Never underestimate the value of sectional times when trying to pick winners.

The sectional is the time taken by a greyhound from the traps opening to the winning line first time round, and this major factor was borne out when Real McCoy Boy won his first race here recently in career race No.15.

Previously the dog could only manage times sectional between 3.72-3.84sec. The difference here was he managed 3.66, which enabled him to lead into the first bend and win by two lengths.

Races are won and lost at the traps and while you never quite know if a dog will get it right, this is a typical case highlighting probably the most important part of any race.

The other benefit, of course, is that he had a good look at the bunny and will hopefully have his trapping pads on again next time.

I would suggest you keep an eye on progressive greyhound Ballaghboy Grump, who has won four of his seven starts – a tremendous feat. He has risen up the grading system from A7 to an expected A2 race on his reappearance.

The Paul Tompsett-trained dog only turned two last December, so he is clearly heading toward reaching top grade A1 status. He has a 23.38 win time on his form book for the 380m distance, which tells me he has what it takes to reach the top.

Black Mix is yet to win in top grade A1, however she will get another chance shortly after her success in an A2 race a week ago.

She has managed two second-place finishes in the top tier so far but I am hoping it will be third time lucky as she is deserving of such a victory on her card.

She is a winner of 11 of her 23 starts here, which is well above the average strike rate, and is difficult to discount in any race whatever the opposition. You have been warned.

Blue Bee, who was tipped here as a good outside bet, duly won Saturday’s 38th running of the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket.

Trainer Matthew Dartnell seems to have managed to get the best from the dog as the competition progressed, and in a close-run final, she took command in the later stages and won on merit.

The meeting was rounded off with a new track record of 56sec over the 874m marathon distance.

Millwards Swaby, trained by Paul Young, smashed the previous record of 56.15, which had stood since 1993.