I really don’t think 5-2 ante post on Swift Hoffman to win the William Hill All England Cup represents any kind of value.
Newcastle have done really well to attract two top class fields – maybe a reflection on the quality of the racing surface – and there is much better value among some other very good dogs.
There are seven wides in the event and ‘sods law’ says Hoffman was the one who drew trap five.
He went well in his first trial (28.24) and was back 20 spots in his second, though that was all about the break. Line to line there was only one spot in it.
It is a high class field and will take a lot of winning. But I am very happy with him. If he repeats his best trial and is beaten, best of luck to the winner because I rate Newcastle times as virtually identical to Wimbledon and not many dogs go quicker than that.
Overall I think heat three is probably the toughest of the lot and we have Aero Inferno drawn on the outside of Droopy Vodka. To win, Inferno probably needs to lead and that is easier said than done so I would be happy with qualification.
Swift Carter goes in the first heat from trap four which won’t really concern him. He doesn’t need to lead and was put in the event as a bit of an after-thought. I would be happy to see him qualify.
Vatican Gurkha is drawn in red in heat six though the draw is irrelevant because he will probably come from the back. I would be very disappointed if he didn’t get through.
I quite fancy Ascot Woodie to run a big race at a decent price in heat five where the draw is perfect for him.
Camp Joker has to be our first string in the William Hill Northern Puppy Derby.
He is a category one runner and trialled very well. The danger appears to be Ballymac Sheehy on his inside. Sheehy’s trials weren’t brilliant but I know that Barrie Draper thinks a lot of the dog and I wouldn’t be surprised by some improvement.
Peerless Trio trialled very well but has one of the best dogs in the competition drawn on her inside in Droopys Buick. I’d settle for qualification.
Joker’s brother New York City Boy is our other runner and the least experienced. His trials were disappointing, albeit we have found a couple of slight niggles which may have affected him. Nothing serious.
He only has two races on his card and his inexperience might cost him. He strikes me as a real ‘smash and grab type’ and would need to lead. But he has great early and we don’t really know what to expect from him.
