After weeks of preparation and two rounds we are down to the final five and six of the Coral Maiden and Coral Essex Vase. The finals over 400 and 575 metres have well been worth watching and the finals at 8.38pm and 8.54pm will surely also be full of high drama and excitement. Worth £3,000 and £10,000 to the winners, the ones who get their names on the trophy will have deserved it.
Away from the competitions, Romford have put on eleven supporting opens for us to enjoy. As ever there are greyhounds making their Romford debuts and stepping up in trip for the first time. Yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about four of them.
Henlow trainer Richard Devenish knows what it takes to win at Romford and tonight races two of his charges around the Essex circuit for the first time.
First up is Distant Tiger in heat one of the Romford Friday night maidens over 400 metres at 6.28pm. The February ‘20 whelp has had all of his eleven races at home track Henlow winning three times. Those wins came in D1, A3 and A2 graded affairs over 277 and 460 metres. The son of Droopys Sydney and Lenon Abigail clearly has early and the fact he has won over 277 metres bodes well when attempting 400 metres in race conditions for the first time tonight. In a recent spin over C&D he clocked a calculated time of 24.38 along with a sectional split time of 24.36.
On him Richard said: “He went quite well in his trial considering he didn’t come out too well. He flopped out the traps. It can take two or three goes to get it right.
“It will be nice to qualify and get another look under his belt before the final. More familiarization with the track and traps will definitely benefit him.
“He has early and 400 metres will be better for him. He should be okay around the track as well. 460 metres is his limit. In slower going he knows it by the home straight.
“We’re happy with the draw, we have no problems with that. Fingers crossed he goes well and qualifies. If in the final we would expect him to go better.”
Ladbrokes and Corals are top price 9/4 for him to win at Romford at the first time of asking.
Dece Tyson is next up for ‘team Devenish’ in a maiden stayers race at 7.36pm over 575 metres. The October ‘19 whelp has improved immensely from his humble beginnings in an A10 race over 380 metres at Crayford.
Formerly in the care of Dean Child’s the son of Coolavanny Jap and Stream Babs went through the grades at Crayford from A10 to A5 before going into the capable hands of Devenish. With him he has won over both 460 and 550 metres in A4, A3 and S1 graded affairs. He looks like he needs longer and 575 metres could be ideal for him. In a recent trial over 400 metres he showed all is well when clocking a calculated time of 24.70.
Richard on him said: “He was with Dean Childs who bred him. He is a nice sort and does need further. I think he will get 575 metres. He got 550 metres fine and that is probably a stiffer test.
“He is a good strong runner and we’re quite hopeful for him. If he gets racing room he will be somewhere there.
“He did a nice trial, we were happy with it. He got tangled up a bit. He needs longer trips as he tends to find trouble over four bends against those type of dogs.
“Of our two he is our main hope. If he gets racing room he will do well.”
William Hills are top price 8/1 for the former Crayford raider to win over six bends at the first attempt.
Lemming Candy is not just making her Romford debut but her race one as well. Trained by local handler Michelle Brown, the May ’20 whelp is currently unraced and starts her career tonight in heat two of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens over 400 metres at 6.43pm.
The daughter of Magical Bale and Lemming Boleyn has had several trials over C&D clocking a best time of 24.28. She has had a trial at Perry Barr but turned in the traps. Since then, she has had three trials at Romford and has not done that since. She appears to be not the most consistent from the boxes and possibly needs a longer trip.
Michelle on her said: “She has trap four for a trap one dog which is far from ideal especially in her first ever race. We think a lot of her. In her second ever trial she clocked 24.28 for a May ’20 whelp. You don’t see that very often.
“We took her to Perry Barr and she turned in the traps. She doesn’t do that at Romford but does mess about in the traps. She never comes out brilliant though. We will give her a couple of runs at Romford to give her more trap experience.
“She’s not a Romford dog but due to her trapping issues have started her there. She will relish 480 to 500 metres. She can pass dogs and has shown that in trials when going past A1/A2 dogs.
“She is talented and hopefully will show something. We did plan on taking her to Monmore but at the moment that is a massive ask.”
Coral and Ladbrokes are 7/1 for her win her first ever race.
Slippy Nina for trainer Nathan Hunt has had all of her sixteen races at home track Romford and now attempts 750 metres for the first time at 9.42pm. The February ’20 whelp has raced and won over 575 metres in S5 and S3 graded affairs and looks like she needs further. The daughter of Droopys Buick and Droopys Romina gets all of 575 metres and eight bend trips could be the making of her.
Nathan on her said: “She looks like she will stay the trip based on her 575 metres runs. The race is a big step up in class though.
“She has bumped into a fast one in Burgess Elite [trap four] but hopefully she can give a good account of herself.
“She has trap one and she loves that trap.”
She is generally 25/1 with the ‘bookies’ to win over eight bends at the first attempt.
