Fear Emoski perhaps being the only notable absentee from the top stayers and potential stayers in the country. The rest of the card has a feel of post-Derby and post-Classic syndrome with it being competitive, but without some of the names of my colleagues that you would expect on a Sky card. As I lie here on the sofa, I am finding it hard to put my paws on some value for the Lolly Faithful but as ever, I think I have unearthed a couple of bets after digging a little deeper into the form. Here are my thoughts on the racing:

19:34 – Puppy

As ever with my younger colleagues, the little tykes can throw in a strange performance now and again and it is better to look at their overall form rather than one-off blips. Therefore, I am taking a chance that Russanda Duke was just becoming acclimatised to the track on his last time out as he completely missed the break and allowed Caribbean Rich to cruise into an unassailable lead. He ran OK after his sluggish start and with a change of traps he can confirm his Sheffield form over Ballymac Murph where he was led by Draper’s charge before powering past round the final bends. If he can turn handier to the pace than his last effort then he will not be stopping and whilst Bower Stone is respected for his flying time for a youngster, his form has not been consistent since. The outside 3 look out of their depth.

19:49 – Standard

The first price that has got me hot under the collar for tonight’s racing (and that is not just because of this ridiculous heat!) is the 7/2 on Caribbean Rich stealing a lead and proving too fast to rein in. He has a good draw next to Head Iton Eoin and Glenpadden Bolt who are not blessed with scintillating early, and Bob Hall’s charge gets jealous of other colleagues trying to catch his bunny when he is in the lead: he can do so here. The Newcastle graded strength is to be hugely respected and thus Hadrians Wall might be a serious dog, but his effort at Shawfield was very uninspiring and so he has yet to prove he travels well. Sinbad is a very likeable and progressive type who looks set to be stepped up in distance for his career, but Rich has much the better profile in terms of overall form. Romeo Hi Rumble will be coming from miles back, possibly his kennel.

20:04 – Bitches

A competitive bitches race is something I like to see and we have one here. The class act in the field is Silverview Pinky who is not as good as her now-retired superstar sister Perky was, but she is good enough to win a race of this nature. Express Flame rates the danger but she is too inconsistent to be trusted at small odds and like with most bitches I have known, it is hard to know what she is really thinking. Pinky beat Flame comfortably at Coventry at the start of the month and her knowledge of Nottingham (through it being Lister’s “home” track) should maintain that formline here. Teena Marina is running well but whether she is of the class of Pinky is questionable for me.

20:19 – Stayers

Ballyard Buddy was a close second in the Select Stayers here last year and he can make amends for that defeat at a track that suits his style. There is not the class of Tynwald Tom in this race that beat him last year and the fact that Buddy started his impressive, bullish career here is a positive too: he knows the track. Bubbly Swallow has always struck me as a bitch without a distance and she will have the task of fending off Ballymac Chosen who will appreciate his draw in two. Droopys Diop can utilise a good draw to run his usual honest race, but Buddy’s grinding power will be too much for these I suspect.

20:34 – 480m

Perhaps one of the main disappointments of the Derby, Lemon Pluto, has certainly not disappointed since by trouncing his rivals in a supporting race on the Derby Final card and then winning a competitive tournament at Monmore. 480m is as far as he wants but he is in an all-conquering, confident mood at the moment and it will take a good dog to beat him. He meets some useful rivals here in Cu Na Mianta and Fermoy Henry but they lack that air of authority that Pluto imposes on his rivals and they could be dealt a lesson here today. A dog that certainly needs no lessons (well maybe he could learn from me!) is Mags Gamble who enjoyed a remarkable campaign last year but is beginning to show that he is not quite the force of old and whilst the old-timer is afforded plenty of respect, the new dog on the block Pluto can lead all the way here.

20:49 – 305m

Nottingham is a great sprinting track (I would know!) and another Lister powerhouse, Boher Chieftain, can add a win to his frustrating career. Throughout his working life he has shown signs of brilliant pace and aptitude but he has struggled with injuries and therefore his form has been too inconsistent for a dog with his ability. Whilst Wajas Trump is running well, if Chieftain is feeling fit, he can show why he was considered a Derby dog earlier in his career.

21:04 – 720m

One of the stars of Team Lolly in the Derby, and the genuinely entertaining superstar that is Farloe Tango, can show why he is feared in any race he enters, over any distance, against any dog. His pace is truly remarkable. The bark around the kennels is that he is a character off the track as well as on it and his antics in racing are fascinating to watch; the one thing that cannot be disputed though is that he is a winner and wants to be leader of the pack! He infamously lost here at 1/8 but that was a nasty fall that day and he has subsequently performed oddly at the track: us dogs don’t forget you know! Yet, his pace to nearly catch the confirmed stayer, Bouncy Bocko, on Derby final night will live long in the memory of humans and dogs alike as he was in a hopeless position after trouble in running, before producing one of the most remarkable turns of foot that I can remember from watching on the sofa since my retirement. There is no doubt that this is a high quality field and the fact that Musical Gaga is likely to lead will mean that if Tango catches her, it will surely be the performance of the year: I think he will. Calzaghe Lilly is on fire at the moment and will be swooping round the outside but I think in a match race over this distance you would favour Gaga, and Gaga with a good draw can lead so it is hard to envisage Lilly back-running her. Dural Bound has a very good draw but whether he can live with this surely ferocious pace over the staying distance, is questionable, and he may be too far back to have an impact. Gaga will not be stopping but it would take a train carrying a brick wall on the front of it to stop Tango. This should be a spectacle.

