We are now down to the semi-final stage for this year’s Carlsberg St Leger and these races will be run on Saturday at 8.50pm and 9.24pm.

As stated last week, it was always going to be a tall order to make this a home win and now Crayford have just two representatives left in the last 12 – Fort Hill Storm and Bru Brae, both trained by Julie Luckhurst.

This event was always likely to attract some of the top trainers from around the country, with Mark Wallis, Seamus Cahill and Paul Young among others still in the semis.

Last Saturday’s card featured the four heats and these were won by Sidaz Dippy (45.63sec), Riverside Tirana (45.62), Millwards Mink (45.85) and Borna Champ (46.12).

This event is over 714m and all four winners came from well off the pace during the second circuit of the track. The question now, is what sort of time is each capable of if leading early on?

Our 714m races tend to be two races within one, with the race taking shape over the first circuit followed by the all-important test of stamina over the second.

We must, therefore, start with the fastest dogs over one circuit as an indicator as to who will lead. Last weekend the quickest dogs were Sidaz Dippy (23.55) followed by Riverside Tirana (23.78).

Dippy, trained by Wallis at Yarmouth, ran here in February and couldn’t manage a sub-24 second time in three attempts so clearly her improvement could well see her land the winner’s prize of £2,500 on Saturday week if she gains early control of the race.

This trip is well within her range, having run as far as 750m before at Romford.
Riverside Tirana has a chance but take note she came second to Sidaz Dippy in August at Hove over 695m and I can see no reason why the form will be reversed.

I can’t see either of Crayford’s greyhounds winning unless they can find some more improvement but they will put their knowledge of how to run their home track to full use and at this stage at least one of the pair could qualify for the final.

The safe bet to win outright, however, looks to be Sidaz Dippy. A full preview of the final line-up will be given here next week.