It’s Friday night and that can only mean one thing: open racing at Romford writes Rob Abrey.
The category one competitions may have concluded in the last two weeks but there is still plenty of top action at the Essex venue tonight. With twelve races on show from 6.09pm there is plenty to enjoy.
With two maiden competitions over 400 and 575 metres starting tonight there are several greyhounds making their Romford debuts and stepping up in trip and in some cases both. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about one from each of the six heats.
Harlow Trainer Darren Whitton is taking on Romford tonight with six of his charges. Three of them are in each of the three heats of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens over 400 metres. All three are making their Romford debuts and are the focus of your favourite read.
First up in heat one at 6.28pm is Moaning Blake. The September ’18 whelp races away from home track Harlow for the first time after fourteen races. Of those fourteen the son of Laughill Blake and Moaning Babe has won five. The majority of those wins have come in sprint races over 238 metres winning D2 and D1 graded affairs. He has won over 415 metres in an A6 race as well. He has had one recent spin at Crayford in a trial over 380 metres clocking a good calculated time of 23.51. He clearly has early pace and if taking to Romford could be a player.
Darren said: “He’s a nice dog. He is a September ’18 dog but because of lockdown is still novicey. He has a lot of speed but his downfall is his trapping. If he breaks he can go around with anything. He is still puppyish. He doesn’t tend to break at Harlow but has lots of early.
“He impressed at Crayford in his trial and will hopefully take to Romford. 415 metres at Harlow at the moment is quite tough for him but 400 metres should be right up his street.
“Trap three for him is ideal. He has been running out of five but the middle is where he wants to be.”
Skybet are top price 11/2 for Blake to win at Romford at the first time of asking.
Moaning Feena is next up in heat two at 6.43pm. The daughter of Confident Rankin and Sizzling Daisy has only had five races, all at home track Harlow over the sprint trip of 238 metres. The March ’19 whelp has won two of them in D3 & D2 graded races. She clearly has early pace and if able to get a four bend trip, Romford could be good for her.
Darren on her said: “I’m sceptical. She has got early but I’m not sure whether she will get the trip. If she does it will be at Romford. She is still very, very young and has been finding trouble in sprint races at Harlow so thought we would try her over 400 metres at Romford.
“If she does get four bends I think she will be good. Like I said she is very, very young but should take to Romford.
“She won her first race at Harlow and when she is on the bunny looks really good. Trap three is good for her.”
Moaning Mufasa goes in heat three at 6.58pm. The son of Droopys Buick and Got The Edge has only had two races on these shores winning both. Those two wins came at Harlow over 238 metres in D4 and D2 graded affairs. Tonight the January ’19 whelp has his first ever race over four bends. He has had a recent spin at Crayford over 380 metres in a trial clocking a calculated time of 24.03. He has shown he has good early and if taking to Romford and four bends could cause a surprise.
Darren on him said: “I really, really like him. I think he will get 400 metres from the front. At Crayford in his trial he was slow away and stumbled at the first bend and still managed 24.03.
“He has only had two races and is nowhere near his peak. We are looking forward to next year with him.
“He is a good trapper with nice early pace and thought we would try him at Romford. Hopefully he bangs out so we can see what he can do. It is a learning curve first time at Romford. Qualifying would be nice.
“I would rather see him more inside than his draw in five but he is a big lump of a dog so five aint that bad.”
On all six of his runners tonight and who he thinks has the best chance, Darren said: “Blake (Moaning). He is our best chance. He is running very well.”
Skybet are top price 9/1 for him to make it three form three.
Swanley Duke for unattached trainer David Richardson is not only making his Romford debut but his six bend one as well in heat one of the Romford Friday night maiden stayers at 7.36pm. The August ’17 whelp has won six from twenty five races including two open race wins at Central Park over 480 metres. The furthest the son of Ruthless Man and Calling Spice has run so far is 500 metres at Central Park. In that race he finished fourth and only 4 ½ lengths behind King Dylan. He showed in a recent trial over 225 metres all is well. If able to get the trip tonight he may not be a maiden stayer for very long.
David on him said: “If I knew he would stay I would tell you but I honestly don’t know if he will get the trip. The owners are keen for him to go over six bends and the indications are there he will but I just don’t know.
“Since lockdown he is a completely different dog and stays 480 metres at Central Park well. Off the front we are hoping he will. He is running well so thought we would try it. He has had two trials over 400 and 225 metres and appears to love the track. He runs the track very well.
“His last race was over 500 metres at Central Park and he was in a red hot race and ran well behind King Dylan who is very good.
“He has trap six and if in the middle he does turn right from the traps but he does tend to cut in at the bends.”
Ladbrokes are 4/1 for him to win at Romford and over six bends at the first time of asking.
Trainer Richard Devenish knows what it takes to win at Romford and is back tonight with two of his charges in heat two and three of the maiden stayers competition over 575 metres.
First up in heat two at 7.56pm is Distant Cait. Although the July ’17 whelp is making her Romford debut tonight she has already dabbled over six bends. She has had four races over 620 metres at Peterborough winning none. The drop down to 575 metres could be beneficial for the daughter of Ballymac Eske and Coolavanny Fiona. She has won over 500 metres at Towcester in A3 and A2 graded races which bodes well going into tonight’s race.
Richard on her said: “Over 500 metres at Towcester she pops out but hasn’t got a lot of middle pace. 575 metres will be her limit. She has been getting 500 metres at Towcester.
“Off the front she will get it. She has a bit of early and hopefully will get to the first bend in front before they get back to her.
Romford could suit her with her style of running. She has trap five and has been running from there so that will not be a problem.”
Skybet are offering 9/2 for her to win at Romford first time up.
Kooga Keira goes in heat three at 8.17pm and unlike her kennelmate is yet to go over six bends. Tonight is the first time the August ’18 whelp goes over such a trip. The daughter of Droopys Vieri and Ballymac Godsend has won at Peterborough but is yet to win at Towcester over 500 metres after three attempts. On paper it looks like she needs further and tonight will be a good test for her.
Richard on her said: “She does get the trip. At Towcester she always tries to catch them on the run in and is always clear at the pick-up.
“She has good track craft and looks after herself. Hopefully she will avoid early traffic and fight for her position. She has the speed and is quick enough to win a race like this if it unfolds to her liking.
“I would have preferred her closer to the rails but trap four is okay. A bit of lady luck would be nice.”
Skybet make her 16/1 to win over six bends at the first attempt.
