Brickfield to show class in Pall Mall.

Byline: Peter Meldrum Pricewise

THE William Hill Pall Mall, which starts at Oxford tonight, has attracted a perfect blend of experienced hounds and potential stars to ensure a competitive first round, and competition, at the Cowley track.

Off-course bookmakers are offering 8-1 the field ante-post, with prolific winner, Brickfield Class heading the market.

Bob Gilling's three-year-old is a proven money-maker with 31 wins from 49 races on the openrace circuit. Rather oddly, however, Brickfield Class has very limited experience in major competition, having been entered for only two previous events.

He reached the final of last year's Reading Masters, finishing fifth to Blitz, before going on to successfully land the Oxfordshire Trophy, a Category Three competition over the same Pall Mall course and distance.

Having defeated some of the very best hounds in minor opens, there is no reason to believe that he cannot replicate that form in competition. Sponsors Hills rate him no better than 4-6 for his first round heat and he simply has to be backed with Betdirect, Coral or Stan James for outright honours.

Hills have issued early prices for all six qualifiers and pick of the odds is the 5-1 offered about Blonde Joey for heat five.

Make no mistake, its a competitive heat but John Mullins' dog is running well at present and with front runners Spears Tarquynn and Drink Up Zorro susceptible to early crowding, the selection could be in position to take advantage.

Evens about Milldean Flash leading up in the last of the heats would be a fair price, so backing this talented front runner at 11-8 to make all has to be worth a decent wager.

Incidentally, for those unable to make the trip to Oxford, tonight's William Hill Pall Mall heats can be viewed at the sponsors website willhill.com or at 24dogs.com.

Mean while, the most in formative of all puppy competitions, the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby, continues at Monmore tonight with three semi-finals of the prestigious event run over the Wolverhampton track's 480-metre course.

Again greyhound fans unable to make it to trackside can catch the first semi at any one of Ladbrokes's betting shops. The two other eliminators will be streamed live by Ladbrokes on their website ladbrokes.com.

Wherever you choose to watch, keep your eyes on Burnpark Champ, who set tongues wagging with a sensational 28.07sec win in the opening round.

On the evidence of that victory, Chris Allsopp's youngster is a certainty for the third semi and Ladbrokes believe so, with odds-compiler Richard Harkness chalking up a prohibitive 1-3.

That price may not appeal to many, but if you are looking for an interest then the 7-4 being offered by Betdirect, Paddy Power and Stan James about Burnpark Champ winning the event looks more than fair.

Ardmayle Ace will not be easily defeated in the second semi-final, but at 4-5 is priced accordingly.

A better bet might be Swift James at 5-2 with the sponsors.

The John Mullins-trained youngster overcame a monumental gaff at the start to win his qualifier in style and is open to considerable improvement.

Pall Mall heat betting

WilliamHill Heat 1 - 8.05pm 5-2 Yahoo Commander 10-3 Farloe Rio 7-2 Cobra Striking 9-2 Bower Turbo 11-2 Seanis Lad 6 Raging Jack.

Heat 2 - 8.20pm 11-4Droopys Sheridan 3 Blink De Bookies 7-2 Ronnies Hustle 5 Fantasy Tiger, Unique Option 6 Barnfield Joe.

Heat 3 - 8.35pm 4-6 Brickfield Class 11-2 Blakes World, Cagey Jeff 7 Swhimasdylan 8 Conker All 12 Nodrog Gordon.

Heat 4 - 9.20pm 11-8 Black Taxi 3 Crosskeys Razor 7-2 Tonetta Balboa 5 Slug City 10 Positive Step 16 Isle Of Tara.

Heat 5 - 9.35pm 10-11 Spears Tarquynn 9-2 Arthurs Joy 5 Blonde Joey, Drink Up Zorro 8 Vigorous Zico 12 Chill Out Lad.

Heat 6 - 9.50pm 11-8Milldean Flash 2 Love Tiger 11-2 Debbies Choice 8 Blackstone Champ, Kindred Sparky 10 Stormy Forty.

Puppy Derby semi-finals

Ladbrokes 9.15pm 13-8 Droopys Ivanovic 10-3 Ballymac Ken, Coolavanny Train 7-2 Cherryhills Boy 6 Unique Picture.

9.30pm 4-5 Ardmayle Champ 5-2 Swift James 11-2 Gold Whisper 10 Lenson Threeways, Slick Sultan 16 Coolavanny Dart.

9.45pm 1-3 Burnpark Champ 3 Droopys Mikel 8 Harmony Boy 20 Ard Engine 25 Swift Moment, Titan Tyrone.

CAPTION(S):

Burnpark Champ clocks the fastest time at Monmore