By Rob Abrey
The Golden Sprint may be nearing but for tonight the focus is on tonight’s maiden stayers competition. Any followers of Henlow for there Sunday night racing will have seen two dogs trained by Paul Crowson down to run tonight. As ever I have endeavoured to find out more.
Liam Og in the first heat over 575 metres at 7.12pm has been making waves at Henlow on Sunday night in front of the Racing Post TV cameras. The son of Kinloch Brae and Cool Article has become a bit of a win machine at the Bedfordshire track. The August ’14 whelp has won seven races from thirteen, six of which were at open race level. In his last six races all over 460 metres at Henlow he won four and came second in the other two. Tonight he makes his long awaited six bend debut and has the necessary attributes to do well over longer trips.
Unattached trainer Paul Crowson on Liam Og said: “He seems to be running the Henlow trip well and coming home strong.
LIAM OG (t1) wins the opening heat of the Henlow Derby from Shaneboy Freddie (t2) Photo: Steve Nash
“In his last race he ran well but the winner [Blackstone Brand] just got a little too far away for him to beat.
“I feel he will stay but until you try you don’t know. It is his first time at the track but he has a favourable draw and I will be disappointed if he doesn’t finish in the first two.
“He hasn’t run since 22nd January as an open race at Central Park I entered him for did not fill. Hopefully that will not affect him too much.”
In heat three at 7.46pm Clarina Gold will also be trying to make the final for connections and trainer Paul Crowson. The daughter of Kinloch Brae and Victoria Station has been going the right way at Henlow winning an A4 graded race over 460 metres and more recently an open race over 550 metres. Clearly the July ’14 whelp is destined to be a stayer and that is where her future lies.
Trainer Paul Crowson on Clarina Gold said: “She stepped up well last time out and ran away from a well fancied runner [Blackstone Omar].
“I would prefer to see her run out of traps two or three but don’t mind trap one. She has reasonable early pace and as Liam Og I will be disappointed if she doesn’t finish in the first two. It is her first time around the track but I’m told if you’re in it you can win it.
“As with Liam Og she hasn’t run since January 22nd due to an open race not filling at Central Park so again I’m hoping that won’t affect her.
“I’m just hoping they both run favourably.”