21:19 – Select Stakes

Another star of Team Lolly who came oh-so-close to landing the each-way bet for a healthy portion of doggie treats (I’m sure treats are healthy, they certainly taste like they are!), is Holdem Spy and he can overcome a tough draw to gun down these rivals down the back straight. The revelation that Spy has the best name in the world has furthered my liking for him and plans to go to Shelbourne for the Irish Derby are surely well-advised with the track likely to suit his devastating pace down the back. He would be a recommendation if he were not in 4 as he has proven he can catch Hather George (just!) which is a ridiculously impressive formline with George winning over 660m from the front, and he can at least turn handy to Screen Critic and avenge for the latter’s short-head defeat of him into 4th in the Derby Semi-Final. Daddyknowsbest was a strange selection in my opinion as he was a very fast puppy but failed to seriously develop into a top class dog; yet I suppose his track record and undefeated competition at Poole is the merit for his inclusion. Droopys Pride has shown he likes the track but he is running against genuine Derby dogs here with Derby 2nd, Airlie Impact, being suited to the track but perhaps not his draw as he is desperate to get back in his beloved stripes. He can run on late but by then Jimmy may be long gone. Whoever gets the run of the wide dogs wins this for me, and Spy’s trackcraft and pace down the back can get him into a winning position. Listen for the roars from the humans!

Two recommendations for the Lolly Faithful then:

19:49 – Caribbean Rich – 1 doggie treat @ 7/2

20:34 – Lemon Pluto – 1 piece of bread at Evs

So there are my thoughts on the proceedings. As ever, please comment or tweet if you have any thoughts yourself on my opinions and I promise to bark back at you as fast as Spy runs the back straight. Two stars of the Derby for Team Lolly were desperately unlucky to not make it to the final (in my clearly biased opinion!) but they can finish the card tonight by winning the Select Stayers and Stakes. Go get them boys!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy

The Category One tournament begins tonight with the feeling that it is certainly not the best field ever assembled for this prestigious tournament at Hove. Last year, the Lolly Faithful were oh-so-close to having an antepost winner as Loughteen Blanco was collared on the line by the brilliantly game Westmead Maldini, and a similar approach should yield success in picking a winner this time round. The fact that Derby 2nd Airlie Impact was unplaced in that race a year ago shows the quality of the field that year and whilst Blanco returns this year, it is hard to suggest he is quite the same dog that had a fantastic 2012. The approach last year was to go against the conventional wisdom that a galloping track like Hove requires a powerful dog and instead, find value in an early-paced merchant who may steal a lead in the final and then not be for catching: Blanco nearly did it last year!

The nature of Hove means that the market is dominated by strong sorts such as Teejays Bluehawk, Droopys Ed Moses and Glenpadden Post but their value is questionable due to the potential of not getting a clear run meaning their value at under 10/1 is questionable. All 3 of these have the potential to be interesting over 6 bends come the St. Leger but for now, they are attempting to run through fields to progress in tournaments over 4 bends. Bluehawk is an admirable sort who will need no second invitation if given racing room, but as a railer he could be forced to run through several dogs and whilst his trackcraft is decent, it does not strike me as exceptional and he capitalises on gaps rather than finding them for me. Droopys Ed Moses is a mercurial dog who is often left way behind in the race before producing a blistering turn of foot from the 3rd bend; he can win a race from anywhere but his appeal is limited due to his tendency to be completely left behind for most of the race and so the winner may have got away. Glenpadden Post was a serious consideration antepost as his Derby Plate win was hugely impressive for his style and decision making when going on the outside round the 4th bend when given the opportunity. Yet, Barrie Draper’s dogs have been hit-and-miss during the Derby and subsequently (Farloe Barracuda was hugely disappointing last night) and the long journey down to Hove is not ideal for any dog, no matter how well-behaved we are we get hot in the van in this heat! Therefore, he is a realistic contender but the market has him placed rightly around the 8/1 mark.

So with the strong dogs being taken on, we need an early-paced dog who is going to set the others a benchmark to aim at. Due to the popularity of strong-running dogs going for this tournament, the early-pace is normally scarce in races which is another reason for picking a fast-away dog as they will more than likely have good draws throughout. Exocet has a lofty reputation and is capable of leading on his day but he makes extremely limited appeal at his odds due to the fact it looks to me that he has not quite settled into the English way of life as of yet. Bridge Honcho is a lightly-raced, top quality dog who can beat anything on his day round here but his fragility is a concern and whilst if he stays fit he could walk this tournament, at 8/1 he offers no value due to his injury-plagued career.

