7.26 HEAT ONE

T4 DIRECTORS CHAIR gets a confident vote from me despite a potentially tricky draw. I say potentially only if he misses it tbh as the dog has so much class and is running so well that I fancy him to lead from the coffin even with the presence of pace inside and a likely left moving five dog outside. For a lesser animal this would have been enough to put me off but lets look at Directors profile. A class open racer, 50%SR over CD including six sub 36 sec runs. His form figures actually read 4 wins, 3 seconds and a luckless 4th showing terrific conistency and a liking for this venue. Sectionals of the 13.68 calibre that nothing in this field can match. A PB of 35.41 plus a 35.42 on his card which is seriously fast and gives him at least four lengths in hand on this field. He's run and won from four here and in fact his form from the four box anywhere reads particularly well as does his form full stop which is right out of the top drawer. I'm all over this guys, I don't make him as tight as the posts 5/4 maybe more through hope but this looks a decent bet to kick the week off with, follow me in. Of the dangers it's T1 Sherries Boy I fear most. There's a lot of collateral form between Sherries and the selection with Sherries held in all cases but not by much. For tonight tho it's Romford form i'm concerned with as the pair have plenty of it to draw on. Sherries may only be 2 from 12 over CD but still has four sub 36sec runs on his card. He's running well but his lack of early looks like being his achilles here again tonight. I can recall just once that he flashed from the cans and that was probably due to the assistance of the pinging box on that night back in Feb. Tonight there's at least four runners i'd have leading him and he'll need a dream run round to hold any chance, if he did get one he's a player but Directors leading up should see him held. T6 Raithby Syrah has impressed in his two starts and two wins here but has seven lengths to find with Directors on bests. What backers of six will be hoping for is the five dog Capel Tom Dooley causing trouble inside and Raithby to get a run run the outer even tho he'll still steer a middle course once straightening up. This is a big step up in class for the Hove raider imo and Directors can show him exactly what this league is all about. Last time out winners Pure Paris and Bubbly Midas both need to be in front rank to figure in a race of this nature...I think they'll struggle to do that this evening.

SEL - T4 DIRECTORS CHAIR 3PTS WIN

Neds Tissue: 7/2, 6, 6, 6/4, 14, 4

7.58 HEAT TWO

This would rate as the strongest heat as we have two top notchers locking horns again for the third time in two weeks! Droopys Nelson and Barnfield Slippy are the two in question and after Slippy got the better of Nelson in the heats two weeks back with Nelson reversing the form in the final of another two race comp it will be very interesting to see how this one unfolds. A lot was made of the going when Slippy beat Nelson and although it was clearly favouring the wides that night you can’t take away the fact that Slippy slammed his rival in impressive style that evening and believe me not many do that when Nelson gets a run. In the final it was a different story. The track was running a lot fairer, Nelson trapped out well paced up the inner of Show Your Metal while Slippy was held up initially without being hampered by Eye On the Force. Barnfield Slippy got a run round the outer and came out of bend two handy in third about two lengths down on a now leading Droopys Nelson…a gap that would widen due to how well Nelson railed round the bends. At any one stage Nelson held a four length advantage which Slippy only ate into on the run in. On the evidence of this run you’d have to back Nelson and I know a few of us did that night at rather lucrative odds too! We won’t be lucky enough to get three’s again I’m afraid but I do fancy Nelson again as long as the track is running fair…something we’ll have to gauge from the early races. He has the early pace to lead those inside him and the trapping boots have been working a lot better here lately albeit not quite repeating the flying break levels of the 13.60 calibre I know he’s capable of. Once in front he’s a tough dog to pass but I must add as I did the last time with him that he is a dog that has to lead if ever I saw one. A tremendous front running sort who’s speed round this venue really does excite me and I fancy him to be lining up for Friday’s final on the back of another win here. Danger is obviously Barnfield Slippy especially as the sole wide in six. There’s no Eye Onthe Force to hold him up early on tonight so he should get a run at Nelson but will have to turn closer so he can put it to the selection and try to worry him out of the lead at some point. When he beat Nelson in the heats a couple of weeks back he turned very handy and was upside him going past the grandstand where he literally ate Nelson for pace which like I said rarely happens. Getting close to his rival tonight will depend on his break. There’s no questioning Slippys pace. He’s 5 from 11 over CD, boasts seven sub 36 sec runs and loves trap six. In All career starts Barnfield Slippy has only ever finished out of the first three once in the stripe jacket! I just think if Nelson gets away well Slippy will not be able to live with him round this tight track. Of the rest Bubbly Rambo has bundles to find and should be the likely rag but the 20/1 RP tissue about Blonde Buzz is well out imo. Ok BB has been well beaten lately and perhaps not at the top of his game but this dog runs well here. Three wins from six starts, four sub 36 sec clocks and not to forget a fast 24.22 over the standard here too so how he’s a 20’s shot I don’t know! T4 Lethal Luxury is the finisher of the race but will need some crowding ahead to get near the best of these while Brickfield Dream is a dog that does all his best running and breaking from the middle cans which means the draw in five tonight is a big negative.

SEL – T3 DROOPYS NELSON 1PT WIN

Neds Tissue: 10, 6, 6/4, 10, 8, 2

8.28 HEAT THREE

This final heat is at the mercy of T5 EYE ON THE FORCE who will go off at prohibitive odds I’m afraid. This dog has been something of a winning machine since being stepped up to this trip and one of our friends on another forum has labelled the dog ‘a license to print money’ which in all bar one of his ten over CD he has been. He got no run here in the final won by Droopys Nelson two weeks back but can soon get back to winning ways tonight in a race I think he can win both ways if needed. There is pace inside from T2 Show Your Metal and T3 Droopys Dympna but EOTF can turn handy to wrestle the lead of these down the back before powering on past the paddock turn. Or EOTF can do it all from the front as the dog has plenty of early himself and if he did lead I wouldn’t expect that to change hands. His rivals have not reached his level yet imo. T2 Show Your Metal has been showing pace for three to four bends before submitting to classier rivals while T3 Droopys Dympna only won a maiden here lets not forget so this is a step up in class although she was impressive that night. The pair may come together as I’m not sure how Show Your Metal will operate from trap two for the first time. Of the rest Blonde Zak could get a nice run if Show Your Metal does move off and looks a combination banker while T4 Talking To You looks well outclassed and the six dog hasn’t been round.

SEL – T5 EYE ONTHE FORCE 4PTS WIN NAP

Neds Tissue: 5, 13/2, 11/4, 12, 10/11, 8