JONATHAN HOBBS: Greyhound racing breaks new ground this morning with SportyStuffTV/RPGTV broadcasting from 10am today – and the action from Romford and Crayford features the heats of the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket from the Kent venue.

The Golden Jacket is one of the sport’s most cherished events. For years it was the betting shop staple and was the only open-race competition on the service. Some fantastic greyhounds became well-known names such as Minnies Matador, Chicita Banana, Bobs Regan (twice), Wexford Minx (twice) and Centaur Corker.

In more recent years Patchys Kerry was superb, Shotgun Bullet was an extremely popular winner and last year’s champion Skilful Sandie defied age and inexperience to win the Golden Jacket – and kick-start Patrick Janssens’s fantastic year, which ultimately led to him becoming champion trainer for the first time.

So, catch the action on Sky channel 437 and join in the fun of the new breakfast show, perhaps with a wager on the heats – and ante-post, too. The Jacket is always competitive so there are some fancy prices about some top-quality greyhounds.

Looking at the long-odds, Hobbsy’s three for the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket are Redzer Renae, Smallmead and – at a big price – Nightingale Don.

Redzer Renae (Tony Gifkins) and Smallmead (John Mullins) dead-heated in a recent trial stakes. Renae has quickly established herself as a cracking young stayer/marathon performer having run-up in the TV Trophy over the longer trip. However, she’s also shown plenty of pace and is producing stirring finishes.

St Leger heroine Smallmead looks the type to go off the front at Crayford and could pile on the pressure. She’s already proved a fantastic competition bitch, although taking on Redzer Renae in this morning’s heats is a tough draw for both – but hopefully the pair can progress to next Saturday’s semis.

Eyes down then for the six Ladbrokes Golden Jacket heats from Crayford this morning . . .

Crayford Saturday

10.53: The Golden Jacket heats kick off with Mark Wallis’s Aayamza Lexie looking to go off the front again – and she might need catching. She ran in arguably a tougher trial stakes than this heat last week against Redzer Renae and Micks Little Gem, but managed to make all and could take some pegging back. Southfield Code is a top open-racer and relentless galloper. Crayford might not suit his strengths but, if handling the tighter turns, could be powering through to compete.

Play: Aayamza Lexie
Alternative/forecast: Southfield Code (3-5-1)

11.09: Another Wallis-trained runner could take the spoils. Antigua Rum finished third in the recent Essex Vase at Romford to almost complete a fantastic comeback from injury. Off the track for a long while, improvement is more likely than not and further gains on a promising trial spin looks certain. Clever Airmount produced a strong-running effort when winning a trial stakes recently and the Sheffield raider must be respected as drawn.

Play: Antigua Rum
Alternative/forecast: Clever Airmount (5-1-2)

11.39: Chubbys Dubh has made a real splash in a short space of time for the Kevin Hutton camp and can progress again. He trialled superbly over the eight bends at Crayford and should soon be in the thick of things, although keeping kennelmate Slaneyside Izzy at bay early doors is key. Bo Shine Bullet lines up as ante-post favourite and has done nothing wrong in her two races but will need to get across from a midfield pitch here.

Play: Chubbys Dubh
Alternative/forecast: Bo Shine Bullet (5-3-6)

11.54: Heat four of the Golden Jacket now and Redzer Renae and Smallmead go head to head again and a narrow preference goes to the latter. Both will hopefully progress but John Mullins’s bitch has a better chance of going off the front and will set a decent gallop. She might get away, although expect once again a powerful finish from the Gifkins runner. Micks Little Gem will find this 714m trip again short of her best, but a messy race brings her into play. She has a fantastic record at the track.

Play: Smallmead
Alternative/forecast: Redzer Renae (3-4-6)

12.24: Another cracking Jacket heat where St Leger runner-up Salacres Pippy could get away. Peter Harnden’s runner is a C&D winner from last year and handled the Crayford turns really well. She arrives on the back of a lay-off but trials have been decent and the draw in trap one looks good. Avastorm is an experienced runner and will herself improve for a comeback run recently, while Anhid News remains a progressive young stayer who ran amok in a recent Romford event and must be respected.

Play: Salacres Pippy
Alternative/forecast: Anhid News (1-5-3)

12.39: The final Golden Jacket heat – and probably the weakest of the six. Nevertheless connections will not be fazed – it’s about qualifying for next week’s semis – but could mean Bubbly Angel takes some holding off the front. Paul Young’s bitch has trialled back really well after a break and her clocks and leadability claims suggest the Romford bitch might get away. Nightingale Don caught the eye over 540m last week and these extra metres could help him shine – and hopefully qualify, at least.

Play: Bubbly Angel
Alternative/forecast: Nightingale Don (2-5-6)

Good luck all.

@Hobbsy 67