It is the last weekend of Lockdown II and to help ease us back into the tiered system, Romford have put on twelve open races for us to enjoy including the semi-finals of the Essex vase. We are now down to eighteen greyhounds vying to win the £10,000 to the winner category one competition – writes Rob Abrey.
Away from the showpiece competition there are nine other races on show for us to enjoy. As ever there are greyhounds making their Romford debuts and true to form yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about some of them.
Local handler Jean Liles knows what it takes to win around Romford and tonight her charge Wee Sydney has her very first race on these shores in a maiden race at 6.09pm over 400 metres.
The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Wee Bee although running over here for the first time the October ’18 whelp does have race experience in Ireland. She has winning form at Drumbo Park and Shelbourne Park over 480 metres in A4 & A2 graded affairs. At Romford she has had two trials over C&D clocking calculated times of 24.26 and 24.15 with sectional times of 3.86 and 3.82. Her improved time for the second trial show she is heading in the right direction with further improvement expected.
Colin Creighton, partner and assistant trainer to Jean on her said: “She’s a very good dog and looks something special. It’s her first race over here but she already looks a very good prospect.
“We will see how she goes. We were told by the man we bought him from that she will get 575 metres. Before she came to us they were close to stepping her up over in Ireland.
“We were happy with her first trial and really pleased when she beat it next time. Her splits improved too. She has looked powerful to the drop and the Brighton Belle at Hove is a potential target.
“Friday is a learning curve as she has to do it against five other dogs in what looks a good race. If she comes out on top we know we have something special.
“Trap five looks good for her from what we have seen. She runs the straights wide and cuts in at the bends.”
Ladbrokes are currently top price 3/1 for her to win first time up on these shores.
Decisive Dancer for Mark Fenwick is making her six debut in heat three of the Friday night 500 maiden stayers over 575 metres at 6.58pm.
The daughter of Ballymac Eske and Sierra Zorro attempts her furthest distance to date. The January ’18 whelp has won six times at Central Park over 480 metres in A2 and A3 graded affairs. Interestingly for a greyhound attempting six bends for the first time tonight, she has won six times over 265 metres in top graded company. She does have some experience around the Essex venue with a race over 400 metres back in August where she finished third. She clearly has early pace and if able to stay could be a player.
Mark on her said: “I think she will get the trip. She should but it is trial and error. She flies to the pick up at Central Park. She has very good early pace and is generally a good trapper.
“She is a little win machine at Central Park but can be a bit quirky. She does have track knowledge and has every chance to get the trip. I’ll be disappointed if she leads and is beaten.
“When she ran at Romford before over 400 metres she clocked 24.38. With the form she is on now she is capable of 24.10.
“Trap five is okay for her. Her two runs at Romford were from the five box and ran well from there. Hopefully she traps and leads.”
Skybet are offering 9/1 for her to win over six bends at the first time of asking.
Kooga Keira in heat one of the Mitch Millward marathon over 750 metres at 8.54pm was covered in your favourite read early last month when attempting six bends for the first time.
The daughter of Droopys Vieri and Ballymac Godsend was then trained by Richard Devenish. The August ’18 whelp is now in the capable hands of local handler Nathan Hunt. In two attempts over 575 metres she failed to win finishing second and fourth. She is now back and attempting her longest trip to date. She did race over 710 metres at Perry Barr early this month finishing last after trouble at the second and sixth bends. She has had a recent spin over 400 metres and showed all is well when clocking a calculated time of 24.59.
Nathan on her said: “She has come to us from Richard Devenish. She had a couple of races for him over 575 metres and it looks like she stays. Her litter sister is Blue Mischief who won on derby final night at Nottingham over 730 metres.
“She should get the trip but whether she is good enough in this class, time will tell.
“We trialled her over 400 metres so she could get used to the traps. She trialled really well.
“We thought we would try her over the trip as she looks an eight bend bitch. I spoke to the owner and he was up for it. She should get it and hopefully stays with them for the first lap before she gets going.
“It’s a really tough heat but she has a good draw with some potential crowding on her inside early on.”
On his other runners Nathan said: “We put Newlawn News in a maiden as he is in good form and just won an A1. He has a good draw and if he comes out like he can, he has a good chance.”
Kooga Keira is generally available at 25/1 to win over her longest trip to date while Newlawn news in the opening race at 6.09pm is top price 7/1 with Ladbrokes.
Prince Skywalker is making his Romford race debut in the lucky last at 9.28pm over 400 metres for Henlow trainer Kim Gooding.
The son of Skywalker Puma and Sheelin Dancer has hit the ground running at home track Henlow with seven wins from thirteen, an impressive strike rate of 53%. The March ’19 whelp has won three from his last four, winning over both 460 and 428 metres. The win over 428 metres in B2 graded company bodes well going into tonight’s race over a shorter trip. He clearly has early pace and needs to utilise that to shed his maiden tag at the first time of asking.
Kim on him said: “He’s very early in his career and has been going through the grades nicely. He has a pretty high win ratio. He is a lovely versatile little dog and really wants to win.
“He gets 460 metres right now but only just. It’s as far as he wants at the moment. He has a lot of early and we tried him over the shorter distance and he got that well, winning his second race over that trip.
“He is still a puppy and thought we would give Romford a go. We were pleased with his trial. He did not trap that well but did the same at Henlow over 428 metres first time. The second time he hit the lids and won the race. We are hoping he does the same on Friday. His trial time was good and feel he deserves to have a go.
“He has trap five and that is perfect for him. Romford could suit him quite nicely. We are looking forward to his race on Friday.”
He is generally available 4/1 to win away from Henlow first time up.
