After weeks of preparations and trial stakes, the Coral Golden Sprint finally starts tonight. The £10,000 to the winner category one competition traditionally attracts the top entries and this year is no different. First inaugurated in 1987 the showpiece competition has been won by past greats such as Kinda Magic, Tims Crow and Blonde Snapper. The thirty six competing tonight will all be looking to add their names to that list. As ever, yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about three greyhounds making their Romford race debuts in the heats tonight.
Across The Field for Monmore trainer Kim Billingham will be trying to set the standards in the opening heat at 6.43pm. The July ‘19 whelp has shown he processes early pace with wins at home track Monmore over 264 metres and Nottingham over 305 metres.
At Monmore the son of Farloe Rumble and Otherdetails has won three times, two in D1 graded affairs and once in an open race. Tonight, is only his second race over four bends, with his first one over 480 metres at Monmore last November. Shorter four bend trips appear to be better suited for him and Romford and 400 metres could suit him down to the ground. In a trial over C&D in early January he showed Romford could be for him with a calculated time of 24.31 and importantly a split of 3.79.
Kim on him said: “He trialled well at Romford earlier on in the year. After that we took him to Towcester but he never got to grips with the boxes there.
“We need him to get out of the traps. He can do it and did do it in his trial at Romford. We need him to do it again. We would prefer a draw much nearer to the rails than he has [trap four]. That is why he needs to show his early toe. When he gets it right he has bundles of early.
“He is a nice little dog and are going to Riomford full of hope. We love it at Romford and are looking forward to it. We wouldn’t go if we didn’t think a lot of him.”
He is generally 8/1 with the ‘bookies’ to win his heat first time up at Romford and is top price 80/1 with Paddy Power to take the outright spoils.
Only Maloney for Hove trainer Jason Heath is not only making his Romford race debut but is attempting his furthest distance to date on these shores. The April ‘16 whelp has won fifteen of his thirty six races over two and four bends.
The son of Taylors Sky and Curryhills Lmont recently showed his class again at Crayford over 380 metres when winning the Ladbrokes.com Winter One Lap minor competition unbeaten. Those wins bode well going into heat three at 7.18pm tonight. In a recent trial over C&D he showed all is well with a calculated time of 24.37 for a first look. At home track Hove he has won over 285 so is comfortable over two and short four bend trips.
Jason on him said: “He stayed Romford well enough in his trial and will hopefully take his Crayford form there.
“400 metres the furthest he’s ever been but stayed it well. He held off a strong runner in his trial. If he led in his race and got picked up, I’ll be disappointed.
“He ran Romford well in his trial and if he gets a clear run could find a chunk a time after his look around.
“He is around 40/1 ante post and that seems a big price. If he takes to the track which we think he will, he could go far. He is a wide runner and is well drawn.”
The Hove raider and Crayford specialist is top price 6/1 with William Hills to win over his furthest distance to date. Bet365 are top price 40/1 for pacey sort to win it outright.
Havana Class won’t need much of an introduction to followers of the open race scene. Trained by Liz McNair the July ‘19 whelp has previously won the Laurels at Perry Barr and reached the finals of the Sovereign Stakes and Northamptonshire Sprint at Towcester over 270 metres.
Tonight, the son of World Class and Havana Lottie makes his Romford race debut in heat six at 8.17pm. In a trial over C&D last month he showed he could be a player with a calculated time of 24.15. 400 metres for him could be ideal after winning over two and four bends.
Rab McNair, assistant trainer to wife Liz on him said: “He will get 400 metres standing on his head. The trip is better for him than sprints. He has bundles of early pace but is not an out and out sprinter. An easy four bend trip is what he needs. He is that type of dog.
“His trial was very good. He impressed me with his trial at Romford and expect him to improve. We are very, very happy with him and he is running really well.
“We like going to Romford and are looking forward to the night. We try and target competitions with the right dogs.
“We had to plan ahead for this for him and trialled him last month. He is in a top heat but knows how to win a race. He has a good draw in two which is right up his street.”
Corals and Ladbrokes are 11/8 for him to take the last heat while several firms are offering 6/1 for the Laurels winner to lift the trophy.