That leaves us with a dog who has been in sparkling form round the Course and Distance over the past few weeks and could turn into a superb performer for Chris Allsopps’ team: Express Master is the pick. He had the kennels barking when he flew round Monmore in trials of 28:22 and 28:19 showing his undoubted pace which was then followed up by two scintilatting wins at Hove. He beat the aforementioned Droopys Ed Moses comfortably on his second win which shows he is going to set a serious target for the others to aim at in this competition and his short-head defeat by Bridge Honcho is by no means a disgrace as I stated earlier: Bridge Honcho is a class act. Master is a railer but he has proven he can come out of anything as wide as 4 (which he runs from tonight) and he has enough early to lead virtually any of the railers in this tournament, so issues at the first bend should not be of huge concern. Of course, his consistency is questionable with only 3 career starts in England but his two trials at Monmore show that he will consistently run a similar sort of race and if he can reproduce 3 29:60 times around Hove, he will take all of the beating in this tournament. Allsopp speaks very highly of his new worker and his lack of experience is more than factored into his price of 8/1 considering his consistent early pace.

So one recommendation for the Lolly Faithful then:

Express Master – 1 piece of bread broken in half @ 8/1

So there are my thoughts on the Sussex Cup. As ever please tweet or comment if you have anything to say about my opinions and I promise I will bark back at you despite my consistent panting in this heat: I thought I lived in England! Express Master can go one better for us this year and lead his colleagues over the winning line, despite the efforts of the stronger dogs trying to claw him back.

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy

So here we are with 12 left in: one week from glory! My colleagues work for the third time this week and that could have a bearing on their fitness and so this is a night to watch and hope that the antepost selections go through as opposed to finding value. Team Lolly was sadly decimated in the Quarter Finals as we lost 3 of our quartet but our one remaining survivor, Holdem Spy, is running as well as he has done throughout his career and his reputation is growing race by race. He has drawn the harder of the Semi-Finals but the Lolly Faithful are sure to get a run out of him tonight and hopefully he can be in the draw for next Saturday’s final. Here are my thoughts on the two Semi-Finals this evening:

Semi Final 1 – 20:45

Whether rain falls or not, this will be a tough test for the wide-dogs as Droopys Jet and Ballymac Eske have been two of the stars of the tournament and look set to have a great battle. Considering that Jet has learned how to ping out of these English boxes he should lead Eske and the backers of the latter will be able to witness whether he is capable of picking up Jet or not: I believe he will not be able too in a clean run race. That clean run race is unlikely, however, with Jet and Eske looking to battle out front they could set the race up for a finisher and there were none faster home in the Quarter-Finals than Holdem Spy. He has his beloved trap 6 box to assert past Screen Critic (as he did earlier in the tournament) and the fact that Bittles Bar missed the break from 4 in the Third Round can only help Spy’s chances of a clear run. If he gets a run then he will give any dog a race. Hather George is to be more respected from a middle berth according to Charlie Lister but it is hard to see, however gallantly he tries, how he can get competitive here. A really tough race to call this.

Semi Final 2 – 21:05

Ballymac Vic’s customary poor performance in a big tournament has yet to present it’s ugly head and it might do so here. He seems a dog that needs to get on a roll and never really threatened to overhaul Droopys Jet in the Quarter Finals which could have dented his confidence. The presence of the rapidly improving Sidaz Jack on his immediate inside is a concern as well as Jack is going from strength to strength. The way he succumbed in the Third Round is a question mark over him and with a great draw it may pay to back Tyrur Sugar Ray to turn prominently enough to beat these. He won’t be doing it if Vic or Jack lead comfortably but it is hard to see either doing that and so Ray can assert from a good draw.

So there are my thoughts on the most tricky night in greyhound racing as the effect of the three quick runs is any dog or human’s guess! Please comment or tweet if you have any thoughts but it is a night for varying opinions, and that is what is great about our work! Let’s just hope that Spy qualifies for the greatest race of them all which will be enjoyed with plenty of doggie treats if he’s there!

As we reach the halfway stage of this illustrious tournament, most of my colleagues will be surprised to be racing so soon with only 3 days rest. It is fair to bark that very few, if any, of these dogs will have raced twice in 3 days and that can often be to the disadvantage of form students as some dogs will simply not be able to repeat their heroics (or potential) shown in the first 3 rounds. It is a night to take on the more fancied runners. On the whole Team Lolly is looking encouraging with four runners of our dogfolio remaining (Shaneboy Alley, Farloe Warhawk, Farloe Tango and Holdem Spy) with them all showing signs that they have the potential to win this coveted prize. In order to find value this evening for the Lolly Faithful it is important to gauge the effect that the quick run will have on my colleagues and these are my thoughts on the races:

Quarter Final 1 – 20:34

Probably the worst drawn of Team Lolly this evening is Farloe Warhawk who will have to ping like yours truly to be able to get to the bend ahead of the impressive Shaneboy Spencer. Ideally he would be drawn in his favoured trap 3 but 4 should be no hinderance and he can just about assert at the first bend. Sidaz Jack is not devoid of early but the young whippersnapper showed his naivety in the Third Round by succumbing to lesser lights quite meekly and whilst he clearly is blessed with pace, he could just lack the required class at the moment to be competitive in these latter stages. His early-pace and natural railing ability will hinder Tyrur Sugar Ray and the Irish raider will have to go pound-for-pound with Jack throughout the race: he could be in trouble here. Hather George has pace either side of him with Jaytee Hellcat in an unfamiliar berth and both of those gutsy performers can battle it out for the final qualification spot behind the two leaders. Preference is for Warhawk over Spencer as he has been proven at the highest level in the Puppy Derby.

