Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 15 June 2009 / Leave a comment

Darrell Williams tells us all we need to know ahead of the Sky-televised action at Hall Green on Tuesday night.

The puppies are the stars on Tuesday night as Sky cameras roll into Hall Green in Birmingham for a fascinating Gymcrack final. Four of the trainers represented are previous winners, with Charlie Lister bidding for back to back wins, following Motto Star's all the way victory twelve months ago. The Newark maestro is represented by Farloe Lee, who has already reached one major puppy final this year, the Midland Puppy Derby, a race renowned as an excellent future guide, something this year's renewal is more than living up to.

Farloe Lee got no sort of a run that night, but had earlier equaled the track-record set by his illustrious kennelmate and subsequent winner Bandicoot Tipoki. The fact that Derby hero Kinda Ready was second ahead of useful Freedom Emma and Olympic finalist Magna Venturer, and you can see just what a hot heat it was. Farloe Lee has yet to win in the Gymcrack, but made Droopys Bogart fight all the way for his semi-final victory - his first round effort can be forgiven coming off a layoff, where he mistimed his start.

Drawn trap six in the final, I can see Farloe Lee trapping a lot better - Droopys Bogart may struggle to dominate without the striped jacket - before ultimately going on to land another big prize for Lister. Whether the race can match its Monmore counterpart remains to be seen, but it certainly looks a decent renewal, with Paul Young's Centurion Enry certainly one to keep a close eye, although in time I think he will be better served over a longer trip. Farloe Rocket won a 'scrappy' semi-final from the front, but has had only three races to date, while Eye On the Storm was a easy winner over Westmead Bolt, who is also likely to need more of a stamina test.

On the undercard, course specialist Directors Chair can return to winning ways at his favourite track in the top division stayers race at 9..10. Mark Wallis' dog has won 5/6 over the 645m trip - his only defeat coming when beaten a short-head in last year's Prestige final - and he should relish his first race beyond 600m since last autumn.

Officer Donagh who lost little in defeat behind kennelmate Centaur Allstar in last week's Scurry final, can make it nine wins in thirteen by claiming the sprint at 8.35. He has beaten main rival Farloe Flapjack in three of their last four meetings and could hardly be in better form.

Silverduf Jet will hopefully be a reasonable price in the 9.25 up against Derby semi-finalist Bubbly Maestro. Heather Dimmock's runner has a useful record at the track, including when winning an Open on Blue Riband final night, and in a heat which also features Blue Riband finalist Mountjoy Gold, he will hopefully offer a spot of value.

Elsewhere, I take Coolvanny Pius, a useful sort in big races last year, to claim the 8.0, although I would have preferred it if he had been given a trial around this often tricky circuit, but with only three starts since April, Elaine Parker's runner remains open to further improvement.