Romford are hosting their first category one competitions since lockdown tonight.
They are not only treating us to the Romford Puppy Cup but the Champion Stakes as well. A real treat indeed. First up with six heats is the Puppy Cup over 400 metres, then the Champion Stakes takes over for the remaining six races over 575 metres.
Even though all races on show tonight are competitions there are greyhounds making their Romford race debuts and stepping up in trip for the first time. In some cases, both. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about six of them, three from each competition.
Bubbly Magnum for trainer Paul Young and the Champagne Club syndicate is not only making his Romford debut but his race debut as well. The October ’18 whelp has been entered straight into the puppy cup in heat three at 6.43pm.
The son of Droopys Jet and Lissan Eve has only had one trial in Ireland over 320 metres at Shelbourne Park and four over C&D. At Romford he has improved with every trial, his times of 24.57, 24.53, 24.21 and 24.05 show that. Further improvement can be expected of this classy looking puppy. If continunbing to improve like he has then a semi-final spot nest week is not out od the question.
Steve Fluin, head of the Champagne Club syndicate on him said: “I think he is very fast. We were looking at him before lockdown and after it watched a video of his trial at Shelbourne Park and bought him. There is nothing between him and Bollinger (Bubbly Bollinger). We are expecting big runs from both of them.
“We do like him a lot and he is only coming to hand. Due to the lockdown he is only just making his debut but would have loved to have raced him earlier. We intend to trial him at Nottingham after the competition for the derby all being well. Hopefully he will improve as he goes along.
“We are happy with the draw but he is not draw dependent as is Bollinger. He will compete for the bend. We are happy he is inside of the other middle runner. Fingers crossed he does it for us. Debuts are always difficult to predict but we are looking forward to it.”
Bet 365 make Magnum a 6/5 shot to win on his Romford and race debut tonight while several firms are 10/1 for him to take the outright spoils
Newcastle trainer Jimmy Fenwick is taking on the Friday night traffic from his Northumberland base to race his Lightfoot Ripley for the first time. Like Bubbly Magnum he is also making his race debut as well as his Romford debut tonight.
The December ’18 whelp goes in heat five at 7.18pm and will be looking to win at the first time of asking. The son of Quietly and Light Foot Abbie has had four trials at home track Newcastle over 290 and 400 metres and one trial over C&D. In that trial he showed his potential with a calculated time of 24.19. He clearly has talent and will be expected to improve.
Jimmy said “He is making his race debut. He came across from Ireland in early June and what form you see is what he has had. His first trial over four bends was his very first time all the way round a track. His second one was really good. Although I thought he stayed 480 metres well, his split time of 4.57 suggested he could hold his own over short four bend trips.
“We have history in the puppy cup at Romford as my family won it back in 1977 with Cannon Smokey trained by Randy singleton. We wouldn’t travel all the way down if we didn’t think he would do himself justice.
“At the trial session Tony Taylor and Jim Reynolds both said how well he ran the bends. Ideally, he needs to break well and clear trap one (Adageo Blue). Trap three is a Newcastle dog and is a middle runner. He had trap two in his trial and trap two for him is fine.
“It is his first time with five other dogs but he has real nice ability. In his second trial over four bends at Newcastle he broke really well. If he breaks well on Friday, he has every chance.”
Bet365 are 2/1 for Ripley to win his first ever race while Corals are top price 16/1 for him to win outright.
One For Gold trained by Henlow’s Michelle Brown is another greyhound making his race debut tonight as well as his Romford one and goes in heat six at 7.36pm.
The April ’19 whelp has had five trials, three at home track Henlow and two over C&D. The son of Pat C Sabbath and Mays Bonus improved by twenty one spots from his first trial at Romford to his second one with a calculated time of 24.71. He will need to improve on that and will be expected to do so.
Michelle on him said: “It is a bit of a big step, bless him. He has always looked a bit special though. He is a big dog but seems to handle the track really well.
“In his first trial at Henlow he was given the comment ‘Not Chasing’ but he got stuck in the traps and lost sight of the hare. He is improving but he needs to come out of the traps a bit better. He definitely has pace but needs to come better and stay with them early on.