Quarter Final 2 – 20:49

The race of the tournament so far will begin to assess the credentials of Droopys Jet and in particular, Ballymac Vic, who has had solos so far in the tournament. Both of these fast Irish compatriots will need to avoid getting in a tussle as Screen Critic has shown he needs no second invitation to capitalise on pondering leaders. Jet and Vic have also been putting in their best performances in front and their facile wins may have actually taken more out of them than they would have ideally liked at this stage and unless one of them gets clear, they could find themselves in real trouble here. Jet’s draw in 1 is his favourite, as is Vic’s in 3 so neither can have complaints there but the best drawn of them all, Critic can enjoy a solo out wide and win this. The question of who will be finishing stronger out of Priceless Pilot, Droopys Ed Moses and Islas Scolari is anyone’s guess and whilst they have their own race for the first 3 bends, I think that Moses has shown enough to part the waves of the rest and sneak a qualification place: at the expense of either Jet or Vic.

Quarter Final 3 – 21:04

How well is Ballymac Eske running? The most asked question in this year’s Derby has one answer for me: not as well as expected. Of course, he has done well to be undefeated to this point but his inability to regain his pinging form of the Scottish Derby/Juvenile is a huge concern for connections and the fact that it took him what seemed like an eternity to overtake the sprinter, Stonepark Crash, in the Third Round suggests to me he is not firing on all cylinders. The draw has worked out very kind for him here with no real early either side, but in that, Shaneboy Alley has no pace anywhere near him in the race early on and should be able to assert from the first and second bend. That is not race over, however. As the most impressive performer of this Derby so far, Holdem Spy, can turn handy and overcome Alley as he did in the Third Round and show that he is a serious player in this tournament. The slight concern of him cramping in the Second Round to be caught on the line suggests more to me that he was not fully wound up early in the tournament as opposed to struggling with fitness and he is a dog to ignore at your peril in this competition. He has finalist written all over him and that would be a great scenario for the Lolly Faithful. Teejays Bluehawk will arguably have to produce a career best (which is a lofty height) to pick these up and qualify.

Quarter Final 4 – 21:19

Farloe Tango was extremely unlucky to not make a race-winning move at the third bend in the Third Round but that misfortune has led to a very fortunate draw here. Bonamassa Rocks showed the pace that he had always been threatening to utilise in this year’s Derby from when he blasted onto the scene with a sub-24 second run round Romford in an A1. He can lead on the inside and give Tango the perfect platform to demonstrate his undoubted raw pace. Airlie Impact is as wide as they come and his draw in three could hinder the chances of all of the wide-runners here if they are not capable of pinging out and again, this sets the race up for Lister’s talented and mercurial dog. Bittles Bar’s connections may have been too eager in switching him from rails to wide as opposed to middle because he lacked his usual early from 4, let alone 6, and he appears to be a dog that a slight niggle or the intense runs over a short period of time might be catching up with him. He can ill-afford a bad start here. Carkei Max is running well without showing signs of being a real contender and will have to be alert at the boxes because Impact will only be going one way, fast. Tango could not ask for a better draw in the Quarter Finals of the Derby.

So there are my thoughts on the proceedings tonight. As ever, please tweet or comment if you have anything to suggest about my barkings here and I promise to respond with as little howling as I possibly can. Team Lolly are looking in a strong position at the halfway stage, and they can continue to progress to the Semi Finals on Saturday: I hope!

The most enduring week of work for my colleagues is upon us: Derby week! This is where the tournament really starts to get serious as the 47 dogs left in (accounting for the one withdrawal) all start to dream of glory on the 29th June. There have already been the usual shocks and fairy-tale stories but on the whole we have a quality field left and this is the round where the Lolly Faithful traditionally benefit from the most value! This is because the class dogs are normally coming to their peak by this stage and so encouraging runs in the first two rounds can turn into under-the-radar performances that will leave the bookies reeling (well that’s the theory anyway!). Here are my thoughts on the heats and the best value for this evening:

Heat 1 – 19:34

A cracking race to get us underway here as four dogs at the forefront of the betting outright, battle it out for the three qualifying positions. The draw has worked well for Tyrur Sugar Ray as he should lead Teejays Bluehawk and Kilara Missy but the value here is with Kereight King who can show that he is a contender in this tournament. King won a straightforward task in the First Round and looked the winner at the third bend in the Second Round before being expertly checked by the winner Fermoy Henry, which halted a race-winning manoeuvre. On that occasion he did not trap as well as he can and with the added benefit of fairly sluggish trappers on his inside he can assert on the rails. Skate On is fast-away but her penchant for the rails is probably over-exaggerated and I do not think she will cut across King quite as much as the odds seem to suggest. If she leads I do not think she quite has the presence of mind to cut off King like Henry did to him last week and so her chances appear bleak. Her presence may hinder Droopys Jet more and whilst his run in the Second Round was extremely impressive, it is the first time in two years (OK I make that sound slightly more dramatic than it is in reality!) he has trapped at Wimbledon and he can ill-afford to go back to his old ways in this line-up. He is of course a supremely talented colleague. Yet, with his smooth-passage to the first bend looking likely, King can be crowned the winner here.

