After weeks of trial stakes and heats, the final of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup is upon us writes Rob Abrey.
The six finalists will be looking to get their name etched on the winner’s trophy. First inaugurated in 1975 the showpiece category one competition concludes at 8.54pm. This year’s final looks to be as good as any other in the years gone by and won’t disappoint. Regular readers will know all about two of the finalists covered in recent weeks.
Away from the showpiece competition, preparations are underway for the Champion Stakes that starts next month. Several greyhounds are making their Romford and six bend debuts for it and true to form your favourite scribe has endeavoured to find out more about three of them.
Hove trainer Derek Knight knows what it takes to win at Romford over 575 metres and tonight tries his charge Smoking Bomber over six bends for the first time. In heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 maiden stayers at 6.28pm the June ’19 whelp is also making his Romford race debut as well. Co-owned by Wally Downes and Vinny Jones the son of Crohane Ronnie and Mothers Jam has won once from nine attempts over four bends. That sole win came at home track Hove in A1 graded company over 500 metres. He has had one trial at Romford over 400 metres clocking a calculated time of 24.21. Six bends could be where his future lies and if able to stay may not be a maiden for long.
Derek on him said: “He will stay if he gets in front. If he doesn’t he may struggle. He has trialled there and we thought we would enter him and hope he gets a modest maiden and maybe pinch one.
“If he gets out and round the first bend he should stay it and has chances. We are going with three and the other two have better chances I would say.
“If I could pick a box for him it would be trap three. He has that. At Central Park he ran from four and six and found a bit of trouble. At Hove he runs well from trap three and it should be the same at Romford.”
Ladbrokes are offering 7/2 for the ‘Bomber’ to win at Romford and over six bends at the very first attempt.
Ballyard Ricki for local handler Nathan Hunt goes in heat two at 6.43pm. The April ’18 whelp is making his Romford and six bend race debut at the same time. Although trained by Nathan, the son of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Sella has yet to race at Romford but has had several trials over 400 metres early on and had a 285 metres trial recently. In that trial he clocked a calculated time of 13.83 showing all is well. On the road he has had thirteen races winning three. Those three wins came at Perry Barr, Central Park and Nottingham over 480 and 500 metres. To win at three different tracks over stiff four bend distances shows his versatility and the fact he has won against four bend greyhounds bodes well.
Nathan on him said: “He won well at Perry Barr in good times. On the bunny he should stay. His litter sister Ballyard Hilary stays 575 metres and has won opens at Romford. If he leads he will get the distance.
“He needs to be on the bunny early but he doesn’t need to rely on breaks if he shows his four bend pace. At Perry Barr when he did 28.37, he wasn’t stopping to the pick-up.
“He has trap six and is a better dog for it. He did his very good run at Perry Barr from trap six.”
Corals are offering 2/1 for him to take the spoils over six bends at the first time of asking.
Central Park trainer Mark Fenwick tries his charge Southfield Billy at Romford for the first time tonight in a Champion Stakes trial stakes over 575 metres in the ‘lucky last’ at 9.28pm. Mark has Droopys Supremo in the puppy cup final and will looking to have two winners on the night. Billy, a May ’18 whelp needs no introductions to six bends as he has proven winning form at Harlow. At the Essex track the son of Forest Con and Droopys Elite has won over 592 metres twice in open races. At his home track Central Park he has won eleven times over 480 metres with two of them in open races and eight in top graded affairs. He has shown he can do it over both four and six bends and if taking to Romford could be a lively outsider.
Mark on him said: “He will get 575 metres if he gets in front. With a bit of trouble behind him you never know. He is up in class on Friday but if he comes away, he has a chance. He can’t make a mistake from the traps.
“He is not good enough against the top four bend dogs but short six bend trips is his thing. He needs to lead. He can be erratic from the traps but paces up well.
“He has trap six and is a trap six dog all day long and from that trap can get on the bunny.”
Corals and Ladbrokes are offering 7/1 for him to add to his two six bends wins at Romford.
