Glorious Goodwood may be going on this week, but glorious Romford is what I’m interested in – writes Rob Abrey
It’s Friday and that can only mean one thing: open racing in Essex. Their twelve race card from 6.09pm consists of ten open races for our enjoyment. Tonight, sees the start of the Romford Friday night maiden stayers competition over 575 metres and as ever has attracted several interesting entries. Trues to form, yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about one from each of the three heats.
Kilwest Lady for Henlow trainer Jason Bloomfield is not only making her Romford race debut but her six bend one as well. In heat one at 7.36pm the April ’19 whelp attempts her longest distance to date. She has had one trial over 550 metres at home track Henlow showing her staying potential.
The daughter of Sonic and Ballinakill Clare has had a recent trial at Romford over 400 metres clocking a good calculated time of 24.27. At Henlow she has won A2 graded affairs and her four bend form may prove useful early on.
Kelli Windebank assistant trainer to Jason on her said: “She will get the distance as long as she gets a clear run. She does not have the best draw [trap 4] in the world. If she beats that and gets a run, why not.
“She did a good 550 metres trial and Romford’s 575 metres is a bit easier than that trip, but there is no room for trouble. She did a nice four bend trial and seemed to take to the track well. She is a bitch that always trials at a track well. She did a blinding trial at Newcastle.
“She is a nice little bitch but hasn’t quite got the early pace against natural four bend dogs in open level. We have the idea going over further, she may be able to get on the bunny.”
Corals are offering 4/1 for Kilwest Lady to win on her Romford and six bend debut.
Local handler Michelle Brown knows what it takes to win over 575 metres and tonight tries her charge Cosy Boy over that trip for the first time. In heat two at 7.56pm the son of Droopys Jet and Live Queen attempts his longest distance to date after ten races over 400 metres. The September ’19 whelp has won two of those ten in A8 and A7 graded affairs. It certainly looks like he needs further and longer trips could be where his future lies.
Michelle on him said: “I think he will stay. He is always at the pick-up first after his races. Over 400 metres he is slow away and can find trouble at the first bend.
“He runs on really strong and runs through the pack. He is always first to the pick-up. We hope he will stay and you have to try these things.
“He has trap two and that is quite good for him. He is on the outside of our other runner who he should beat out the traps but you never quite know what he [crashblingwallop] is going to do.”
On her other runners and who she thinks could go well, Michelle said: “Puckane Daddy in the maiden stayers heat one is our best chance. He has the rails and is capable of winning that heat.”
Corals are 8/1 for him to win over six bends at the first time of asking. They are also offering evens for Puckane Daddy to win the first heat of the maiden stayers over 575 metres at 7.36pm.
Choices Pat makes his six bend debut for local handler Jean Liles in heat three at 8.17pm. The August ’19 whelp is being stepped up after five races on these shores. All those five races were at Romford over 400 metres where the son of Deanridge Viking and Pennys Mulan has yet to get off the mark. Going over six bends could change all that and he could shed his maiden stayers tag at the first time of asking.
Colin Creighton, partner and assistant trainer to Jean on him said: “I think he will get it. He is still very green and thought we would give him a go. He hasn’t got the pace over 400 metres.
“You never know until you try and hopefully, he can get on the bunny to see how he gets on. We’re hopeful he gets it. We thought we would give him a go and the owner wants to see him over further as well. We took him to Nottingham for a trial and he stayed on well and was first to the pick-up.
“Trap one is perfect for him as he wants the rails.”
On his other runners Colin said: “Granree Rose is running well. She just recently won a race in a time of 24.24. She’s in good form.”
Choices Pat is 12/1 with Corals to win his first ever race on these shores while Granree Rose is 5/1 to win the 7.18pm maidens race over 400 metres.
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice little winner last week courtesy of Chelms Prince. Trained by Nathan Hunt the May ’19 whelp duly obliged first time up over six bends returning an SP of 8/11. Early birds may have got a bit of the 5/4 that was being offered during the day.
It pays to follow this column.
