By Rob Abrey
As last Friday at Romford, with the Essex Vase looming, trainers are taking advantage of the stayers open races to see if their charges can make the grade over six bends. We have several tonight that are stepping up in trip and making their six band race debuts and yours truly has found out more.
Local greyhound Swabys Soul trained by David Mullins looks ready for the six bend trip. The August ’14 whelp has been running in open races over four bends and found life a bit tough amongst out and out four bend types. The daughter of Aero Majestic and Droopys Coast has come back from injury in fine shape clocking a calculated time of 24.20 (+10) in a recent 400 metres trial. If she produces a run like that tonight she could be quickly shedding her maiden stayers tag. But what about her staying ability I hear you ask? Owner Roy Swaby shares his opinion: “Were not sure how she is going to get on. We think she will stay. She is always keen to the pickup and decided to give her a run over 575 metres and see what happens.
“She turned two back in August and is still young with plenty of improvement to come. 400 metres is to short for her and I was very pleased with her 24.20 trial time especially as it was only her second trial since early September. She came off sore and David [Mullins] wanted to be careful with her and not to take any risks.
“We have not trialled her over the longer trip but hope she takes to the traps which can be half the battle.”
Regular readers of this article will recall last week I covered two greyhounds stepping up in trip. Alfies Diamond trained by Patrick Janssens and Makeit Rennie trained by Frank Gray both failed to open their account at the first time of asking but are back for another shot. This week they are pitted against each other in what could be a great battle. Both trainers rate their charges and feel they could be good over six bends. They however are up against newcomer Ballymac Benz trained by Gerry Ballentine of Hall Green. The September ’14 whelp is making his Romford debut after eighteen races all at Nottingham. All eighteen races have been at open race level and the son of Burnpark Champ and Lefanta Toss has won two of them over the distances of 480 and 500 metres. Drawn in red tonight can the Hall Green raider stay and take to Romford? Trainer Gerry Ballentine has the answers: “He should stay. He defiantly needs to lead and has a decent chance to do so. If he doesn’t lead you won’t see him come from behind.
“We haven’t trialled him but if he leads he will be okay around Romford. At Romford you would like to be in front at the first bend in any distance.”
Yarmouth trainer Kevin Boon makes the trip to Essex with his unraced Abbies Smurf. The January ’15 whelp makes her debut on these shores over six bends. Up against proven open race winners like Tommys Lord and Swift Whirlwind the daughter of Taylors Sky and Carnival Smurf will have to do it the hard way and her price will reflect that. Abbies Smurf has had two trials around Romford over both 400 and 575 metres and it is the latter trip Kevin Boon has entered her for.
On Abbies Smurf trainer Kevin Boon said: “She has her first run at Romford and could be a tremendous eight bend dog. That looks to be the distance for her. She is too young to run over that trip yet but maybe before Christmas we will try her.
“On Tuesday in her trial over 575 metres against Farneys Cookie she was beat by seven lengths but by the pickup was two lengths in front. After the trial she was not puffing or blowing at all which is a good sign.
“I can’t see her winning tonight, but it would be lovely if she did. Her future is over eight bends.”
