Jo Lightly to book his spot on Derby night

And the chance to appear at the sport's most prestigious meeting has attracted a cracking line-up to Sandy Lane, with only a couple of lengths between the field on their best times.

The in-form dog is Jo Lightly, owned by Chris Trinder and trained by Angie Kibble.

He has won four of his last five races, including taking the scalps of two of tonight's rivals, Lucrative Game and Droopys Jamella.

The white and black dog has his favourite striped jacket, and his blinding early and late pace make him the one to beat.

Kibble is also represented by the talented Lucrative Game. However, the black and white dog is crying out for a longer trip, and his only chance looks to be for the other runners to encounter trouble.

Nick Colton is double-handed with Southlodge Rage and Greencroft Vic, who have registered 27.11 and 27.06 around the Cowley track.

Rage returns here on the back of an open race success at Romford last Friday, and is a better dog over a stayer's trip.

Greencroft Vic won an open at Hall Green early last month, but his form has dipped in subsequent races at Romford, Hall Green and Sheffield.

However, the black dog requalified at Oxford with an impressive calculated 27.06, and on that kind of form he has to be respected.

Elbony Zico, trained by Kelly Mullins, has a bit to find on his local form, and although he was eliminated from the Derby, he did beat Vinnie Jones's Smoking Pat in a trial at the south London track.

Droopys Jamella, trained by Tony Magnasco and owned by Dave Jeffrey, has won three of his last four starts here and his superb early pace normally carries him through.

Jo Lightly is taken to come out on top in what should be a cracker.

Meanwhile, Lexington Drive, Tony Magnasco's Derby hope, battles it out in the second round at Wimbledon tonight when he takes on one of the leading lights in Top General.

Oxford fans can see how he gets on with the race being shown on the TV monitors around the Stadium.