The Essex Vase, the last category one competition at Romford over 575 metres starts next week writes Rob Abrey.
Tonight is the last chance for connections to give their charges a spin over C&D before it starts. Several greyhounds tonight are making their Romford debuts tonight and stepping up in trip for preparation for it.
As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about three potential Essex Vase entrants along with one who is making his four bend debut.
Hayley Keightley knows what it takes to win around Romford and tonight tries two of her charges at Romford and over six bends for the first time tonight.
First up is Roxholme Jim and is an interesting entry. The son of Lughill Jo and Lughill Isabel is as consistent as they come over four bends. The February ’17 whelp has been in the finals of the Steel City cup and All England cup at Sheffield and Newcastle. He has also reached the final of the Derby Plate at Nottingham along with making the quarter finals of the Derby this year. Recently he was eliminated at the semi final stage of the Eclipse, also at Nottingham. Running against the top four bend dogs he has managed to win eleven races from twenty three. An impressive strike rate of 48%.
Tonight he is over six bends for the first time in a maiden race at 8.21pm. If he takes to the track and can stay the trip he could be a big player in the Essex Vase.
Hayley on him said: “I think he will get the trip off the front. Obviously our main aim for him is the Derby next year but Mark wanted to try him. We both think he will get it off the front.
“Depending how he gets on, the Essex Vase is the target. Our main reason for going to Romford is Glory [Roxholme]. Unlike Glory who will hopefully continue over six bends we will drop Jim back to four bends afterwards.
“It will be interesting. He takes to tracks well first time up and is breaking more consistently from the traps now. Before he was a bit hit or miss. He should handle the track and trap three.”
Skybet are top price 1/4 for Jim to win over six bends at the first time of asking.
Roxholme Glory in a maiden stayers race at 9.26pm goes next for team Keightley. Like his kennel mate the October ’16 whelp also has an impressive strike rate of 50%. The son of Chenzhou Boy and Glory Kitten has won nine from eighteen, all over four bends. He has reached the semi finals of the East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth, the All England Cup at Newcastle and the Eclipse at Nottingham. He appears to want further and tonight tackles Romford and 575 metres for the first time. Like his kennel mate if he gets the trip tonight, he could make a big impression in the Essex Vase.
Hayley on him said: “Mark has wanted to step him up for a while. His style of running lately has changed. He breaks well but they are catching him at the first bend. A shorter four bend track and against six bend dogs should suit him. If he gets on the bunny he will be hard to get past.
“He should get the trip. He is more one paced but keeps going. He ran over 600 yards at Shelbourne so should get it.
“Glory is the reason we are at Romford. He’s the main one we are heading there with, with the Essex Vase in mind. We will keep Glory to six bends while Jim will go back to four bends.
“He should handle the track and trap one well. It will be interesting to see how both get on.”
He is generally available at 2/7 to win at Romford tonight.
Not many ‘dahn sarf’ will be familiar with Pelaw Grange trainer William Finley. They may well be in a few weeks if all goes to plan. He is braving the Friday traffic from his County Durham base to race his Black Olive for the first time tonight at Romford. In a 575 standard at 9.41pm the May ’17 whelp unlike the previous two covered has proven six bend form with wins at Sunderland and Pelaw Grange over 640 and 590 metres.
When winning at Sunderland the daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Monleek Dawn beat none other than Droopys Live in a deserved win. That is not ordinary form. This bitch is not to be overlooked. She has been given a recent spin over 225 metres in a trial and clocked a good calculated time of 13.76. If taking to the track in race conditions she could be a lively contender for the Essex Vase.
William on her said: “I’m eyeing up the Essex Vase for her. She is the fastest bitch I’ve ever owned or trained. She beat Droopys Live fair and square in a good time. After that race she came into season. I’ve never trained a greyhound this good.
“She will get the distance. She is lacking a six bend race so thought I would give her one before the competition starts.
“This will be her first race after three weeks and is raring to go. On Sunday at Pelaw Grange over 435 metres in a trial she clocked the fastest time of the year.
“She did alright in her trial at Romford, she wasn’t quite sure but will come on for the look around. We are expecting her to go well.
“She is the sole wide seed, has early and if leads them shouldn’t get beat. I honestly think she is worth the trip, she definitely has talent. If she runs well we will be back for the Essex Vase.”
Skybet are 15/8 for Black Olive to win at Romford at the first time of asking.
Nice Symphony for local handler Jean Liles makes his race debut on these shores at 7.19pm in heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens over 400 metres. The son of Kinloch Brae and Silly Symphony although making his race debut over here he does have race experience in Ireland. The April ’17 whelp has had six races in Ireland all at Tralee but failed to win any of them. He has had two trials over tonight’s 400 metres trip clocking a best time of 24.62. That was an improvement of twenty five spots from his first attempt over C&D. Further improvement should be expected.
Colin Creighton, partner and assistant trainer to Jean on him said: “He came to us, then picked up an injury and took a while to get him right. We have tried him over 575 in a trial recently to get him fit. He will definitely go over six bends. We are giving him a run over 400 metres as he has been off a while.
“He did a nice trial recently and is a nice dog. He has some early and has got his draw [trap one].
“He has never won a race in Ireland which is a bit of a concern. We will see how he goes.”
Nice Symphony is 12/1 to win his English race debut tonight.
Regular readers of this column may of had three winners last week curtesy of Brinkleys Poet, Piemans Star and Burgess Paradise. Trained by Mark Wallis, David Mullins and Daniel Riordan all three duly obliged with SP returns of 4/5, Evens and 6/4. Although the connections of the latter two were unsure of their staying potential both won proving their decision to step them up was the right one.
It pays to follow this column.
