It’s the start of the weekend and that means open racing at Romford writes Rob Abrey.
What better way to kick start proceedings than twelve open races at the Essex track? Starting from 6.09pm, the twelve race card sees the start of a stayers and maidens competition over 575 and 400 metres along with two finals that conclude tonight. There are greyhounds making their Romford race debuts tonight and as ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about four of them.
Malbay Pippa for Henlow trainer Marlene Westwood is looking to win at her third track. The June ’18 whelp has won graded races at Towcester and Henlow and is now attempting to win at Romford over her longest distance to date. The daughter of Lenson Panda and Forrachmore runs over six bends tonight for the very first time in a maiden stayers race at 6.28pm over 575 metres.
When at Towcester she was in the charge of Heather Dimmock before going with Marlene. At Towcester she won over 270 metres twice in D4 graded affairs. After the switch to Henlow she has won over 460 metres four times in A7, A5, A4 and A3 graded company. She is in fine fettle winning her last two races and if able to stay could be a player.
Jason Mercer, assistant trainer to Marlene Westwood on her said: “We think she will stay. It is a very hard race especially with David Mullins’ dog in five (Troy Firebird). We will look to take her to Romford again, maybe next week and get an easier race!
“She is in very good form and were pretty confident she will stay. She has decent trapping ability but can be tapped for a little pace between bends two to three. She runs a bit flat and then stays on again.
“She should take to the track, we’ve been talking about it for a while. All being well we will bring her back for more experience. She has trap three and that is ideal for her, she is a confirmed middle runner.”
The Olympics is currently taking place and the aptly named Blarney Gold will be looking to take top spot for Hove trainer Jamie Kingsley and connections. The July ’19 whelp has had all of her twenty two races on these shores at home track Hove winning five. Those five wins have come over both 285 and 500 metres. Tonight, she makes her Romford race debut in heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens at 7.36pm over 400 metres. Her last three races at Hove have been over 500 metres and the drop to 400 metres could prove beneficial for the pacey sort.
Jamie on her said: “The distance should be a lot better for her. She has been running well in sprints but not so much over 500 metres. She goes well for 300 metres then starts to struggle. We thought we would switch her to Romford and see how she gets on.
“Ideally you have to trap at Romford and her time of 16.50 at Hove could be good enough to lead a maiden race. Hopefully she will take to the track, we think she will.
“We are happy enough with her in trap five. She traps from five or six at Hove”.
On his other runner, March On Leo in the opening race at 6.09pm, Jamie said: “He should go well. Trap six in the race (Signature Callum) is a big danger but we expect him to go well.
If first you don’t succeed, try, try, again. That certainly appears to be the motto of Savana Sunlight. Trained by Towcester’s Derick Atkins the June ’19 whelp has already had two races at Romford back in February and March this year failing to win both.
The daughter of Ballybough Mike and Droopys Cuckoo is back in heat two of the maidens competition at 7.56pm to make it third time lucky. Since racing at Romford, she has winning form at Henlow over 460 metres in an A3 graded affair and at Towcester over 270 metres in D2 graded company. The fact she has recently won a sprint bodes well going over 400 metres tonight and will need to utilise her early pace.
Derrick on her said: “She’s not really a sprinter and will struggle to make the bend in sprints from trap one. She will not get the 500 metres at Towcester, no way.
“She ran well at Romford before but was not coming away. She went to Nottingham and came out the traps four times but 480 metres is too long for her. She did a 4.04 sectional at Nottingham over 480 metres so can trap.
“We have entered her for a maiden at Romford, it’s worth taking a chance with her again. The distance suits her and she has track experience. She is well in herself and is more mature now. We are happy with the draw; she wants trap one. We have a bit of hope and that is what greyhound racing is.”
Harry Sagar for Central Park trainer Matt Dartnall races away from his home track for the first time after four races to tackle heat three of the maidens comp at 8.17pm. The December ’19 whelp has won two of his four races at Central Park. Those two wins came over 265 and 480 metres in D2 and A2 graded affairs.
The son of Droopys Jet and Attention Seeker clearly has bundles of early and the drop to 400 metres after running a stiff four bend trip at home track Central Park could prove beneficial. He has had a recent spin over C&D clocking a good calculated time of 24.22 along with a 3.94 split. Both times will be expected to improve after his first look around the Essex venue.
Matt said: “We were really happy with his trial but needs to improve his splits. He is a really nice dog with early pace.
“The main aim is the Puppy Cup at Romford if he is good enough. We need to figure out in the coming weeks if he is good enough. We will keep him at Romford until the competition to give him plenty of experience.
“He can be a bit hit or miss from the traps. He is still a raw, green pup. He has pace and needs to put it altogether. He needs experience and a few looks around.
“Trap six is a good draw for him. He won both his races at Central Park from trap six.”
Regular readers of this column may have had two winners last week courtesy of Granree Rose and Puckane Daddy. Colin Creighton assistant trainer to Jean Liles put up Granree Rose as the best chance from their kennel and she duly obliged by 3 ½ lengths at an SP return of 11/4. Michelle Brown also put up one and Puckane Dady didn’t disappoint either when winning his race by 3 ¾ lengths at an SP return of 4/5. Those who took prices early may have had a nice little double at 5/1 and Evs.
It pays to follow this column.
