The BAGS Intertrack - Poole Leg

15:44 - The BAGS Track Championship Bitches

My Pick: Droopys Yvonne (7/2 B365)

It’s safe to say that Poole are going to do pretty well in their home leg, and they can start with a bang here in the form of Droopys Yvonne. Alma Keppie’s black recently came home to score by over 4 lengths in an A1, posting a reasonable 27.09. She looks to have the plot draw in trap 6, with a middle runner in 5 who should be moving in rather than out. Yvonne looks to get a solo on the outside here.

For the places, I’ve sided with out hopeful, Tarty Toes. JP’s bitch looks to have a cracking draw in red here, and should pace up well after the initial look round. Dogs that trial round Poole always seem to come on for the look.  I reckon she could find 20 spots or so.

The key to the race is that I envisage some scrimmaging through the middle, unfortunately with Active Lark bearing the brunt of it. The 5 looks as though it really wants about trap 3, whereas the two dog looks to want to move in, so there could be a fair amount of trouble on the run up. Once again the old adage of trials comes in, with Absinthe lacking a look round, which could be a bit of a nightmare.

16:04 – The BAGS Track Championship Puppies

My Pick – Old Codger (NAP) (11/10, Bet365)

Stand out really this one. Old Codger, trained by Richard Baker, did the business at Oxford, and looks to be the star playing in this pretty weak puppy heat. Drawn trap one, he can quite easily clear the 2 dog for sheer early pace.

To buy yourself some money, I do think the 1-2 forecast here is nailed on.

Our runners, realistically, don’t really have a squeak here. To come away with anything more than 3 points will be a big bonus. Out of the two, you can argue that Wood Bionic, trained by Darryl Porter, posted a pretty decent trial time, and could get in front of the VSAw 3 dog, but aside from that, we don’t really have much hope here!

16:22 – The BAGS Track Championship Sprint

My Pick – Primo Impact (9/4, Bet365)

I’m siding with the recent form over a trial here in the form of Primo Impact, though realistically I think this could be a 17 pointer for us. Impact, trained by Chris Stringer, has run really well in this intertrack, and again has the benefit of a trial. He seems to come on for the race, looking at his Oxford trials vs. Race form, so I’m expecting more of the same here.

Hastetothewind, trained by Ken Mitchell, has a really impressive trial time at the track, however doesn’t have that early ping that, as a sprinter, can win you races from the boxes. He leaves his running late on, which could be an issue around such a tight track.

As for the rest, I think the best chance will be Catunda Lucca for Jo Burridge, as it has the experience of the track, and a decent time last time in a trial.

16:42 – The BAGS Track Championship Stayers

My Pick – Brickhill Dunk (NB) (8/1, Bet365)

I saw the early prices for this race, and I was absolutely amazed. So much so, I’ve ploughed into the 8/1 about Brickhill Dunk. He doesn’t exactly pop off the page as a winner here, however his open race run round the track saw him post a decent enough time, plus he has the added experience of once being graded there. He’s been running really well in A2 company, running on like a steam train in the process, and to me he’s a different dog compared to what ran in the open back last year. He starred for the Poole team at Crayford last year in the same competition, and could prove a hit this year for Swindon.

The race is a pretty good quality one, and I’m looking at Francos Causeway  to make a good run. Andrew Ross’ dog has been running well in A1 company, and has a win over the extended trip back in the summer. He has that kick of early pace that you need round Poole, and he could be a big player.

Ardmayle Move, for Chris Stringer, has once again been dealt a hard draw here. She posted a brilliant first look at the track last week aswell. My concern here is that the trip is too short for her, and again as a bitch that comes off the back, it’s going to be hard to get to the front around a tight track like Poole.

This is a cracking race, and realistically any one of the 6 can win it.

16:58 – The BAGS Track Championship Standard

My Pick – Missys Touch (11/4, Bet365)

This is an interesting little race this, arguably it’s a toss up between about 3 dogs. I’ve sided however with the home advantage that Missys Touch gets. She looks to be a rather consistent sort recently, winning her last A1 in some style, and she looks ideally drawn. I think that the Yahoo bitch on her inside will veer more to the rails, which might allow her a slightly easier passage. The issue may be coming from their own dog infact, with What A Disciple looking to move more middle.

On the basis of the draw, you have to say that Ardmayle Candy is the best drawn dog of the lot. Chris Stringer’s charge is capable of a ping-gone style race, but needs to get out of those boxes. She’s had the benefit of a trial also.

Stanton Apollo, for Kevin Hutton, posted a superb first look of 26.80 at the track, but to me the trap draw has knocked him slightly. I expect the one dog to move in on him and, although not the fastest of dogs, it could cause Apollo some bother.

17:18 – The BAGS Track Championship Dogs

My Pick – Hoots Mon (7/2, Bet365)

Hoots Mon, soley on the draw, will romp up in this race. Kevin Hutton’s charge is back to what I believe is his ideal trip of 450m, and has the benefit of a trial. By all accounts, Hoots completely fluffed the start, however still managed to post a 27.16. Anyone who knows Hoots Mon knows he’s not one to muck up the start twice. The boxes at Poole are near enough identical to Swindon, so if he can do the same at Poole as he does at home, this race should be easy for him.

In what is a race with not alot of early pace, I’m liable to side with Grogeen Lodge for the places. Richard Baker’s charge has a serious kick of early pace, and has the benefit of a trial.