Laurels, Belle Vue

Heat 1
Slightly surprised to see Taylors Sky going for the Laurels but class-act with all-round firepower these days. Should reach the final, at least. No price here, so trick will be finding the forecast. Millwards Matt has good bits and pieces of form and could fit the bill. Starmount Swift, capable at best, has chance to qualify if fit enough to do herself justice. Fridays Daryl has ability but proving costly.

Heat 2
Farloe Warhawk is a very high class performer and "The Zoo" should be taylor-made for him. Expected to make all. Newinn Rocket is speedy and in-form. Should chase Warhawk home. Longwood Fantasy was second to Eden Star in this competition last year and could qualify.

Heat 3
Weakest heat and qualifying places could be at a premium. Boher Chieftain is smart when cutting loose. Can be a shade erratic at the start but hard to beat if going up in his best style. Milestone Apache hasnt won since July but has ability. Judys Bloom gained silver behind Drumna Ice in the Scurry and has a chance, of sorts, as does Vatican Hermes.

Heat 4
Alien Planet beat Ballymac Denis in the Northern Flat over c/d but costly since (not been getting the rub of the green). Chance to bounce back. Denis won his heat of the Northern Flat and could be chasing Alien home again. Taranis Rex is talented and would go well with a fast start. Jaytee Youngy has been disappointing lately but can do better.

Looking at max bet Warhawk antepost, if the price is right. If not, should be fair odds Sky and i may have to jump ships. Cant see any obvious likely big-price dogs that could reach the final. Think i'll be just keeping an eye on antepost, when all priced up. You never know, could be some fair each-way prices about Boher Chieftain, Newinn Rocket or Alien Planet, all expected to be top section of betting though. Thinking as i'm writing, Taranis Rex could be an interesting big-price each-way.

Good luck!

y only  24 dogs couldnt they get 36 dogs 4 a 6 grand comp

Is the Laurels only worth £6,000? Jesus that is shocking

Only a Category Two nowadays. Vue struggle to fill Opens nowadays also and already local runners in to bolster the event, even with only 4 heats. Scurry here only Cat Two also and once prestigious **** o'the North has become a lowly competition. GRA just dont seem to care. With their promoting skills, they should be pushing forwards, not backwards!

And the Gold Collar has completely disappeared for the last couple of years!

Looks like 365 first to price up:

5/2 Warhawk
7/2 Sky
5/1 Alien
12/1 Fantasy
14/1 Swift
16/1 bar, bringing in Newinn

Bigger interesting prices:
20/1 Chieftain
20/1 Matt
25/1 Rex
50/1 Youngy

Waiting for more bookies to price-up

Got 5/2 and 20/1 respectively antepost about Farloe Warhawk and Boher Chieftain.

Going to the Gorton track tonight and as an interest, got the Taylors Sky/Millwards Matt forecast with 365, paying over 10/1. 14/1 Matt ew looks big to me too.

15/8 Chieftain will look good and if leads and string 'em out, capable of it.

Missed the 11/2 Taranis Rex but had a little pop at 5/1, tough heat though

Good luck!

Longwood Fantasy looks a fair price @ 16/1, ran 2nd in the comp last year finishing only 1 1/4L behind Eden Star. That form put him bang there in this. I'll throw a few quid on him E/W

Sky traped ok but no ep what so ever goes into the bend 4 comes out second mos the six down from the last won easy mile clear at the pick up
was helped  with 5 checking off at the first

WARHAWK just got up, 6 showed good ep WARHAWK took advantage of draw longwood took off down the back but than didn't do anythink!

looking at the times and results,it looks an even track
whats the going allow's anybody? any bias?

times look walking speed.

