It’s Friday and that means one thing: open racing at Romford. Even though the Essex Vase finished last week that will not stop the top quality action continuing this week. With ten opens on show from their thirteen race card there is plenty to enjoy. As ever there are several greyhounds making their Romford race debuts and stepping up in trip. Yours truly as always has endeavoured to find out more about four of them.
Droopys Solution for local handler Paul Young is making his Romford debut after two races at Towcester in heat two of the Romford Friday night maidens at 7.18pm. The June ‘20 whelp has had his first two races on these shores at the Northamptonshire track over 500 metres but has yet to win. That could all change tonight for the son of Tullymurry Act and Droopys Saga. He has had four trials over C&D late last year so has plenty of track experience. His best calculated time was 24.41 and after his two runs at Towcester will be expected to improve on that.
Paul on him said: “He is a nice puppy. He is a bit raw and is learning all the time. He will be a nice puppy going forward but just needs a bit of time.
“He needs experience and needs a few races under his belt. He is more of a middle distance dog but thought we would run him at Romford in a maiden for experience.
“He has his box [trap six] and now only has pace on his inside.”
Several firms are offering 3/1 for him to win at Romford at the first time of asking.
After thirty six runs all at home track Romford over 400 metres, Fire Paper for Bernie Doyle is making his six bend debut. The daughter of Droopys Jet and Fire Back over 400 metres has won twelve from those thirty six races with seven in top graded company and one open.
The July ‘19 whelp can clearly hold her own against natural four bend dogs and if taking to 575 metres may shed her maiden stayers tag in heat two of the Romford Friday night stayers at 7.56pm at the first attempt.
Bernie on her said: “Will she stay? I’ll tell you after the race! She goes to the pick-up well and is a great little bitch. She went from A8 to A1 in three runs.
“When she first came to us, she was very nervous but has settled down and is a bit of a character. She has a bit of early and has more of a chance of leading. She has been showing signs of staying.
“She has passed dogs to the pick-up but ideally will be at the front early and stretch them out. Catch me if you can.
“Over four bends she is not quite open class: a good A1 bitch but not an open racer. Over six bends she is capable of nicking a minor open.
“She is a genuine middle runner, trap four is her ideal box but trap five is fine for her. If she leads, she can then go where she wants.”
On his other runners Bernie said: “Wildcat Toney in the maiden final is our main hope of the night. He should go well.”
Fire Paper is generally available at 7/2 to win over six bends at the first attempt while Wildcat Toney is 2/1 to the Romford Friday night maiden final over 400 metres at 8.54pm.
Puttfor Juney in heat three of the Romford Friday night maiden stayers at 8.27pm is another local stepping up in trip. Trained by Paul Young the July ‘19 whelp after twenty one races around the Essex track is attempting six bends for the very first time. Over 400 metres the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Puttfor Donna has won in A3 and A2 graded affairs and a Inter Track race.
She has been contesting in top graded races but appears to struggle against natural four bend types. If able to get the distance she may not be a maiden stayers for long.
Paul on her said: “She is a nice bitch. She has been running in A1’s and they have a bit too much pace for her.
“There is every chance she will stay. We think she will. A good to fast track for her first attempt over the distance will do her a favour. Her litter sister [Puttfor Rags] has already won two S1 races.
“She is a 24.20 bitch and has the pace to lead these type of dogs. Hopefully she will get a run early and show us what she can do.
“She has trap two and it is where she wants to be.”
On his other runners who he thinks could go well, Paul said: “Puttfor Rags. He has won two S1 races already and has nice middle pace. He is a nice dog.”
Puttfor Juney is 10/1 to shed her maiden stayers tag at the first attempt while Puttfor Rags in heat two of the Romford Friday night 500 maiden stayers is 10/3 to take the spoils.
The Coral Golden Sprint over 400 metres starts next month and Romford are already putting on trial stakes in preparation for it. Knight Of Stars trained by Jamie Kingsley will be trying to show his credentials for it when making his Romford race debut at 9.12pm.
The September ‘19 whelp has had a trial over C&D back in August when under the care of Patrick Janssens. In that solo trial he clocked a very good calculated time of 24.00. Since then while still with Patrick the son of Droopys Jet and Vigorous Hilary was disqualified at Nottingham for deliberate interference. With Jamie he had his clearing trials and has had four races at Harlow and Central Park without any problems. If replicating that trial, he could show his potential.
Jamie on him said: “He was disqualified while with Patrick and done his clearing trials with us. We have raced him at Harlow and Central Park but has not been doing it for us.
“He has trialled at Romford and appears to like the track and 400 metres so thought we would take him back. If he starts well, he is an airplane. If he doesn’t, he will struggle.
“He hasn’t done anything wrong since being cleared which is encouraging. At the moment we’re not sure he is in this class. If he shows what he has done in the past, he could do well. He is fresh at the track and that could benefit him.
“He is a middle runner and has a good draw [trap five] against four railers. With a decent start he could get a clear run and see what he does. He is quick enough when he wants to be.”
He is generally available at 6/1 to get back to winning ways.
