By Rob Abrey

Christmas is almost upon us and tonight’s action at Romford could be seeing Santa deliver some early gifted wrapped presents in the form of winners. As ever the Essex track has put on a fourteen open race feast for the betting public. With several greyhounds making their Romford or six bend debuts  have found out more about some of them.

Exciting youngster Seaglass Sandman is making his Romford debut tonight for Towcester trainer Patrick Janssens in a winner for one open at 6.55pm over 400 metres. On before the Racing Post TV cameras start rolling but able to view in Coral and Ladbrokes shops, a trip to your local one may be worth the effort.

The March ’16 whelp has won two from four on these shores and reached the final of the Coral Sussex puppy trophy at Hove over 515 metres where he came second. The son of Skywalker Puma and Dame Iris took to Hove well and if replicating that form tonight could be off the mark at Romford first time up.

Trainer Patrick Janssens said: “I think highly of this dog. He’s run at Hove and was favourite to win the final of the puppy competition and has no excuses except we did have sickness in the kennel and he may have not been fully himself.

“In time he looks a stayer. He has a bit of early but also looks like he stays. He could be suited to Romford. He is only a March whelp and is very little for a dog but is very quick. We will find puppy races for him in the new year before we look to step him up.”

Paddy Power make Seaglass Sandman an 7/4 shot and that should be snapped up. He has not had a trial at Romford but seems well equipped to deal with the Essex track. If getting loose he will be extremely hard to peg back and should take the spoils.

Affleck Lady for Towcester trainer Patrick Janssens is another making her Romford debut tonight. In heat two of the Friday night 500 maidens at 8.21pm over 400 metres, she will be looking to shed her maiden tag at the first time of asking. The January ’16 whelp is ever improving at home track Towcester with back to back wins in A6 and B2 graded races over 480 and 500 metres.

In her last race she won her B2 by seven lengths in an impressive calculated time of 29.57. The daughter of Kinloch Brae and Ardrine Lunar has had a trial over C&D this week and will be expected to improve her calculated time of 24.56.

Trainer Patrick Janssens said: “She is the litter sister of Bolt and Courage and some others will be at Romford soon too. I think she is top draw, as is Courage, who is also running tonight.
“She has only had six races and in her last race done 29.57 over 500 metres winning by seven lengths. She started off in P9 and is coming on all the time.
“We thought we would run her first at Romford and take it from there. She is going through the grades so thought we would give her a maiden at Romford. Trap one for her is ideal.”

Unlike Seaglass sandman, Affleck Lady has had a trial at Romford and will be expected to improve for it. Paddy Power make her a 3/1 poke and that should be considered. She is well drawn and is improving with each run.

 

Yarmouth trainer Kevin Boon is back to his happy hunting ground after a little time away and with several runners tonight will be looking to head back to Norfolk with at least a win. In the first race on Racing Post TV, Old Fort Brandy makes her Romford and six bend debut at the same time in the first heat of the Friday night 500 maiden stayers at 7.12pm over 575 metres. The February ’16 whelp has had thirteen races managing only one win so far on these shores but has winning form in Ireland at Dundalk over 480 metres. Her one win came in an open race at Doncaster over 450 metres but her future may be over six bends.

Trainer Kevin Boon on Old Fort Brandy said: “The little bitch has been a bit difficult. I saw her around Dundalk when I was over in Ireland with Murrys Act for the night of Stars and bought her. I have been waiting for her to come into season but that hasn’t happened. At Dundalk she done a 28.61 time and I’m still looking for her to do that again.

“I’m running her at Romford tonight to see what see can do. She has been running on where she has been and know she will stay. We will see how see well she stays and take it from there.”

 

Old Fort Comet for trainer Kevin Boon is another of his raiders tonight at Romford making her debut around the Essex venue in the third heat of the 500 maidens at 8.37pm over 400 metres. The March ’16 whelp has only had two races on these shores and has yet to win. In her last race at Hove over 515 metres she was drawn in trap four and found trouble at the first bend. Tonight the daughter of Royal Impact and Fire Height Amy is in trap one and that could make the difference. Although lightly raced, two of her trials were at Romford over C&D clocking calculated times of 24.73 and 24.62. With Romford experience and some race experience she would be expected to improve tonight.

Trainer Kevin Boon on Old Fort Comet said: “She is a young bitch, just coming out of season. She is one for the future. She ran quite well at Nottingham a couple of weeks ago and is getting fitter with every race.

“I’m just trying to get a few runs in her to get her fitter. She might have a nice bit of early and will find out Friday.

“Trap one on Friday is ideal for her. She definitely needs that.”

 

Gurtnacrehy Theo is the last of Kevin Boon’s runners to make their Romford debuts tonight. The October ’15 whelp runs in a standard open race over 400 metres at 9.44pm. The October ’15 has had all his six races on these shores over sprint trips winning two of them at Nottingham and Doncaster over 305 and 275 metres. The son of Shaneboy Lee and Gurtnacrehy Baby clearly has early pace and does have experience around Romford with two trials back in October clocking calculated times of 24.74 and 24.54. Those were his first trials after coming over from Ireland and would be expected to better those times now.

Trainer Kevin Boon on Gurtnacrehy Theo said: “He has a nice bit of pace and has been to Romford before. He has been sprinting but thought I would give him a run out at Romford over 400 metres.

“I entered him for the national sprint but ran him at Doncaster a week before and in hindsight I shouldn’t have done that as they have different traps and he missed his break and was eliminated.

“I’m happy with trap one, being there should suit him. Like with my others I’m keeping them ticking over until the start of the next year for the year’s campaign.”

Gurtnacrehy Theo does have a lot to do but the 12/1 being offered by Skybet is tempting as an each way bet due to their offer of first three. He has Romford form, has proven sprint form and is well drawn. If using his early pace he could put some of the others under pressure early on.