It’s Friday night and what better way to spend it than watch the Golden Sprint semi-finals? If there is, I don’t want to know about it. The final eighteen will all be looking to add their names to the coveted category one competition first inaugurated in 1987.

The remaining entrants are only two races away from adding their name to the past winners such as Kinda Magic, Tims Crow and Blonde Snapper.

Away from the competition there is six other open races for our enjoyment amongst their thirteen race card. As ever there are several greyhounds making their Romford race debuts or attempting different distances for the first time and true to form I’ve endeavoured to find out more about three of them.

 

Lylas Boy in the care of local handler Nathan Hunt is no novice around the Essex track with winning open race form over 400 metres. The son of Ballymac Eske and Lemon Isabella however is having his first race over 225 metres there in the first heat of the Steve Simmons Sprint at 7.18pm.

The February ‘19 whelp has had a recent two bend race at Monmore over 264 metres where he finished third by only two lengths. On Wednesday he raced at Harlow over 415 metres finishing third after leading to the half way point. The former East Anglian Derby finalist at Yarmouth clearly has early and can hold his own over shorter trips.

Nathan on him said: “He has a bit of early and has been a decent dog for us. If he comes away he has a good chance in the race. It’s all on the break. Whoever comes away wins it.

“He ran at Harlow on Wednesday and got beat by a good local dog after leading. He ran well enough.

“He always runs well but doesn’t win as many races as he should. He is a versatile dog and can run in sprints. He ran at Monmore over 264 metres and ran well without winning.

“It is two runs for £1,000 and if worth taking the chance with him over two bends. He has trap one and is much better from there.”

Ladbrokes are offering 15/8 for him to over 225 metres at the first time of asking.

 

 

Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr spends so much time in Essex these days you will soon see him pop up in TOWIE. This week he tries his Drumdoit Junior over two bends for the very first time. The May ‘20 whelp goes in heat two of the Steve Simmons Sprint at 7.36pm. Like Lylas Boy in the first heat he has winning form at Romford over four bends and will be looking to add a win over 225 metres to that. Shorter trips seem his forte and two bend races may be in his range.

Paul on him said: “He has a lot of early pace. 400 metres is his ideal trip. Over 225 metres we thought he could hold his own if he comes out and leads.

“He has early and doesn’t get the 462 metres at Yarmouth. He is not a trap six dog but bizarrely traps better the wider he is. When he won his maidens final over 400 metres he had trap six and did his best break. He likes Romford and will see what happens.”

Ladbrokes and Corals are 6/1 for the early paced sort to show his worth over two bends

 

Former Romford trainer Jim Reynolds knows what it takes to win around the Essex track and tonight gives his Ritzy Lady her Romford race debut. In a bitches only race in the ‘lucky last’ at 9.42pm the September ‘19 showed her Romford credentials with a very impressive sprint trial.

Over 225 metres the daughter of Laughill Blake and Galloping Maeve clocked a calculated time of 13.38; twenty spots off the track record. For a greyhound that has been running over 480 metres at Monmore and Central Park that is some going. If able to replicate that in race conditions over 400 metres she will soon be adding a win to her three wins at Central Park and Perry Barr.

Jim on her said: “She did a brilliant trial. We took her there to give her another run and was thinking it was a good time but didn’t hear it at the time. On the eye she took off and was foot perfect. She hit the ground running. The time was a pleasant surprise,

“400 metres could be suited for her and she has certainly taken to the track. The long term plans are the Oaks and the Laurels at Perry Barr later in the year.”

Ritzy Lady is generally available at 5/4 to win at Romford at the first time of asking.