The New Year is under way and an all open card from Romford will keep the party going well into the weekend. With thirteen races on show, there is plenty to enjoy. With the prestigious Coral Essex Vase over 575 metres starting next week several greyhounds are attempting Romford and six bends for the first time in preparation for it. The £10,000 to the winner competition does not get underway for another week but has already attracted top four bend greyhounds. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about four of them.
Sheffield trainer Barrie Draper knows what it takes to win a category one competition at Romford having previously won the Coral Golden Sprint and Coral Puppy Cup over 400 metres with Farloe Barracuda in 2013 and Eden Star back in 2010. Tonight, he braves the Friday traffic with his charge Distant Emma to take on a maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 7.36pm. Both will be looking to the Essex Vase to add to those wins. The October ’20 whelp has only had thirteen races on these shores but has already competed in two category one finals over four bends.
The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Distant Lucy first reached the final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Perry Barr over 480 metres finishing third. She then followed that up with a final appearance in the Eclipse at Nottingham over 500 metres where she finished fourth. She attempts six bends for the first time in race conditions but showed all is well in a trial over C&D recently. In that trial she clocked a very good calculated time of 35.23.
Rose Draper, daughter and assistant trainer on her said: “She’s doing nothing wrong and in a short time has reached two ‘cat’ one finals. In both finals she came up against Slick Safina.
“She is learning and developing her style in a short space of time and will get further in time. 575 metres is a nice middle distance to start with and a good guide to what she could get in time. 630 metres at Monmore and 660 metres at Sheffield for the three steps is a possibility.
“We were thinking about the three steps last year but went for the Oaks instead. Stepping her up has always been on our minds with her.
“We trialled her at Romford and she went well. We thought we would give her a maiden instead of another trial to get some race fitness in her. She rails and there are question marks she can hold the rails from Bubbly Bluebelle who looks a tight railer. Hopefully she can. It’s a good introduction for her.
“She’s got heart and a real desire to win. She is fearless and looks a picture. Were hoping for a nice performance from her.”
Ladbrokes are offering 13/8 for her win at Romford and over six bends at the first time of asking.
Central Park trainer Elizabeth McNair won her first category one competition at Romford back in October with Warzone Tom in the Champion Stakes. She is back to Romford with the intention of adding to that win. She is racing several of her charges over 575 metres for the first time for a potential tilt at the showpiece competition. In the Coral Essex Vase trial stakes at 8.17pm she has two of her charges going over their longest distance to date at the same time.
King Ezra and Feora Noel go head-to-head in the same race with both aiming to show what they can do over extended trips. King Ezra has winning form over 400 metres at Romford when reaching the Romford Puppy Cup semi-finals. Feora Noel late last year reached two category one competition back-to-back. The December ’19 whelp first finished third in the Gold Collar at Crayford over 540 metres and then followed that up with a fifth placed finish in the Coral Olympic at Hove over 515 metres.
Rab McNair, Assistant trainer and partner to Liz on them said: “King Ezra had a wee look around Romford early on in his career for the Puppy Cup. He always looked like he needed further. In his races at Towcester over 500 metres he finished well. He should get the trip and has track experience.
“Feora Noel has reached two ‘cat’ one finals and did a nice trial. We expect him to improve on that. He has reached the Gold Collar and Olympic. He is running well and should get the trip.”
Ladbrokes are 15/8 for King Ezra to take the spoils while Corals are 11/4 for Feora Noel to usurp his kennelmate and win the race for himself.
Queen Pink for Central Park trainer Elizabeth McNair knows Romford well having reached the final of the Coral Puppy Cup over 400 metres back in September. The then 11/4 co-favourite of three finished third after early trouble. Tonight, the January ‘21 whelp is back at Romford but this time over 575 metres in a Coral Essex Vase trial stakes at 9.12pm. The daughter of King Sheeran and King Danni is attempting six bends in race conditions for the first time with 500 metres at Towcester her furthest distance to date. In a recent trial over C&D she clocked a good calculated time of 35.51 along with a nippy 13.64 split time. Having previously reached the Puppy Cup final she clearly has early pace and needs to utilise it.
Rab McNair on her said: “We gave her a two dog trial over the trip and she beat our Feora Noel by 1 ¾ lengths. That was an awesome trial to be truthful. It was only a trial but she beat him fair and square and he has been in two ‘cat’ one finals and is running well.
“On that form she looks good. We thought we would try her over six bends and the Essex Vase is a target. You have to go for these competitions. We hope she improves on her trial.
“She showed what she can do at Romford when reaching the Puppy Cup final last year.”
On all three entrants and the Essex Vase, Rab said: “All three will get the trip. They ideally will all go for the Essex Vase. We will probably put Queen Gaga in as well. We may take a chance with her as she has track experience.”
Corals are 5/1 for the former Puppy Cup finalist to win over six bends at her very first attempt.
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice little double last week courtesy of Patrick Janssens and his charges Romeo Top Gun and Hawkfield Ozark. Both were featured last week and duly obliged at SP returns of Evens and 4/7. Romeo Top Gun showed his Essex Vase potential when taking all in his six bend debut by three lengths while Hawkfield Ozark set the standard over 400 metres with a eight lengths victory.
It pays to follow this column.
