First an update on the Irish Puppy Derby…

… in the event Oran Majestic won it and my two selections Winetavern Henry (14/1) was 2nd with Rusheen Hondo 3rd. I hadn’t done much work on that race – so it was not too bad. My outlay on the final and the semi was 5 points; my return was 3 points; a two points deficit.

Now to the Irish Laurels. I’ve lost one dog out of my 4 selections: Final Showdown 4th.

The semi– finals trap numbers have been issued and it looks like there is a strong semi (A) with three 1/4 final winners, one 2nd place dog and two 3rd place dogs.

The weak semi (B) has one 1st place dog, three 2nd place and two 3rd place.

So, this is my strategy in betting dogs to reach the final (and hopefully to increase my ‘perceived’ profit), based on what I see in the two semi-s.

I’m adding Gnasher 25/1 ( my tissue price 4/1), 1point ew 1/5th 1.2.3.

And increasing my stake on Disco Stu (already on at 25/1ew) by a 1 point win at 16/1( that’s Ladbrokes price at present, I rate him a 4/1 shot at this point; in this game of ‘greyhound poker’ !).

Tyrur Brett is worth a 1 point win stake at 10/1(my price, at this stage, to win the final 6/1).

By far my weakest bet, based on running so far: Bog Dale Boy (already bet at 100/1 ew) 3rd in the 1/4 finals.

Amazingly, still 100/1. Well you never know with dog racing so I’m staking another 1 point ew on it at 1/5 odds 1.2.3 (it would pay 24 points return if it reaches 3rd in the final and 24 points if it reaches 4th place with the first bet I placed on it).

If it wins the final I would like the name changed to BLOG Dale Boy!

I was right when I said in a previous blog : that the dog that had been added, Oran Premier, was fast (59/45) because it is now in the semi-finals at 5/1 having run 2nd in the 1/4 final. The bookies must have known about it when they entered it high on their list at 6/1, when the competition started. It is 58 and 59 dogs that win big finals.

There are no prices for the semi-finals which are run at Cork on 14th October, so we will take a look at them when the prices come out.

(By the way, thanks for your letter, Richard; much appreciated.)

Come racing!!