Joe's Monday Tips - 23 June

***7.27 Nottingham - Velvet Madrid (4pts) 7/4
**8.36 Nottingham - Jetstream Breeze (3pts) EVS
*9.46 Nottingham - Jaymir Arlo (2pts) 7/4

Five open races at Nottingham this evening with the highlight being the Nottingham-Greyhounds.co.uk Sprint final at 9.11pm.

First up is the Arena Racing Company 480m Trophy at 7.27pm. Trap one Velvet Madrid takes all the beating from an inside draw and a shorter run to the bend. She led to the third bend last week before being outgunned by Jetstream Breeze, but there is nothing in the race as good or as strong as Jetstream Breeze, so if Velvet Madrid can lead this evening, she should not be for catching.

At 8.19pm we have the Arena Racing Company Sprint Trophy over 305m. Trap one Loose Cannon is expected to go off favourite. However, I am going to be with Starcash Best who ideally would be drawn a bit further out then trap two but he should be able to clear Loose Cannon on his inside and hold the dogs on his outside. He was a good winner of a D1 here two runs back before being beaten when well fancied in an open race seven days ago. He should be coming on for each run following a layoff since April, so I am with Starcash Best to get the better of Loose Cannon.

The Arc Standard Trophy over 500m is the third open of the evening at 8.36pm. Trap three Jetstream Breeze is in scintillating form over 480m and 500m at tonight’s venue and he should continue where he left off seven days ago. He is capable of a ping break that would see him lead Sambar Kian and Bogger Cash on his inside. However, if he turned behind Sambar Kian, he has proved in the past he can be too strong for that rival and I would expect the same outcome this evening, with Jetstream Breeze having too much for Sambar Kian as well as the other four rivals up against him.

The Nottingham-Greyhounds.co.uk Sprint Final over 305m is the fourth of five opens at 9.11pm. The heats threw up two crackers a week ago, with Rental Crisis beating Heathmill Nidge by a neck and Leelad then beating Skyfall Ginger by a head, so this evening’s final should be a competitive affair. It does depend on how Rental Crisis comes away from trap four in my opinion. If he traps on terms, he has shown in the past that he enjoys the long run to the bend and that is where we can see the best of him. If Rental Crisis comes away on terms, he can drive the first bend and go onto put the race to bed between bends one and two for a third successive victory over C&D.

The Arc Ladies Maiden Standard Trophy over 500m is the final race on the card at 9.46pm. Trap one Slippy Nora will be staying on well, but I am going to be with Jaymir Arlo in trap two to lead and make all. She has found herself in strong A1s inbetween being too good for A2 rivals and this looks more like an A2 this evening, so she should be able to get off the front and hold on from Slippy Nora, who will be rattling home.