Wildcat has "track leg".   2 runs in 3 runs is tough on any dog.  The week long break will have done him the world of good but his habit of missing the kick is by biggest concern.  I dont think he can give the 2 dog a lenght start from boxes and get around the big unit in 2. Hope im wrong though.  All about getting through.

well looking forward the semis tonight, i know i'm not a normal poster on here but nice to share a few views on the derby as have been following every round and been up most nights as am a local...my first derby was shanless slippy so not as old as some of the cougars on here

for me so far in the event it is clear to all that the draw has been very important as the early pace dogs have been similar in there pace up. rising brandy when he beat dorotas in round 1 (in my opinion the race of the tournament) and the young pup was nothing if not game as the good dog leaned on him the whole way round but because of both dogs pace up rising brandy held the edge and held his line and was game on the running, i know the time that night wasn't quick but a proper race

the semis are littered with strong all round greyhounds... bruisers bullett who for me has got slower as the event has progressed and shapes like a stayer to me now is still an underrated dog in the market...however wallis is a shrewd trainer and will know he can't win it in the rounds and he may just be hoping to get him to the final before really winding him up and his performance when beating rising brandy to the bend in round 2 in a quality 28.85 still makes you want to show him the utmost respect

bombers bullett similar to his kennel mate but not as fast continues to progress but lacks early pace, he did well to qualify in the quarters after accounting traffic, he is strong all round dog who wants it, if trapping as quickly as he did in round 1 he is no mug and should make the final, however although it looks like a good draw for him tonight i'm not convinced he wants the red box, we will see

borna gin and innocent times wouldn't be as good as the 2 above but continue to progress as the event progresses and i have to say i love the attitude of borna gin who just keeps finding, the times say he will get found out and tonight won't be easy for him but i have a feeling he may just find enough to make the final. innocent times for me is the most progressive hound in the tourney and is a very tempting 16/1 in the outright, he never looked that good leading into the event but his times have improved and he is showing very good early that is getting him through the rounds, he may get found out tonight but i actually think he may lead up here, he will have to clear whoops jack but i think he can

anyway the semis tonight are a right treat and as much as the draw looks fine for all the leading dogs in the event i really can see casualties tonight

the first semi with rising brandy who was stiff after the race, then sound walking back to the van says the trainer, meets the other young pretender droopys verve here...both have shown brilliant early pace in most rounds and the draw looks good for both on paper but for me favours brandy who should lead bommbers in 1 here with that dog getting a nice run round...

there are a few scenarios in my head, verve might lead brandy to the bend and if he does what he did to bruisers in the last round he may cut brandy off, however brandy has shown nearly as much pace up...if they both show what the have done so far i'm not sure how this will go but i think verve may lead brandy...anyway my problem in this race is borna gin in 3 who has shown a tendency to go right from the traps and if trapping well he may just hit the puppy outside him and if this were to occur and saleen ash shows the early he did in the last round droppys could be in trouble here...if this scenario pans out brandy will lead and bombers will just follow him round and may even pick him up, although i'm not convinced bombers wants trap 1 however he should get a trouble free run all the same

the second semi on paper looks a gimme for bruisers to qualify if getting a trouble free run, it isn't guaranteed and i really feel trouble will occur here...on paper here you have early pace from 1,2,3,5 and 6 and trapping is going to be key...trap 2 (a rag) who is running out of his skin for paul young will surely be wound up to the max to try and make the final and if he can show what he did in the last round he could cause trouble inside here and also on the back straight if hanging around...pace up from innocent times and whoops jack surely leads to trouble and if dorotas who has won twice from 3 in his 2 previous attempts traps like he did in the quarters i fear for him, he looked a tired dog to me on tuesday and was all out on the run in on tuesday, he seemed to change his legs a tad towards the third bend there but still got the job done but from trap 3 it isn't so easy for the dog...he is an exceptional dog but this is really tricky for him here imo and i fear for the dog...

anyway from what i have seen this would be the perfect final just for the treat we would receive

dorotas
bruisers
brandy
verve
borna gin
innocent

anyway all the best lads, a treat in store tonight...

Nice write up Harry.

They've swopped races about since the first publication I saw

What's the thinking behind making Plate heats races 2, 4 and 10 when the Champion Hurdle heats are together?!