I've found a beautiful 15-2 tip at York that can build the bank for Royal Ascot
I'm hoping to warm up for the big meeting with a decent eachway run from Blue For You in the 7f handicap at York.
1
My selection is handicapped to go well for David O'Meara and Danny Tudhope.
To be honest I don't often get this yard right, but I think Blue For You is worth taking a risk on as an animal who loves the track.
Blue For You usually goes over a mile, and was a winner at York in July of last year off 95.
Having not scored since, he's on 95 again now, and he had a perfectly decent run over 7f at Haydock in April.
He's hard to predict but a few quid each-way is, in my opinion, well worth it.
Elsewhere at York I wonder if some headgear will spark up Chillingham? Time will tell… but I'll give him a go each-way too.
Meanwhile, the Greyhound Derby final is here and it's the defending champion against a fellow Irish champion in a right old smashup.
That's what we get in the climax of the coveted £175,000 Starsports Greyhound Derby at Towcester on Saturday night, which promises to be an absolute belter.
De Lahdedah, handled by Liam Dowling, bids to become just the fifth greyhound in history to achieve back-to-back successes.
And remember those that have done so are names from yesteryear that will always live long in the memory of dog loving fans.
Think Mick the Miller (1929-30), Patricias Hope (1972-3), Rapid Ranger (2000-1) and my personal favourite Westmead Hawk (2005-6).
But to score, De Lahdedah will have to destroy Graham Holland's Bockos Diamond, who aims to make history and do something only Toms the Best has ever achieved, and that's to land the Irish and English Derby.
This is a proper race, and after ITV duties at York I'm dashing straight to Towcester to enjoy the moment.
I hope you will be there to. Those in charge have put on loads of entertainment and music throughout the day.
It will be a party atmosphere. So come on down and say hello.
If you can't get to watch the race live on track, then remember all the action can be seen on the Gone to the Dogs live channel.
You'll find it with a simple 'Google' search.
And if you are a dog lover, don't forget there is a Just Giving page to support the rehoming of greyhounds.
Any support is always welcome and it's something the game takes very seriously.
So who will win? And is this a two dog race?
Well the answer to the latter question is clearly no. We have all been around too long to dismiss the unexpected.
As is always the case in greyhound racing, though, the draw is crucial and Bockos Diamond is plotted up in the black and white stripes of Trap 6, with kennel companion Cheap Sandwiches next to him in the orange of Trap 5.
That also happened in the semi-finals, when Bockos Diamond destroyed Cheap Sandwiches for early pace.
The former doesn't always get out as quickly as he did that day, in an impressive 3.95s. But Trap 6 seems to be the spot where he traps best.
Cheap Sandwiches also chased home Bockos Diamond in his Irish Derby victory, where the latter dashed better early pace despite not getting an electric start.
Some have a theory that the inside of the track is the place to be at Towcester, and that means De Lahdedah will have plenty of supporters.
He's in the white jacket of Trap 3, and that box holds no terrors for him, although he landed his semi-final from the blue of Trap 2.
De Lahdedah will need luck in the early stages, as he's a strong stayer who lacks early dash.
He does, however, have tremendous track craft and he'll keep plugging away.
If Bockos Diamond gets away I can't see him being picked up, but we are talking narrow margins here.
It just promises to be a wonderful event, and greyhounds are beautiful animals to watch in fluent motion.
Their long, powerful legs, deep chest, flexible spine and slim build allow them to reach speeds of 40mph.
Bockos Diamond will need to use all those attributes at 9.15pm tonight. Shine bright Bockos, like a diamond.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ruben Amorim says Manchester United will not let players go cheaply
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim insists the club will not sell unwanted players on the cheap and he is prepared to welcome them back into the fold if necessary. Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia were left out of the tour of the United States – Marcus Rashford subsequently went on loan to Barcelona – and the so-called 'bomb squad' have been training at the club's Carrington complex. United's transfer dealings have been widely criticised in recent seasons and Amorim said chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox would not be taken advantage of just to get rid of those surplus to requirements. 'Some players have to find a new place to have more space in the team and others clearly show they want a new challenge and want new teams,' Amorim told a press conference ahead of the the Premier League Summer Series game against West Ham on Saturday. 'We are just allowing these players to have time to think and to decide. If we reach a point where they have to join the team, they will join the team because they are our players. 'I know for a fact that these people, Omar and Jason, and the club have a number (price) for these players. If they don't reach that, they will be Manchester United players, no doubt about that. 'I understand clubs are maybe waiting for the last minute, but they can have a surprise and I'm ready. I'm ready to receive the players. 'They have more competition – if you want to play in the World Cup you need to play, so I'm really happy with that because I have more options. If they have to fight each other to play, for me it is perfect.' United have spent about £130million on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon but are still in the market for a defensive midfielder and a striker. However, previous mis-steps on transfers mean United are being more circumspect this summer. 'At the moment, our club needs to be really careful when we sign a player,' added Amorim. 'So if we have to start the season with this squad, I'm happy because all the players that are here want to be here – and that for me is the most important thing.'
