I always look forward to the Coral Essex Vase. It is an event in which we have a decent record, but it has a special place in the history of Imperial Kennels.

HONKY TONK GAL with Linda Jones and her son Gary – Photo: Steve Nash

It was 20 years ago (on October 22) that Honky Tonk Gal won a first Category One race for my mother-in-law Linda Jones. I was her assistant trainer.

Gal was a little graded bitch, owned by a syndicate from Newmarket and was 8-1 on the night. She had drawn trap one which was ideal and I really fancied her despite her price.

It was really the turning point for the kennel. Soon afterwards Linda was offered a contract at Walthamstow. The quality of dogs improved dramatically and we never looked back.

We won it again in 2002 with Top Power. We also had the favourite in the race in Rapid Best, but we had tried a few different things with Top Power and on the day of the race, she was in superb shape. Rapid Best ran well to finish third.

My first winner in my own right was with Eye Onthe Veto. He was a sensational Romford dog, who also came back to win it a second year and also won the Champion Stakes to give him the Romford clean sweep.

But he was a quality dog in general and also won the Emerald Cup at Coventry.

2013 also had special memories for me because it was a transitional year for the kennel.

At the end of August we were fourth in the Trainers Championship, absolutely miles behind and being quoted at 33-1 to win it.

Charlie Lister (OBE) was dominating, and he also had two in the final. Thankfully we managed a first and second with Reel Trickyone beating Adageo Bob and we duly won the trainers title.

It could all have been so different since Reel Tricky One wasn’t even selected for the first round. Thankfully Racing Manager Peter O’Dowd was decent enough to phone me up and said ‘you’ve got 11 or 12 in it, but we have to be fair to other people. I can leave out one of the others if you prefer’. I told him to swap Reel Tricky One for Hometown Honey, who really wanted a longer distance. Thankfully it all worked out in our favour.

We didn’t win it in 2014 when I was convinced that Adageo Bob was at his peak. Unfortunately it was a pea-souper of a night with fog for the semi finals. We set off early for kenneling but at one stage ended up in a field, it was so hard to see. We eventually arrived at Romford about five minutes too late for kenneling.

All of which made 2015 such a special night. The track re-named the race after our dearly departed friend Mitch Millward and it was the final race of Adageo Bob’s career.

He might have been four and a half years old, but he beat one of the highest quality Essex Vase fields ever – Bubbly Gold and Fivestar Clipper were absolute machines in their own right.

Darrell Williams’ commentary on the race was absolutely memorable and I still look back on that night as one of the highlights of my career.

Of those we ‘should’ have won it with? We had dogs of the calibre of Aero Majestic and Blonde Fletch who both made the final, though realistically they were running short of their ideal trips and won a Regency and St.Leger to prove it.

I suppose the unluckiest dog, twice beaten at odds-on in the final was Roswell Romanov. He had an unbelievable record over the course and distance at Romford, it just wasn’t meant to be.

The first heat looks very competitive and a bit of a nightmare for poor Kevin Hutton. I thought we were the only kennel who could get four drawn in the same heat. The draw isn’t ideal from a racing perspective either. I would anticipate some trouble on the inside. Headford Ranger is scarily fast and would have a decent chance in the event if he comes through unscathed. I think the six has a great draw though I would have to edge it to Ballymac Diego, despite his being badly drawn.

We have two in the second heat and I will be gutted if they don’t get through. Brinkley Poet can be a bit hit and miss at the boxes. After ‘hitting’ to win his 575m debut, he missed his break next time out. Despite the defeat, I was very impressed with the run. He showed he doesn’t need to lead to qualify. Savana Tuftys is a nice sort, but he is going up in class and has Droopys Aoife in four who is a bang railer.  Alien Sea has a dream draw in five and I think he is the biggest danger to Poet. I have to be honest though, Brinkleys Poet is my bet of the night.

I make this one of the most open races of the night. Newinn Cracker is a decent dog having made the Champion Stakes Final, though it is at the end of stamina limit. I would expect Drive On Betsy to continue to improve after her lay-off. Desperado Dan and Itsur Mate have both been serial winners over course and distance. Neither have been at their peak in recent weeks, though you certainly couldn’t leave them out of your reckoning, particularly Desperado Dan. I suspect Savana Hot Tub will be found wanting in this company, but at big odds, I would have a sneaky feeling for Black Olive. They are nice people who train her, and she had no luck in running last time out. I don’t think it will be a wasted journey.

This is a very tough one to call with four Henlow dogs and not a lot between them. But I have a suspicion for the Crayford runner Crossfield Vince. He went well enough in his trial and should be a decent price.

I fancy the two to lead up and it is a case of who can catch him. I can imagine him being pursued by three, four and six. The four wants further, the three and six are untried over this distance though I am pretty sure Ballymac Osby will see out the trip and he is my selection.

Roxholme Jim absolutely fell out in his last run but still did a 13.48 sectional. He is the class act in the race and I would expect him to improve on his first run. Our Antigua Vows is only around 80% fit and I would settle for qualification now. Ideally the red will tow her around and we will be back next week. Of the remainder, Shotgun Bullet might be four years old now, but is running well and should be in most tricasts.

 

Ante post: 6-1 Roxholme Jim, 10-1 Ballymac Osby, Headford Ranger, 12-1 Brinkleys Poet, King Dylan, 14-1 Desperado Dan, 16-1 King Lennon, 20-1 Savana Beetle, 22-1 Ballymac Diego, King Cash, 25-1 Shotgun Bullet, Sparta Master, 40-1 Antigua Vows, Droopys Mac, Makeit Gertcha, Maysthistlecrack, Newinn Cracker, Perrys Choice, Savana Me Daddy, Swansalona Playa, 50-1 Alien Sea, Crossfield Vince, Droopys Aoife, 66-1 Black Olive, Burgess Paradise, Itsur Mate, Jelly Flood, Savana Tuftys, 80-1 Drive On Hunter, Hitachi Wayne, Shrewd Honcho, 100-1 Savana Awesome, Savana Bazza, Savana Hot Tub, 125-1 Drive On Betsy, 150-1 Piemans Star, Smithybyesadream,