Tonight, sees the last open card of the year at Romford. Fear not, the Essex track will be back with its usual Friday night open races early next year with the start of the prestigious Essex vase and a new maiden competition for greyhounds who have not won an open or graded race in at least six attempts.
Until then we finish the open race calendar at Romford for this year with twelve races amongst their thirteen race card. With an Essex Vase trial stakes taking place and several races over 575 metres tonight may be a good gauge for the competition next year. To help, yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about three greyhounds over 575 metres and while I was at it one over 400 metres for your enjoyment.
After seven races at Romford over 400 metres Lulu You Go is attempting six bends for the very first time tonight in a maiden stayers race at 6.43pm. Trained by local handler Nathan Hunt, the November ’19 whelp has won one of those seven in an A5 graded affair. The daughter of No Joke Rebel and Rossinarna Biddy appears to want further and the step up to 575 metres could be the making of her.
Nathan on her said: “I think she will stay. She has been running on very strong over 400 metres. She lacks a bit of early over four bends but could lead against six bend dogs. She is the half-sister of Jonno You Go who has won over 500 metres and stays quite well.
“She has been crying out for further especially in her last two runs and looks like she will get it. She has a really good draw in one and has plenty of room to get to the bend in front.”
Corals and William Hills are top price 9/2 for her to win over six bends at the first time of asking.
Monmore trainer Paul Sallis is taking on the Friday traffic from his Derbyshire base to give two of his charges their Romford race debuts. First up is Tashade in a puppies only race at 6.58pm over 400 metres. The January ’20 whelp has had twelve races winning five of them.
Those five wins came at Monmore and Sheffield over 480 and 500 metres. At Sheffield the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and El Nora won the Young Guns competition worth £3,000. Tonight she is being dropped in trip to 400 metres and will be expected to improve on her trial last month over C&D where she clocked 24.57 calculated.
Paul on her said: “She has done alright so far. She loves Sheffield and loves a fast track. We thought we would drop her down. We were disappointed with her trial as we expected her to beat our other runner, Ballydoyle Luigi. I scratch my head sometimes over her times.
“We expect her to improve her time hence why we have come back with her. If she pops out and goes around in front and puts the hammer down it will take a good dog to get around her.
“In her last race at Monmore she stumbled a bit at the start and still ran well to finish second. She is a decent trapper.
“She has had a couple of runs at Monmore recently and is running well. We will see how she goes and thought we would have a go with her. Trap one is good for her. She is a decent trapper so draws don’t tend to matter too much but trap one is good for her.”
Corals are top price 7/2 for the early paced sort to win at Romford at the first attempt.
Next up for ‘Team Sallis’ is Ballydoyle Luigi in the Coral Essex Vase trial stakes over 575 metres at 8.17pm. The October ’19 whelp although making his Romford race debut has winning form over six bends to his name. The son of Kinloch Brae and Fear Emoski has proved his staying credentials with an open race win at home track Monmore last month over 630 metres. He also has winning open form over 480 metres at Monmore as well to add to his six bend victory. His six bend win was his only race over extended trips and he will be looking to add to that tonight.
Paul on him said: “He has trap four and is a bang railer, he likes the rails. He has got to come away. In his 630 metres race he had trap four as well and flew out of the traps. He popped out and led all the way.
“He trialled well at Romford. We were pleased with his trial and surprised he beat our other runner as he is a middle distance runner. He will see out the 575 metres trip at Romford no problem. 630 metres is about his maximum at the moment but 575 metres will not be a problem for him.
“Both greyhounds are in good heart and will see how we go. If Luigi runs well then we may have a crack at the Essex Vase next month. Tashade will be going back to Sheffield as she loves it there.”
Skybet are top price 8/1 for him to make it two from two wins over six bends.
Nolas Marvel after fifteen races is making her six bend debut in a maiden stayers race at 8.38pm over 575 metres. Although trained by local handler Michelle Brown, the April ’20 whelp is actually making her Romford race debut tonight. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Nolas Meg raced at Doncaster under the care of Kenneth Bowman and won over 450 metres in B4, B3 and B2 graded affairs. Since being with Michelle she had four races at Towcester over 500 metres and is now taking on Romford after a 575 metres trial last week. In that trial she clocked a good calculated time of 35.74. She will be expected to improve and extended trips could be where her future lies.
Michelle on her said: “She has not been with us for that long. She has settled down really well now. We took her straight to Towcester after coming to us and her first run was disappointing. The last couple were more pleasing. In her last race she was doing well but mistimed the fourth bend and hit the rails. If she had not done that she would have gone close.
“Her Romford trial was good. The trip should suit her. She should improve for the trial as she stayed it well. She will come on for it as it was a good first look.
“She is only a baby. She has trap five and that should be okay for her. She is more of a three to four trap dog but trap five shouldn’t be too bad for her.”
On her other runners who she thinks could go well, Michelle said: “One For Gold. If he traps he has a good chance in a winnable race. He is a consistent dog with a nice draw in six.”
Skybet are offering 10/1 for Nolas Marvel to claim the spoils over six bends at the first attempt while William Hills are top price 5/1 for One For Gold to win the 7.56pm.
