Romford know how to get the weekend started. If there is a better way to kick start the weekend than top open racing; I don’t want to know about it. Tonight, at the Essex track we get to see the conclusion of the Champion stakes and Mitch Millward marathon. Mark Wallis is double represented in the showpiece final, vying to make it five Champion Stakes wins. The Mullins brothers, David and John are pitted against each other to add another angle, while Gemma Evans would love to add the win to Ernie Gaskin Seniors 1992 victory.
Away from the finals there are several interesting entries and yours truly as you would expect has endeavoured to find out more about three of them.
Garryglass Abbie in heat two of the Romford Friday night 500 bitches over 400 metres makes her Romford debut for trainer Patrick Janssens. The September ’19 whelp may be making her Romford debut but in just ten races already has winning form at two tracks. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Boherna Abbie has won open races at Perry Barr and Towcester over 480 and 500 metres. She has early pace and if taking to Romford, win number four may not be too far away.
Patrick on her said: “She is a good little bitch and Romford should suit her. In time she could even get 575 metres.
“Although she has never been at Romford she has proved she is a good trapper at Perry Barr and Towcester. She was abit unlucky in the second round of the Oaks; she got tangled up and just failed to qualify.
“She has not been around before but Romford will suit her. If she finishes in the first three, we will have another go next week. She has trap two and that is perfect. Traps one to three are perfect for her.”
Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr knows what it takes to win at Romford and proved that last week when two of his charges won, including Drumdoit Fortune that was covered by yours truly. This week he tries Rahale Rodge over 400 metres for the first time in a maidens race at 9.12pm. The June ’19 whelp has been around the Essex track before but that was back in August over 225 metres where he finished last both times after trouble. Tonight, the son of Ballymac Best and Springwell Eva is back and is in fine form. He has won two from his last three races. Those wins came at home track Yarmouth over 462 and 277 metres in A1 and D1 graded affairs. He looks a bit in between distances and 400 metres could prove ideal for the pacey sort.
Paul on him said: “He has got early. If he traps on terms, he won’t be too far away at the first bend. He has been at Romford before so has track experience.
“He is in between distances at the moment. 462 metres at Yarmouth is a bit too far for him, 400 metres could be ideal. In his last race at Yarmouth he beat Adamant Trooper who has won opens at Romford over 400 metres. That dog has early and he beat him away. He is a genuine dog and looks an ideal Romford sort. If he pings the lids we would expect him to lead. We’re expecting a big run from him.
“There is not much between him and the Fortune dog [Drumdoit Fortune] that won last week. His trapping is not as consistent as Fortune though. He has trap four and that is perfect for him. He tends to take the bend much better from trap four.”
Tinks Legend is back at Romford for another tilt over 575 metres after having two races over that trip back in April. Trained by Henlow’s Stephen Rayner the June ’18 whelp is back to Essex in a maiden stayers race at 9.28pm. When he was last at Romford, the son of Droopys Cain and Locnamon Sarah finished second and third. He has proved in the past 575 metres could be well within his reach by winning four S1 graded races at home track Henlow over 550 metres. Over 460 metres he has also won A3, A2 and A1 graded affairs showing he is versatile over both trips.
Stephen on him said: “He’ll get the distance and has a bit of early. He has track experience now. S1 is a tough grade at Henlow and has done pretty well there over 550 metres. Trap five is good for him but a good dog should run well from any trap within reason.”