Heat 2 – 19:49

Rumours around the kennels are gaining momentum that Ballymac Vic is bribing the officials with doggie treats, as his draws have been more than favourable in the tournament so far. This is probably his best draw to date and only one of his freak bad performances (which he is notorious for) can stop him from leading and making this a procession. Ringtown Snowy came into this tournament with a reputation for being strong and has shown brief glimpses of that, whilst Priceless Pilot’s win in the Second Round was a remarkable turn of foot. The wide dogs look like they would be better off stopping at the first bend and going for a meal unfortunately.

Heat 3 – 20:04

“What is he going to do next?” should be Farloe Tango’s epitaph and whilst his enigmatic style is as frustrating as it is endearing, he has the perfect make-up for him here and he can show his Derby-winning pace. Shaneboy Spencer and Droopys Loner will likely set off at a fast and furious pace but their frollicking in front (and it should only be us retired dogs that do the frollicking!) can set the race up for Tango to loom large around the final turns. Bouncy Bocko has been running himself into the tournament but can ill-afford to become too detached now he is facing sterner competition.

Heat 4 – 20:19

This looks another favourable draw for the unexposed Sidaz Jack and whilst he will face tougher assignments ahead, the presence of mid-moving Fermoy Henry next to him can give Jack the room he needs to show his undoubted pace. It was interesting that Charlie Lister compared Jack to one of his many Derby winners, Taylors Sky, and if he can continue to get the red box in the draws like Sky infamously did in 2011, he can go a long way in this tournament. Benkaat Nero is the sort that is going to be tough to knock out but probably lacks the class to progress too far into the competition. Farloe Chico has ran OK considering he was nearly sent over the rails at the second bend in the First Round, but the random pre-tournament confidence in him looks to have been misplaced. Airlie Impact will be coming high-wide-and-not-so-handsome-as-myself but his presence in 5 can hinder the chances of Carkei Max.

Heat 5 – 20:34

Probably the most open of the contests this evening here as there are no real standout contenders who are fancied strongly in the tournament. The aforementioned heroics of Priceless Pilot in the Second Round denied a win for Benkaat Blue who can make amends here. He is adept at coming out of any box and he can lead the disappointing Bonamassa Rocks to the bend and not be for catching tonight! Hather George has turned himself into a superb all-round performer but he is unlikely to make the ridiculous ground that Pilot made up on the home straight a week ago (to put it into context the human had already called Blue the winner halfway down the home straight!). Reel Trickyone likes to turn right out of the boxes and that hinders Boherna Rumble’s chances of leading, which is where he needs to be to show his best form. Frisbey Barney has an all-round game but probably not up to the standard now he has progressed to this stage of the tournament.

Heat 6 – 20:49

Antepost jolly Ballymac Eske is progressing nicely in the tournament by showing he can win from behind (First Round) and on the bunny (Second Round). He has the middle-moving Farloe Buddy on his outside so it is hard to envisage any problems for Draper’s charge here. He is priced accordingly. Loughteen Blanco rolled back the years with a typically gutsy front-running performance in the Second Round but he will have his work cut out to lead tonight with Irish spinter Stonepark Crash next to him. Droopys Ed Moses and Islas Scolari get the prize in the look-a-likey competition for their running style but if I had to pick one to beat the other, I would probably be on the former, perhaps, maybe.

Heat 7 – 21:04

Farloe Warhawk blasted back to his brilliant best in the Second Round and as one of the chief components of Team Lolly, he can show that he has the ultimate combination of early-pace and power for the Plough Lane circuit here. His draw next to Newinn Rocket is a slight concern but Rocket tends to remain straighter on the run-up than people give him credit for, before swinging off at the second bend; this will give Warhawk enough time to assert. Money Talks was flattered by ridiculous trouble in the Second Round and needs to up-his-game if it is a clear run race. Screen Critic showed all of his tenacity to get up on the line last week but that was perhaps aided by Holdem Spy cramping near the line and so he will need to produce an even better performance to get on terms here. Jaytee Hellcat has done nothing wrong so far but his style just isn’t as pleasing on the eye as Warhawk’s and whether he lacks class at the top level could be answered tonight if he is not at his absolute best.

