Romford Puppy Cup Picks
***7.44 Romford – Untold Rufiyaa (6/5 Coral)
**7.27 Romford – Amys Gem (7/2 Coral)
*8.19 Romford – Rapido Ali (Evs Coral)
Heat One
Droopys Maybe lines up in trap one against UK newcomer On The Banks in trap two and these two take up alot of the market here. I’m going to be with Droopys Maybe who has the draw and doesn’t lack a yard of early pace over this trip although she wants further. I’m hoping she can turn close enough to On The Banks and if doing so I think she’ll have too much late on.
Heat Two
I’m going to be with trap six Amys Gem in heat two who got off the mark in good style at Crayford last week over 380m winning a maiden in a time of 23.18 (+20). She’s only had the one look at Romford back at the start of July where she clocked 24.44 but has come on leaps and bounds since then. A good break here can see her lead and win, beating the favourite Swift Underwater who runs from trap one.
Heat Three
This looks a match on paper between second and third favourites for the competition Untold Rufiyaa and Newinn Souly who line up from traps three and five respectively. I’m going to be with Untold Rufiyaa who just needs to trap on terms to win. He hasn’t come away at Romford yet and from a middle draw can’t afford to get away with missed breaks. I’m hoping he can trap better this week and if he does he should get the better of Newinn Souly.
Heat Four
My second ante post selection runs in heat four, Gingers Prince, who lines up from trap two. He ran well enough on UK debut last week staying on to finish third in a maiden and can improve for that race in a heat that wouldn’t be the strongest on paper so has every chance of getting off the mark this evening. I’d prefer him in trap one but hoping he can clear Bramble Harvey on his inside and hold Ritz To Rubble and Fabulous Aria to the bend on his outside. From there, he can go on to win.
Heat Five
Heat five will see trap three Rapido Ali line up a short price favourite and he should duly oblige. The reserve Bedrock Blaze coming into trap two should help Rapido Ali’s case even more having two dogs on his inside he should clear if coming away. I found it difficult to look past him as he should also have the beating of Golden Bullet, Plaza Leo and Lostrigg Mack on his outside so, this race is all about Rapido Ali.
Heat Six
The final heat of the night sees ante post favourite Fire And Ice run from trap two and is a short price to get off to a winning start. As long as he handles the switch from trap one where he was so impressive last week when winning his trial stakes to tonight running from trap two he should lead and make all. Easy Player has taken to the track extremely well and Fabulous Livia went well last week clocking 23.98 in a trial but the race depends on how Fire And Ice comes away.
Gone To The Dogs Live Link
Heilbron on a Crusade for Produce glory
Two through for the County Durham handler, including the quickest of the night.
The final six in the £10,000 to the winner Produce Stakes are now known. One for Phil Milner, two for Tom Heilbron and three for Kevin Hutton.
Hutton, of course, would get four to the final in 2022 when winning the race with Signet Denver. Five of the six finalists that year were out of Forest Natalee, with Signet Goofy for John Mullins being the other.
Natalee’s 2022 litter to Droopys Sydney have a pair in the final for Hutton, Southfield Poppy and Southfield Petal. Union Rebel will be the other to line up for the team in the final next Thursday.
There is a full circle feel to Heilbron’s pair as well. Romeo Crusade who was the quickest in the semis and Romeo Cypher are both owned by Dave Firmager. As a trainer, Firmager won the race three times with Troy Expert, Romeo Metro and Fabulous Expert. If you missed Floyd’s interview with Firmager, click on this link as it is not to be missed.
Keefill Goose will represent Phil Milner and will sport the red jacket. It will be a big week for the team as they have bet365 Empress Stakes favourite Avongate Venus on Sunday as well.
Produce Stakes SF1 – 1st Southfield Poppy (t3) – 2nd Keefill Goose (t2) – 3rd Romeo Cypher (t1)
Produce Stakes SF2 – 1st Romeo Crusade (t2) – 2nd Union Rebel (t4) – 3rd Southfield Petal (t5)
Four for Jason Heath and three for Patrick Browne at Hove
There was an all-open race card on the south coast last night.
Antigua Bingo was the quickest over 500m on the evening, clocking 29.29. She was joined on the Heath winners list by Burrows Ruby (29.56), Swift Jarvis (42.18) and Neon View (42.75).
The Patrick Browne kennel were in great heart ahead of the start of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup on Friday. Their winners were Pocket Gun (29.66), Gingers Shelby (29.54) and Newinn Port (29.64). The last two are owned by Alan Lucas who celebrated his birthday yesterday in the best possible fashion.
Seamus Cahill had a pair of winners on the evening courtesy of Noirs News (29.38) and Sharp Bobby (31.04). Others scorers on the card were Kilcash Jack (Gemma Byford – 16.43), Princess Athena (Tony Collett, 29.75) and Fleadh Cailin (Derek Knight – 42.19).
Savva Roberts at the double at Newcastle
Five open races highlighted the card on Thursday evening.
Syds Smurph won the stayers for Roberts in the third quickest time of 2024, 38.95. That is her second open race win over the 640m trip. Trooper Mcevoy (28.82 +10) picked up a maiden four bend contest earlier in the evening.
Quickest on the night over four bends was Wraysbury Katie for Paul Rutherford. The Arc Angel of the North finalist clocked a smart 28.32 in the bitches contest. Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat finalist Slingshot Sam was a comfortable 28.62 scorer in a 480m standard for Brian Fairbairn.
Tom Heilbron started his night with a Newcastle winner courtesy of Romeo Alonso who sprung a bit of a surprise in the puppies race. A 9/1 scorer there in 28.49.
Ashwood Bubbles sets new 830y Enniscorthy clock
The trip is very rarely used with her 45.88 (-30) taking 93 spots off the old clock.
The first race of the night on Thursday was a D2 contest, the first for a number of years over the distance. The winner is by Crash out of Blundel Spark who has thrown Dana Park who was Irish stayer of the year in 2021, Regency winner Baywatch Bullet and Savana Heross.
Stamina was always going to be her strong point therefore, and she is only an October 22 whelp. Beaten in three 750y races at Newbridge, the extra distance clearly suited. She is going to be an interesting recruit for marathon races for trainer John Dunne and owners John Doyle Jnr and Oliver O’Leary.
Stats
- Crackon Mammy – 4.59 Kinsley – 6/9 in A4 grade.
- Minnie Bullet – 6.43 Romford – 9/13 in open class at the track.
- Holliehill Archie – 7.42 Harlow – 5/7 from stripes.
- Shelone Essie – 9.35 Dundalk – 6/8 from trap one.
Opens
Friday: Romford
Saturday: Perry Barr
Sunday: Crayford ♦Sheffield
Wednesday: Yarmouth
