ALEX DONOHUE

Weblog: A Ladbrokes look at the sport

Monmore on Friday is a fantastic Bags showcase

To say there has been plenty on this summer would be a bit of an understatement. I dug out the last blog entry to pick up where we left off and was instantaneously transported back to a time when England had a chance of winning the European football championships and no one knew what a ‘mo-bot’ was.

 As we know, our footballers did what they do best and left the stage via penalties whilst the GB athletes lifted the spirits of even the most hardened Olympic cynic to deliver what I’m sure will end up being one of the most memorable sporting occasions of my lifetime.

An olympian spirit hasn’t been lacking on the track either this summer and I’ve been enjoying an almost weekly fix of Sky action on Tuesday nights. It’s been great to watch the team week in week out up and down the country and has given me a real handle on the open scene which appears to be brimming with quality at the moment. A dog I’ve particularly enjoyed watching is Loughteen Blanco; Darrell Williams talking to Alfe Ashe and co has normally meant an improved bank balance for me and my flatmates (now self-confessed Sky dogs addicts) so long may that continue.  

There are plenty of open class gold medals up for grabs live in the shops on Friday and it’s safe to say the atmosphere in the offices up and down the land may reach Olympic stadium levels if Taylors Sky does the business on Bags.

Despite not getting the red jacket again we’re confident in the Derby hero and suggest the only small question mark involves clearing Farloe Iceman. We’re deliberately positioning in anticipation of a big Friday afternoon betting shop gamble and despite the drift on Monday (triggered by big cash for Alien Planet in hope of improvement – a dog firmly in the notebook for the future) we expect the money to come for the class act in the field. The forecast with Silverview Perky looks the obvious choice again whilst the bitch struggles to dominate to the same degree in all-sex competition.

In Friday’s other top class races we’re sweet on Lil Risky and admire the way the dog has been campaigned with the sharp four bends almost certain to suit. At the other end of the spectrum distance-wise there was decent cash for Mark My Words as soon as prices were put up with plenty also keen to take the shorter rates in the week. It’s safe to say Friday will be one of those afternoons when I’m grateful for having SIS on my desktop screen at work. Providing I can catch all the action at York it looks like an exciting card although if my boss wasn’t there and was sat next to me then maybe he’d appreciate it less!

As has often been the case this year one competition is about to get underway as another nears to a close with Wednesday night seeing Ladbrokes East Anglian Derby trials take place at Yarmouth.  It was useful to watch the trials given my lack of familiarity with Yarmouth and its dogs and after my tentative selection ‘Isheforreal’ faded I took heart from Belvedere Emma’s scoot round from the front in 27.50sec. Safe to say that the winning even money favourite is firmly in the notebook for the event proper.

I’m really looking forward to heading to the seaside later on next month and, as things stand, will take in as many do the action on the turf in the afternoon before completing the double header. The phrase ‘it’s a marathon not a sprint’ comes into mind!

But before all that there’s Thursday’s RPGTV card  with the heavy burden of my nap being entrusted to  Roeview Beauty in the 10.18 at Monmore. Owned by the Ladbrokes Live syndicate, headed by colleague and greyhound racing ambassador Ed Beesley, their strong running bitch has the ideal draw to benefit from post-season improvement. If you dare get involved, be sure to take first show as my sources tell me this one is likely to be the subject of a decent gamble in the lucky last. Optimists of course!

Enjoy the action if you can, especially on Friday.

You can always reach me on twitter @LadsAlex if you want to raise anything, dogs or otherwise.

Best of luck!

Alex