Heat 8 – 21:19

Well there is definitely some early pace here! They maybe could have even given me a run, well, probably not actually. Jaytee Zeus is in the form of his life and barking of that, Garryglass Rodge has exploded onto the scene in this tournament. Most viewers of him saw his potential at Romford with his early-paced, railing performances but he has taken his reputation to a new level in this competition and has beaten some very useful types. He can lead on the rails but that is unlikely to be enough to beat the Arc winner, Shaneboy Alley, who is slowly getting himself into the tournament. He missed the break badly last week and then showed his customary ferocious early to get round the bend second before being severely hampered. His tenacity to qualify by a short-head after that trouble is admirable for a front-running dog and he can get back to his pinging ways here at the traps and at the very least turn second to Rodge. Bittles Bar has gone from a wide dog coming out of trap 1, to a wide seed that should probably have been seeded middle, but he does course the hare in the initial stages and so may hinder Alley slightly: that should not be enough to deter people backing Alley though. Holdem Spy has had mixed reviews in the media by humans over his career but he genuinely looked like he cramped up last week as opposed to any naughty business and his pace is surely going to take him a long way in this competition: if he keeps his head in the game. Hopefully he can qualify for Team Lolly behind a back-to-his-scintillating-best Alley. Or vice versa, I’m not that picky!

So there are my thoughts on the beginning of the most famous week in greyhound racing. As ever, please comment or tweet if you have anything to say and I’ll bark back at you like I’ve been left outside in the cold! This is where the competition begins to get serious and where the dogs begin to get found out, hopefully in our case, Team Lolly rise to the top!

Well, it was a night for the favourites yesterday with some stunning displays of pace as the big dogs laid down there credentials for the tournament. Ironically the biggest gamble of the night flopped as South Armagh looked like he had packed his doggie bags for home already, but that in itself shows that one race form is a dangerous marker. Most of Team Lolly are out tonight and if the much debated going was favouring the inside last night, we are hoping for a wider bias this evening that is for sure! Here are the thoughts for the second instalment of the Second Round:

Heat 9 – 19:54

An intriguing contest to begin proceedings but it is hard to see why Farloe Warhawk is as big as 5/2 and he can defy those dismissive odds tonight. He was overhauled last week at the third bend, but that was to the highly regarded Holborn Junior who I suspect was more forward than Warhawk. He can lead or turn behind the fast-away Stonepark Crash and show his credentials this evening as he loves it round Wimbledon. Priceless Sky was fortunate to qualify last week and will need to step his game up, whole my colleague Farloe Buddy seems the main danger but will need a career-best effort to overhaul Draper’s powerhouse.

Heat 10 – 20:10

It’s a case of dogja vu here with three of the protagonists from the clash of the first round lining up again. Eske has a better draw than last week but Farloe Tango can show early if he fancies it and so connections of the Antepost favourite will hope he doesn’t decide to do it today. Eske ran well to win the First Round but he still lacks a certain liking for the Plough Lane circuit and he looks a poor value 4/9 shot here. That is especially considering that Isabels Boy nearly got clear last week and the form of Garryglass Rodge as an early-paced merchant was franked last night with his all the way success. Boy will probably have Farkland Tyson to contend with at the first bend but he can assert this time and give Eske (and Tango) a real target to aim for: I suspect they may not prevail.

Heat 11 – 20:26

Jaytee Hellcat ran very well with a solo last week and he has landed a weak heat here which he could get a solo from again. The odds are reflective of his chances but it is hard to see how he does not saunter into the Third Round.

Heat 12 – 20:42

Reel Trickyone ran the race of his life in the First Round and his presence in trap 2 could be bad news for the dogs outside him, especially Loughteen Blanco who looked a shadow of himself last week (maybe on purpose). An eye catching run from Smiler Jack accompanied by his rails draw means he is worth a doggie treat here to turn handy and overhaul the early birds. He needs further of course, but he liked the look of Wimbledon last time out and he is value to prevail here.

Heat 13 – 20:58

One of the heats of the round has many connotations including how Shaneboy Alley’s fall has affected him. He jumped over the rail after the race to avoid further confrontation with Fridays Shane and whilst it might have shook him up, he’s had a week to recover and a top class dog shouldn’t be too perturbed with jealous colleagues: I certainly wasn’t! He has a good draw next to the surprise Gymcrack winner, Young Golden, and Knockglass Billy is capable of pinging and asserting on the inside. If that is the case I would fancy Alley to assert in the second half and progress for Team Lolly. Money Talks is perhaps being overhyped by those with dollar on him and Holborn Junior is a could-be-anything type who ran very well in the First Round: we should know by now that one race form can be misleading!

Heat 14 – 21:15

This is the type of race that Benkaat Blue thrives in with little searing early pace meaning he can steal a cheap lead and he is hard to pass on the bunny. Slick Santiago is fast but is more injury prone than Kieron Dyer and he is capable of throwing in a dire performance as a result. Blue to make all here.

Heat 15 – 21:32

Skate On really did get her skates on in the First Round and it is hard to envisage her not leading here again as she is a consistent trapper. Her problem lies in the last 80m and Eden Star can turn second and assert from thereon. His progress later in the tournament will depend on him producing more early than the First Round effort however.

Heat 16 – 21:48

Some serious heavyweights line-up here and it will be a great way to finish this round! Lemon Pluto is an unknown quantity from his draw but he and Shaneboy Spencer may hinder themselves on the inside to put there chances in doubt. If that occurs it will be set up for Screen Critic to assert from the outside but in value terms, Holdem Spy has the pace to pick anything up in this tournament and he can showcase his claims for the tournament here by accounting for Critic. The change if venue has done Spy the world of good based on his First Round performance and he is underrated at your peril.