Daily Mirror
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
England fans risk £2,500 fine if they flout St George's Cross flag rules
As the England's women's football team gear up for the Euro 2025 final, supporters are being warned that proudly flying the St George's Cross could land them a hefty fine England supporters are being urged to check the rules before proudly flying the St George's Cross outside their homes, or risk a whopping £2,500 fine. With the Lionesses storming into the Women's Euro 2025 final this Sunday against Spain, excitement is reaching fever pitch. But while the nation gets ready to cheer on the team, there's a little-known planning law that could turn celebrations into a costly nightmare. If you're planning to fly an England flag during the big match, the government has mostly relaxed the rules, but there's a major catch. While you're allowed to fly flags from your rooftop, including England, Scotland, Wales, the NHS, LGBT Pride, and even Commonwealth country flags, the trouble starts when the flag is flown from a pole sticking out from the side of your house. In that case, size really does matter. Flags projecting from anywhere other than the roof must not exceed 2 square metres in size. If you go bigger than that, you're breaking the law. If you live in a protected area like an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), then you might need special consent just to put the flag up at all. And if you don't comply, you could be slapped with a fine of up to £2,500, and potentially face daily penalties until the flag is taken down. To stay on the right side of the law, follow these top tips - roof-mounted flagpoles are your safest bet as no size limit applies here, unless you're in an AONB. Side-mounted poles, from windows or balconies, should be under 2m², otherwise you are at risk of getting reported. People are also allowed to fly two flags from the same pole, but one must be a national flag and placed on top. According to the official guidance, all flags must be in good condition and safely displayed, on private property with the owner's permission, not blocking official signs or creating transport hazard, and taken down if ordered by the planning authority. Flags which don't need permission include UK national flags (in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), flags of the Commonwealth, UN or any UK-member international organisation, regional and local flags (e.g. Yorkshire, Wessex, Black Country), His Majesty's forces and Armed Forces Day flags, and Pride and NHS flags when flown correctly. So, before you deck out your home in red and white to support the Lionesses, make sure you know the rules, or you could be left footing a hefty legal bill instead of celebrating a win.
Reuters
24 minutes ago
- Reuters
Spain's Bonmati keen to add Euro crown to glittering medal haul
LAUSANNE, Switzerland July 25 (Reuters) - Aitana Bonmati is hoping to add another piece of silverware to her bulging trophy cabinet when Spain play their first Women's Euro final, taking on holders England in Basel on Sunday. The 27-year-old playmaker has won six league titles and three Champions League crowns with Barcelona and taken home the Ballon d-Or Feminin in 2023 and 2024, as well as a World Cup and Nations League title with Spain. "It would close the circle a little bit -- this, together with the Olympic Games," she told reporters at the team's base in Lausanne on Friday. "We want to add the only tournaments that we are missing. For me personally, it would be very nice in the future to have the memory of having won the great tournaments at the highest level in football." Spain's best finish to date in the Euros came in 1997 when they came third, and their only appearance in the Olympic tournament led to an agonising fourth-place finish at the Paris Games in 2024, where they lost the bronze-medal match to Germany. Sunday's final -- a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final -- promises to be a tight affair, with six of the last seven games between the two sides decided by a single goal and the seventh a scoreless draw. "The game on Sunday is unique, very one-on-one, where things are decided by the smallest margins. Anything can happen, no matter how experienced or knowledgeable you are," Bonmati explained. "They have it too, they have lived through many finals. It is going to be a very equal match in that respect." Bonmati and her teammates are very conscious of where the game will be won and lost. "When we talk about our game, we talk about a possession game, and we, in the vast majority of games, have had possession. So if we don't have it, something bad will happen, so I hope we have it more than England," she said.