Taylors Sky too strong for his rivals on very slow rain-soaked track, rated -60. Farloe Warhawk not well away and slightly checked fourth bend when 2nd.  About 2 lengths down then, so a surprise he came from behind, outside the non-staying leader, to win on the nod. Ping and kick his game though and normal service should be resumed on better going. Boher Chieftain soon led and held on in slowest heat. Fastest heat won by Ballymac Denis who kept going well to turn Northern Flat form around with Alien Planet

Why is the draw being made at GBGB headquarters today?? I don't get it, why is the draw not made either after the last 1/4 final out in front of the crowd or after racing in the weigh room?? It's hardly as if it's that time consuming taking 12 names out of a hat

Farloe Warhawk
Taranis Rex
Witton Tom
Longwood Fantasy (m)
Milestone Apache (m)
His Own Business (w)

Vatican Hermes
Taylors Sky
Ballymac Denis
Alien Planet
Boher Chieftan (w)
Fridays Daryl (w)

Longwood Fantasy still 16s, think i'll have a bit more on e/w then. I thought he ran an absolute blinder last night after first bend trouble and the ground he made up massive ground on Warhawk from the 2nd to the 4th. He has drawn the easier looking semi final heat and i'd be disappointed if he where not to qualify for the final.

Coral

13/8 Warhawk
2/1 Sky
7/1 Alien
7/1 Denis
14/1 Chieftain
16/1 bar

PF

It was raining, as it always is in Manchester, and they didn't want to get their balls wet.

My view of the heats was as follows:

1) Taylors Sky was in a poor heat but looked pretty rusty all the same. He didn't drive the first bend and all and visibly eased going into the third. He will come on massively for this.

2) Farloe Warhawk simply didn't run the track and only his class saw him through. He was forced to check at the first bend and wasn't forced to, but still did so, at the last bend. No one on the track thought he had got up and they didn't show a print but although he'll need to brush up on his steering to win the competition, he has a great draw in the semi, even though the dog that "beat" him last night is also in there.

3) To my eye Boher Chieftain was the most impressive winner of the night (I know the time doesn't say so) but the run of the night came from Pat Rosney's Vatican Hermes who made up a mountain of ground to all but snatch the heat, and was 10 clear at the pick-up. He's been unlucky in the draw however.

4)Alien Planet has never again shown that Derby final night zest and last night was another example. He was comfortably held by Ballyamc Denis, despite looking dangerous down the back and I think he's got it all to do to make the final. If Denis is as quick out of the boxes next time he could easily be in there.

Latest Betting

13/8 Farloe Warhawk
2/1  Taylors Sky
7/1  Alien Planet
     Ballymac Denis
14/1 Boher Chieftain
16/1 Longwood Fantasy
     Taranis Rex
25/1 Fridays Daryl
     Milestone Apache
     Vatican Hermes
33/1 His Own Business
66/1 Witton Tom

20s with billies perhaps i'm on my own here but i think that is a ridicolous price

I'm deffo on my own it seems 25s with lads

PF, Fantasy is 2 wins from last 13 races and although useful on his day, has been mainly frustrating. Great run in last year's final to hold Tudor Prince for silver, but think slightly flattered to finish so close to Eden Star. Fantasy may also lack a yard of early pace these days and theyve tried him over further but personally, think he doesnt last too much over 480m, so difficult to place. However, wouldnt be surprised if he reached the final with 3 to qualify from that semis. You could have every chance of your place money but i cant see him winning, imo

ive always thought he was a loono with mental chaseing pace that if he gets there dont really wanna go on anyway

Wales, Sky very strong over 470m these days though and a calculated 27.59 worthy of good praise for first race round here. Danger to all if handy off the last bend in semis, or final if he qualifies. Think he could find the gaps and weave through in his semi against some nippy rivals.

Warhawk's problem was he didnt break and had to battle all the way. Very pleased he was game and showed grit as, usually, he's all about smash and grab. Not as fast as expected back straight but i put it down to the missed kick and having to force his way round at the bend. Sure he will fly in better conditions round here. Although red again in semi not ideal, Draper said dont matter where he's drawn granted one of his customary fliers. Still happy at 5/2 antepost anyway.