So there are my thoughts for the proceedings this evening. As ever please tweet or comment if you have anything to say about the dog blog or Team Lolly as a whole. It should be intriguing tonight but the last race captures the imagination, and Spy will be searching and hunting down his rivals, I am confident of that!

The First Round of this illustrious tournament certainly didn’t disappoint with some remarkable performances from my colleagues. I got very excited through the proceedings as I used to when arriving at the track for work and I wouldn’t have minded getting back in the traps myself! It must be said if I had done so, I would have been bemused at the times that were being published; they seemed well off the mark on numerous occasions and whilst times are for show, it has given an interesting angle value-wise for the Lolly Faithful as the times are surely misguiding! Here are my thoughts on the proceedings this evening for the first half of the Second Round:

Heat 1 – 19:54

If my Irish compatriot Tyrur Sugar Ray could pick a draw, it would probably resemble something like this but his odds are more than reflective of him weaving his way through the field to win. Newinn Rocket showed his class in the First Round and when fit he is a formidable front runner. He can win an early battle with Farloe Calvin (who looked desperate for the line last week) and hang on for the impending challenge from Sugar Ray. Fridays Shane is in the naughty corner for his antics with Shaneboy Alley and his presence could hold up the in-form, strong Hather George.

Heat 2 – 20:10

Sidaz Jack is a dog that could be anything which is often construed as he will turn out to be a superstar. He may do, but until his ability precedes his reputation he is worth taking on and Farloe Trojan showed good pace and determination last week to win if Jack is overrated. Benkaat Nero may be better suited to further and Airlie Impact has a poor draw as he prefers his look in stripes: Trojan can clear him to the bend and get into full gear down the back straight.

Heat 3 – 20:26

Ballymac Vic is too short in this race for me, considering the way he ran in the First Round meaning he will want to cut the bend at the first. Bittles Bar moved markedly middle (to even wide) after a fast break and him and Jolly Bullseye could hold up Vic if he is not really on his front paws from the off. This scenario would lend for Longwood Bound to swoop round the outside and show that he has enough pace to win a messy race if he gets a clear, which is a real possibility. Droopys Pride should be proud of his First Round success but is desperately unfortunate to be drawn in this.

Heat 4 – 20:42

Too much can be made of one race but the performance of the round was South Armagh as he blasted onto the scene with a superb front running performance. Jaytee Hellcat with a clear is one of the fastest around and Armagh nearly held him off. Even I wasn’t fast enough to run down to the bookies to put my treats on the 3/1 opening quote and he has been backed down to a prohibitive mark in terms of value. I still have to side with him due to the impression he left on clearly more observers than just me, but his consistency is a question mark for a 13/8 shot. Garryglass Rodge was very valiant in the First Round and whilst pigeon-holing him is unfair, he is still a railer so 4 is not a box he wants to be coming out of. Carkei Max could make it a race if turning handy and Longwood Fantasy has a knack of qualifying. Armagh could be long clear and gone though and he has been added to Team Lolly in my dogfolio antepost.

Heat 5 – 20:58

Kereight King kicked the tournament off in style and it was crowned off with connections suggesting he is not that forward at all. If that is the case he can lead Bonamassa Rocks and have too much power. One of the questionable times in comparison to others was Laughil George and whilst I might be being harsh to my colleague, King can justify his place as third favourite for the tournament whole by making all.

Heat 6 – 21:15

Farloe Barracuda actually stayed better than I was expecting and my fellow sprinter can build a healthy lead here. He won’t want Teejays Bluehawk anywhere near him for any of the 480m of the Plough Lane circuit and Bluehawk can tuck in behind Bubbly Lucky before showing his scintillating middle and finishing pace. He is another that got carried away after the line but when the hare is going he has been a good boy and can win this heat. Bouncy Bocko could qualify if getting a clear run as he is clearly going to be a force over further.

Heat 7 – 21:32

There were the inevitable disappointing performances in the First Round and one of those was the likeable Droopys Loner. Questions of her gender have been raised on television recently but I can confirm she is a bitch and she may have been offended by the comments. She may be more offended with further media coverage from me as I suggest she is not the bitch that got to the Semi-Finals last year. I think she has lost an edge of her spark and that is too much for a front-running bitch to be considered in the Derby and I think King Nicky can lead the outside here. He will then post a 28:70 (or 29:20 depending on who is timing this evening) and that will be too quick for the rest of the field here.

Heat 8 – 21:48

Many of the Lolly Faithful might not know it but I’m a fan of watching Reality TV on the sofa on a Saturday Night with a couple of pieces of bread and here, for us, it is Chico Time! Bob Hall’s charge has gone under the radar having been quietly impressive after huge trouble at the 2nd bend. Maybe because he was odds-on, humans have dismissed his performance but he has pace and is not a 14/1 shot here. Droopys Jet missed the break (again) and ran creditably but he could have more hassle than last week from the pacey, enigmatic Longwood Warrior. Warrior was disappointing in the First Round but he could turn up at anytime and put in a performance to trouble Jet who will want the rails. That will give Chico a chance to shine and hopefully his career will continue to rise, unlike his namesake.

