It’s Friday and that can only mean one thing; open racing at Romford. For many it is pay day today and with the right information it could happen twice in one day. With a maiden competition kicking off tonight’s open races with the first of the three heats at 7.49pm over 400 metres, I have endeavoured to find out more about one from each heat. As an extra bonus I have also found out more about one In the last race as well.
Yarmouth trainer Kevin Boon is no stranger to Romford and knows what it takes to win around the Essex venue. He has entered two greyhounds in the Romford Friday Night 500 Maidens competition, with both making their Romford debuts.
First up for Kevin Boon is Heathlawn Heidi in the opening heat at 7.49pm. Although the May ’17 whelp has not won in five attempts on these shores, she is already making a name for herself. The daughter of Tyrur Big Mike and Heathlawn Molly recently reached the final of the prestigious Ladbrokes puppy derby at Monmore over 480 metres finishing fifth. In the heats she could not quite conquer the really impressive Roman Empire finishing third and second behind him. She had a one off race over 480 metres at Sheffield last week and came second after leading to the third bend. The drop to 400 metres tonight could be ideal for the early paced type to get off to winning ways. The fact she ran well at Sheffield first time up without a trial bodes well as tonight she tackles Romford for the first time.
Kevin said: “I have invested in a couple of puppies. Heidi got to the puppy derby final at Monmore. She got there on merit.
“She has nice early. She is a straight forward bitch and never lets you down. I could have took her back to Monmore this weekend but thought I would try her at Romford in a maiden comp as she is still a maiden.
“I will keep her ticking over and if she keeps improving will consider the Derby for her. She will get 500 metres easy. I will give her a couple of trials at Nottingham and see how it goes.
“Everywhere she has been she has run well first time at the track. She has nice early and I’m happy with trap three on Friday. I like trap three first time up at Romford as they can see the bend. Hopefully she gets out and leads.”
Paddy Power make Heidi a 6/4 shot to win on her Romford debut.
Next up for ‘team Boon’ is Shaneboy Paschal in heat three at 8.21pm. The May ’17 whelp is attempting his third run on these shores at Romford after two failed attempts at Nottingham and Sheffield over 480 metres. The son of Shaneboy Lee and Shaneboy Dawn is looking to make it third time lucky at Romford tonight. His last run at Sheffield on Tuesday showed promise when finishing second first time up at the track. Like kennel mate Heathlawn Heidi, going well first time up bodes well with him making his Romford debut tonight.
Trainer Boon on Shaneboy Paschal said: “He ran at Sheffield on Tuesday and ran really well finishing second. I thought I would give him a little spin at Sheffield then try Romford. He has been with me for six to seven weeks and is now up to speed. He is not quite 100% fit but with a few quick runs should be.
“Trap two for him on Friday is perfect for him. I prefer that for him over traps one and three. He had runs in Ireland so is no novice.
“He is a bit of sentimental value for me to have a ‘Shaneboy’ in the racing kennels. Shaneboy Freddie was excellent for us and it’s nice to have another one. The chap in Ireland who got me Shaneboy Freddie found Paschal for me. I don’t know if he will be as good as Freddie but we will see.”
Shaneboy Paschal is 5/1 to win first time up at Romford tonight.
Henlow trainer Keith Robins is trying Maria Jezabelle for the first time at Romford tonight in heat two at 8.06pm. The May ’16 whelp has had all but one of her thirty nine runs at Henlow in graded affairs. The only time she went away from the Bedfordshire track was to Sheffield back in October 2017 where she finished 5th. Tonight the daughter of Vans Escalade and Rockburst Delta travels away from her home track for only the second time and goes in good form having won her last two races. Those two wins were in graded sprint races over 277 metres in D3 and D2 affairs. The early pace shown in those sprint races will be needed tonight if she is going to shed her maiden tag at the second time of asking.
Trainer Keith Robins on Maria Jezabelle said: “As a pup she did some good times but had some injuries and took a while to get back. She does not get 460 metres at Henlow. She leads to 420, 430 metres then fizzles out. She will get 400 metres at Romford.
“She came back from an injury in February and thought we would try her over the sprint trip to ease her back. She has had four and won two and come second twice. She has beaten some good dogs on merit.
“I like to think Romford will suit her. I haven’t trialled her at Romford but are using this race to see how she gets on. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
“Trap four on Friday is good for her. She’s a wider runner than inside but keeps a nice straight line from the traps.”
Skybet make Maria Jezabelle 13/2 to claim the spoils tonight.
Regular readers of this column may have had two winners last week curtesy of Patrick Janssens two charges; Goldies Hoddle and Goldies Klinsman. The two Central Park raiders returned SPs of 4/5 and 2/1. Both return tonight in the final of the Romford Friday night 500 puppies over 400 metres at 8.53pm.