“When he was schooling you could see how good his action was. In time he could be a very good dog if he keeps sound and keeps on improving.
“We are happy with trap six for him, especially in his first ever race. Hopefully he stays wide and qualifies for the next round.”
Bet365 are offering 12/1 for him to take the last puppy heat while he is 66/1 across the books to take the outright glory.
Blue Tick George trained by Jim Daly was covered in your favourite read last year before his debut race last September over 400 metres. Fast forward a year and the February ’18 whelp is now making his six bend race debut. The son of Laughill Duke and Jaytee China after being covered by your truly went on to reach the Puppy Cup final.
This year, connections will hope he does the same in the Champion Stakes. In heat two at 8.17pm over 575 metres he has recent winning form over 500 metres at Nottingham and has done two trials over 540 metres at home track Crayford. The signs are there that he will get the trip tonight. If he does, he could be a player.
Jim on him said: “He has had one or two problems since Romford last year but is running into form at the right time. What he may lack in early against good four bend dogs evens out against six bend dogs.
“We are confident he gets the trip. His trial form over 540 metres at Crayford suggests he will get it easy enough. He tends to run a tight turning really well and is proven on it last year.
“The Derby for him is still in his plans. He won his trial stakes at Nottingham recently but I always fancied him over short six bends. We looked at the dates and they matched up so thought we could go for both.
“He has not had a great deal of races due to his problems but he is over them and well in himself. The draw is a bit of a concern as he wants the rails but he is clever dog and will pick his way to them. Hopefully he get through and get a better draw. A win would be nice but to qualify is the aim.”
Bet365 make him 7/4 to overcome his tricky draw and win over six bends at the first time of asking and are top price 14/1 to win the Champion Stakes outright.
Followers of the Romford open scene and those with good memories may remember the name Black Olive. Trained by Pelaw Grange’s William Finley, she ran at Romford over C&D last November but unfortunately went lame after a good break. Ten months later the May ’17 whelp is back to right the wrongs of last year in heat five at 9.12pm.
The daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Monleek Dawn has had two recent races over four bends at Nottingham finishing fifth and sixth. Six bends is where she looks more comfortable and tonight is her chance to prove herself.
William on her said: “She went lame out of the traps last year and it’s taken me a long time to get her right again. I entered her for the stayers competition at Monmore but she wasn’t accepted for that so I took her to Nottingham and that proved to be a big mistake. In her second race she found big trouble at the first bend.
“I love it at Romford and thought we would give her another go. She’s well mind and is as good as I’ve had her for twelve months. She is the fastest dog I’ve ever trained but is very unlucky. We will see how she goes.
“I’ve seeded her middle as she tends to run different tracks differently at the moment. At Monmore in her trial she railed and at Pelaw she runs middle to wide.
“This is her last chance saloon. We will call it a day with her at the end of the year. Jimmy Fenwick has some straws from ice on Fire so we may use them with her. That is the plan at the moment.”
Bet365 make her 20/1 to win her heat and are top price 100/1 for her win it outright.
Congress Flash trained by Henlow’s David Elcock is making her Romford debut in the final heat at 9.28pm. The February ’18 whelp has had two races over six bends at Hove and Harlow where she finished fifth and third.
The Hove race was last November while at Harlow was in March. Since lockdown the daughter of Kinloch Brae and Clares Queen at home track Henlow is in fine form with three wins from her last five. Those races were all over 460 metres in A5, A4 and A3 graded races. She is running well against four bend dogs at Henlow and if able to stay tonight over six bends could cause an upset.
David on her said: “I’m almost sure she will get the trip. In her last race at Henlow she flew from the second bend and held them all the way to the pickup comfortably which struck me as to step her up again. In that race she was against proven 550 metres dogs and led them to the pick-up.
“She has had her niggles but is absolutely sound now. She has won three from her last five against some really early paced sorts.
“It is a bit of a step up but if you don’t try these things you don’t find out. She impressed me in her last race. If she gets on the bunny she would take some beating I’ll imagine. She is in great shape and against six bend dogs has a chance to get on the bunny.”
Bet365 make her a 12/1 shot to win on her Romford debut tonight while Corals and Ladbrokes are top price 100/1 for her to take the outright spoils.