So there are my thoughts on the proceedings. The 2nd and 3rd rounds are traditionally where the value can be found in the Derby and I’m fully expecting to be dining in style with some doggie treats after the racing. Please comment or tweet if you have anything to say and I’ll bark a rendition of Chico Time. Sadly, you won’t be able to see me dancing as well but I’ll save that for a celebration when a member of Team Lolly is victorious in the final.

After an extremely good evening last night for the Lolly Faithful which included all of Team Lolly progressing (how Farloe Tango did is still baffling me!), we move on to the second half of the First Round this evening. On pawper it is a weaker card but with that there is definitely some value to be capitalised on and here are my thoughts:

Heat 14

Newinn Rocket is a talented colleague of mine who is blessed with early pace and determination which are the prerequisites for a good dog at Wimbledon. He sadly has had injuries throughout his career but he should have too much pace and power to make-all ahead of Frisby Barney. Smiler Jack is likeable but has a poor draw and needs longer.

Heat 15

One of Ireland’s big guns starts his campaign here and he can cheat a paw draw in 4 and power home in front. Priceless Sky has all-round pace and can therefore account for the sprinter’s pace of Skate On and Head Case and assert from the third bend onwards. He will have tougher challenges to come!

Heat 16

Droopys Loner was terribly unlucky not to make the final last year when she finished 4th in her Semi-Final. Her blistering early is a joy to watch at Wimbledon and she captured the imagination of many who thought a bitch could make the final. Whether she is quite as effective these days is another question but she can get her campaign off to an all-the-way success. Ballyhill Sub has come from Ireland with a reputation of early too, but has shown very little liking for the Plough Lane circuit and is to be avoided until he gets the hang of it, if he ever does that is.

Heat 17

Loughteen Blanco is another tailor-made Wimbledon sort and he can steal a cheap lead here and repel off all-comers. Whether he will be able to pinch the lead later in the competition is up for debate but he has a good draw here and it will take a fast dog to catch him. That fast dog may well be Holdem Spy who is part of Team Lolly due to his raw pace and ability to keep qualifying. He will be swooping late and could dishearten Blanco backers, but the value is to side with Seamus Cahill’s star.

Heat 18

The Golden Sprint winner, Farloe Barracuda, has been lined up for this tournament since that victory (and maybe before) and his blistering early is surely going to see him progress quite far in the tournament. The fact that Droopys Loner was making an impression on him over the 400m at Romford does not bode well for his chances long term however, as Loner was found to be a short-runner at Wimbledon last year eventually. He may have Glanmire Lad to contend with on the run-up today too, and so this could pave the way for the Irish raider Cabra Buck to pinch the lead after the two speed-merchants begin to tire.

Heat 19

A weakish looking heat is tough to call here but the value for me lies with Droopys Pride who has all-round ability, albeit in lesser class. Fermoy Henry wins his fair share but again in lower class affairs to a Category One tournament and Power Of God has trialled poorly since arriving from the Emerald Isle.

Heat 20

Longwood Warrior has huge pace and if my colleague can clear his head and keep his eyes on the prize, he can go a long way in the tournament. With the withdrawal of fast-away Barefoot Allstar, Warrior now has a great run and his sheer pace should be too much for these. Droopys Ed Moses is powerful but will be destined for better things over 6 or 8 bends.

Heat 21

Coolavanny Bert is a likeable sort who just does not know when he is beaten, including with injuries! The Derby Finalist, if fit, is a big player this year but he may have to succumb to the race-fit Fire Height Spec on this occasion as Spec needs no invitation to get on the bunny.

Heat 22

The Priceless dog that has slipped under the radar is Rumble who has great pace from the third bend onwards. Whether he will get too far adrift later in the tournament is neither here nor there as he should be able to account for Money Talks (who broke poorly in a trial stakes) and the all-round pace of Longwood Bound.

Heat 23

Team Lolly reemerges again with Farloe Warhawk flying the flag for us and he can show that he is not an odds-against bark in this race. Holborn Junior is lightly-raced but certainly has pace so may threaten briefly. Judicial Ruling is also part of Team Lolly but his fitness is based on trust rather than proof.

Heat 24

This looks a tussle between the Irish raiders Cambushmore and Stonepark Crash. Preference is for the latter after a very useful 4.70 sectional in his trial meaning that he has taken to the boxes at Plough Lane well. He can make all.

Heat 25

Bittles Bar has clearly been on his European Tour but now he returns to his homeland he can remind people of his pace and ability. Taranis Rex is likeable and a nice friend of mine but his injury-plagued career means that he is one to support with watching eyes rather than my beloved doggie treats. Bubbly Rocky has a lovely draw but whether he can keep up with Bar is another issue.

Heat 26

The final heat of this mammoth First Round is an intriguing one with Shelbourne Geoff being a stalwart of last year’s Derby. He has a paw draw in 4 though and so the pace of Shaneboy Spencer with his flying Romford trials can see him home. Benkaat Blue is always capable of putting in a big performance but the odds fully justify the chances of him doing so.

So there are my thought’s on the proceedings. As ever please tweet or comment if you have anything to say and I’ll bark right back at you! With the Warrior and the Warhawk tonight, the Lolly Faithful go to battle!