There may be a certain one-sided Euro 2020 match kicking off at 8pm but that shouldn’t stop us enjoying the all open card at Romford tonight writes Rob Abrey.
With greyhounds stepping up in trip and making their Romford debuts at the Essex venue there is plenty to saviour. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about four greyhounds gracing the track.
Towcester trainer John Mullins knows what it takes to win at Romford and tonight gives two of his charges their debuts at Romford. First up at 6.58pm is Ballymac Brook in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres. The son of Ballymac Bolger and Ballymac Bonnie has had fourteen races on these shores winning twice.
Those wins came at Monmore and Towcester over 480 and 500 metres in an open race and an A3 graded affair. He has had one previous race over six bends which was at Yarmouth over 659 metres where he finished fifth. The winner of that race was one Blue Tick George. The drop down to 575 metres could be ideal for the August ’19 whelp.
John on him said: “He should get the 575 metres standing on his head. We tried him over 659 metres at Yarmouth but it is too far for him.
“He has early and needs to lead. 575 metres could be ideal for him. He has trap one and although I don’t worry about things I have no control over we are happy with it.
“I’m 100% confident he will take to Romford.”
Ladbrokes are top price 7/1 for him to win over six bends at the second time of asking.
Next up for ‘team Mullins’ is Ballymac Slapup in heat one of the Romford Friday night maidens at 7.18pm over 400 metres. The son of Ballymac Matt and Dolcino Rose has had all his five races on these shore at Towcester over 500 metres. The June ’19 whelp recently reached the second round of the Greyhound Derby where he was eliminated.
He is yet to get off the mark but over 400 metres that could all change. He clearly has early pace and his sectionals at Towcester showed that. If he takes to Romford his first win may not be far away.
John on him said: “He has bundles of early and his 4.10 sectional at Towcester shows that. It was electric. 400 metres won’t be too short for him but he will be staying on.
“I think he will take to the track and we are happy with his trap draw in two.
“We could have four winners on Friday!”
Corals are top price 13/8 for him to win at Romford first time up.
Harlow trainer Sharon Saberton tries her charge Ranchers Bella at Romford for the first time at 8.17pm in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres. The daughter of Belles Direction and Ranchers Queen has had five races on these shores all at Harlow.
Interestingly one of those races was over 592 metres in an S2 graded affair where the April ’19 whelp finished second by two lengths. The distance tonight looks well within her reach and with a good trap draw and being a sole railer may get off the mark at Romford at the first time of asking.
Sharon on her said: “She has run over one 592 metres race at Harlow but there isn’t many stayers races at the moment unfortunately. She got beaten in an S2 but the going beat her [-60]. It seemed a lot slower on the inside as well.
“Me personally I think she will have no problems getting the trip. She is the sole railer in the race against all middles and a wide. It’s unusual but we are very happy with that.
“She should handle the track. She runs Harlow well and that is a tight track. 415 metres at Harlow is way too short for her. She has to pick her way through late on and can find trouble.
“She has got enough early, not blistering early required for 415 metres at Harlow at the moment but certainly good enough for longer trips.”
Several firms are offering a whopping 25/1 for her to take advantage of an excellent draw and race make up.
Crashblingwallop trained by local handler Michelle Brown attempts his longest distance to date of 750 metres at 9.28pm in the ‘lucky last’ in a maiden marathon affair.
The son of Crash and Newinn Bling has yet to win in thirteen attempts, but his career could be over marathon trips. The furthest the March ’19 whelp has run over is 712 metres at Towcester where he finished fifth after severe trouble at the second bend. In that race the railer was drawn in trap five. He has had races at Romford over 575 metres so does have track experience.
Michelle on him said: “I think he will stay, hopefully he will. The plan is on him to lead and hang on. He has his trap [trap one] and has no excuses. Hopefully, he will get out and lead.
“He did run over 712 metres at Towcester but was from trap five and got mullered early on. He also ran over 630 metres at Monmore but was drawn in three and found trouble at the first bend. He is well named at times!
“He needs further than he has been running over. He does his times in trials and is a genuine dog. He is a big dog and off the front he should get it. We hope he does.”
5/2 is generally available for him to win over 750 metres at the very first attempt.
