The Champion Stakes, first inaugurated in 1944 and held at Romford since 1988 has quite a roll of honour and last Friday, Night Time Danny trained by Henlow’s Stephen Rayner empathically added his name to it. The 3/1 chance was last out of the traps but showed great pace and track craft to take the lead at the last bend to win by 3 ¼ lengths.
There may be no category one competitions this week but with ten opens on show there is plenty to enjoy. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about three greyhounds running tonight.
Sunderland trainer Karolyn Blackbird is braving the Friday traffic from her County Durham base to race her charge Mucho Macho Ezra at Romford for the first time at 6.58pm. In a maidens race over 400 metres the April ’19 whelp will be looking to make it third time lucky to get on the winners podium. At home track Sunderland the son of Laughill Blake and Mucho Macho Emma has raced twice in graded affairs over 450 metres but finished second twice. He appears to have early and the drop to 400 metres could be beneficial for the pacey sort and just what he needs.
Ross Miller, kennel hand to Karolyn on him said: “400 metres could be ideal for him. He hasn’t been doing what we expected of him at Sunderland so thought we would take him down to Romford and see how he goes.
“He has really good early and Romford could suit him. We went to Romford in late August with two runners and both won so we hope he can do that.
“At Sunderland in his two races he has never been able to clear the first bend without a bit of trouble. He then does his running to get to the front and gets picked up.
“He wants trap one or trap two. He should be okay from trap two for his first look around Romford.”
Coral and Ladbrokes are both offering 4/1 for the Sunderland raider to win at Romford at the first time of asking.
Towcester trainer Kevin Boon knows what it takes to win at Romford and tonight tries his Farneys Holly at the Essex track for the first time. In a maidens race at 7.18pm over 400 metres the February ’20 whelp has had three races on these shores and is yet to get on the scoresheet. Two of those races were at Perry Barr for the Oaks. In the first round, the daughter of Ballyanne Sim and Oldburrin Diva finished fifth by 7 ¾ lengths after trouble to eventual winner Billys Diva. Her last race was at Monmore over 480 metres where she finished second after early crowding. The drop to 400 metres might be just what she needs to get her first win.
Kevin on her said: “I went for the Oaks with her and rushed her preparations for it. In hindsight she probably wasn’t quite ready to go for it at that stage. In time she will stay 480 metres but right now 400 metres is a good starting point for her.
“The one thing she definitely has is a nice bit of early. At Monmore she missed her break but came out of the second bend second. She ran well there for a first look and did well to finish second after missing her break.
“I like Romford on a Friday night and intend to keep her there for the next three weeks at least. If she proves good enough, the Towcester derby is a target. She has definitely got potential.
“I spotted her at Kilkenny and she ticked all the boxes I look for in a dog and managed to get hold of her. Hopefully she settles at Romford and gets a couple of wins. She has trap two and although running at Romford for the first time, that should be fine for her.”
Corals and Ladbrokes are both 7/1 for her to win at Romford at the first time of asking.
Longvale Jim is back at Romford for trainer Kevin Boon after a two week hiatus. In heat two of the Romford Friday night standard at 8.17pm over 400 metres, the October ’19 whelp will be looking to make it two wins from six at the Essex venue. He has been at Monmore over 480 metres for the last two weeks where he finished last and fifth after finding early trouble both times. The son of Droopys Jet and Graigues Penny when winning over C&D clocked a good time of 24.11. If replicating that form tonight he will be a big player.
Kevin on him said: “He is a right good dog. He reminds me of Shaneboy Freddie as he is built like him and has so much early from the traps. Hopefully he can be as good as him.
“He has done 24.11 at Romford but I definitely think he has a 23.80 or quicker in him. With his early he has a catch me if you can style about him. He is only two years old and I’m right chuffed with him.
“We took him to Monmore but they have different traps to Romford and he struggled with them and missed his break both times.He has trap five and that should be no problem for him providing he traps.”
Corals are offering 4/1 for him to add to his one Romford win.
