Gold Cup at Cheltenham or Golden Sprint at Romford? I know where I’ll rather be. After weeks of preparation and two previous rounds we are down to the final six. The showpiece category one competition concludes at 8.54pm and never disappoints. With three supporting finals, the night should not be missed.
Away from the finals there are several greyhounds making their Romford debuts or stepping up in trip for the first time. True to form, I’ve endeavoured to find out more about three of them.
Hove trainer Jamie Kingsley is constantly on the road these days with his open racers and tonight tries his charge, March On Larry at Romford for the very first time in a maidens race over 400 metres at 6.28pm. In fact, the July ’20 whelp is not only making his Romford debut but his race debut as well.
The son of Out Of Range ASB and Moanteen Golden has had trials in Ireland and five on these shores. Three of those trials were at Monmore over 480 metres with the last two over C&D. In those trials he clocked calculated times of 24.36 and 24.46. The unraced youngster will be expected to improve on those times.
Jamie on him said: “We don’t know what he is yet. We’re still finding out if he is a short four bend runner or needs a big four bends,
“His trials at Monmore were to be fair were bang average but his trials at Romford were very good; he ran the track well. We are pleased with him at Romford. It is the only track we have tried him at he has taken to.
“It is his first ever race and it will be interesting to see how he goes. It will be interesting and are looking forward to it but do not have high hopes as it’s his first ever race.
“He was bought to be a dog and are pleased with him. He ran Romford well and the draw has worked out well for him.”
The unraced youngster is available at 11/4 to win his first ever race.
Local handler David Mullins knows what it takes to win over six bends and tonight steps up Wentworth over 575 metres for the very first time tonight in a maiden stayers race at 6.58pm. The October ’19 whelp has won eight times from thirty eight races over four bends.
Those wins include open and top grade victories at home track Romford and one on the road at Harlow over 415 metres. The son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Greatest can clearly hold his own against four bend dogs and if able to stay may not be a maiden stayer for long. He is in good form now with two wins and two second place finishes from his last four races at Harlow and Romford.
David on him said: “He’ll stay. He will get it. His litter sister is Anastasia and she has won a heat and final over 575 metres at Romford. Most of the litter look like they stay and he looks like one of them.
“In the last few weeks, he has started to come forward and is in good form. We hope that continues over six bends and think it will. We are happy with the trap draw.”
Coral make him 4/1 to win over six bends at the first time of asking.
Regular readers may have had a nice 5/4 winner last week courtesy of Ritzy Flyer in the ‘lucky last’. Trained by Jim Reynolds she justified the decision to race her at Romford when winning by 2 ¼ lengths in a time of 24.29.
It pays to follow this column.