Think Chieftain would have kicked well clear and won well on faster going. Must lead though and couldnt be confident of my 20/1 antepost now. Bit of luck though and who knows?

Disagree Alien not shown zest since Derby night. Did excel there but fine Northern Flat win. Just think he's running a bit flat now. Denis could have, arguably, run his best ever race last night. Kept on well for a speedy sort in that "mud" but not guaranteed to repeat, imo

Incidentally, Tyrur Domingo ran in an A3 after the final heat. Well behind and looked very ordinary to me

Incidentally, Tyrur Domingo ran in an A3 after the final heat. Well behind and looked very ordinary to me

He's over 4 years old, has had problems and dogs don't improve when they leave PJs

Wouldnt expect him to improve, gone well backwards since Irish Derby nights like you say coz of age and setbacks. Still A3 at Vue, thought he could still have done better in one of those?!

In A3 on evidence of form and never picked a foot up, injured? If so, shouldnt be racing

don't know where the rest of my post went? but it was saying 'they only go 1 way when they leave'

i hope whoever bought him did not pay much for him

pf

different subject
what do u make of 28.90   galway

correction   29.03   galway

Bit of a surprise Eden Star wasnt entered for Laurels, but he has produced a good trial at the Manchester track. Could be set to make his eagerly-awaited comeback, in front on the Sky cameras, in a week's time, final night, next Tuesday November 13th

.....SEMI FINAL 1...Farloe Warhawk NAP..he wins this easy..cannot lose..will lead all the way.....

..1st..Farloe Warhawk..2nd..Taranis Rex..3rd..His Own Business..


.....SEMI FINAL 2...Boher Chieftan NB..again he will win easy..will lead all the way.....

..1st..Boher Chieftan..2nd..Taylors Sky..3rd..Alien Planet..

Track seemed to speed up during yesterday's BAGS meeting, ending up an estimated -30. Sunny with a drying breeze here at the moment, about 7 miles from Belle Vue and no rain forecast. Expecting normal conditions.

Farloe Warhawk didnt ping like he can in the first round but can put the record straight in his semi.

2nd semi not so easy to predict with Taylors Sky likely to find himself behind a wall of dogs. From an antepost aspect could persoanlly do with him out, giving Warhawk an easier task in the final but Sky is strong nowadays and if he doesnt weave to the front, should be hard to keep out of the first 3 anyway. Got Boher Chieftain antepost here.

Will only be at the track for these two races then home for the rest of Hove and Henlow on RPGTV.

Good luck!

WARHAWK was game think 4 run and traped well but run that first bend as if he esed!
SKY tapped for early no chance but where was he at the pick up going clear
times I've stated SKY would love a trip ! same as PADDY either they get retired or they step up in trip!!!!

Farloe Warhawk was beaten to the punch by Longwood Fantasy in the first semi but showed superior early gears, led quarter and built a couple of lengths lead he was never going to relinquish.

Alien Planet was a game winner of the 2nd semi, but slower than Warhawk. As expected Taylors Sky found himself behind a wall of dogs and unable to get through when making a forward move, ran into the back of them, dropped away and lost all chance.

Very pleased to have 5/2 Warhawk and 20/1 Chieftain in next Tuesday's final on Sky. Good chance of a fine payday.

With Sky and Paddy Fatty, think they would both feel the strain at towards the end of a stiff 6 bends and Lister dont like Romford

Thought fantasy had him to the bend than just eased up! IMO

Maybe Fatty but i'd be on Warhawk every time.

1 Taranis Rex
2 Farloe Warhawk
3 Alien Planet
4 Longwood Fantasy (m)
5 Boher Chieftain (w)
6 Fridays Daryl (w)

Cheers!

Betting so far:

1/2 Warhawk
6/1 Alien
6/1 Fantasy
12/1 Chieftain
20/1 bar