It’s April Fool’s Day and the only ‘fools’ will be the ones that don’t watch the great action on display in Essex tonight. Romford have put on eleven opens amongst their thirteen race card for our enjoyment. With two concluding finals over 400 metres and 575 metres there is plenty to get stuck into. There are several greyhounds making their Romford race debuts and stepping up in trip tonight and yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about four of them going over 400, 575 and 750 metres.
Chelms Hamster for Hove trainer Jason Heath is not only making her Romford debut but her race one as well on these shores. In a maidens only race over 400 metres at 6.43pm, the April ’20 whelp does have some race experience with one run in Ireland at Drumbo Park over 306 metres which she won by eleven lengths.
Over here, the daughter of Skywalker Puma and Orange Maeve has had four trials at Romford and Hove. At home track Hove she clocked a good calculated time of 16.58 over 285 metres and in a recent trial over C&D recorded a good time of 24.37. She will be expected to improve on that time and if taking to Romford in race conditions may not be a maiden for long.
Jason on her said: “It’s her first race and we are still learning about her. She did a good enough trial for a first look and she should find a bit of time on that with a clear run. We hope she will progress onto better things and in time will get further.
“She is a middle runner but hope she will break better from six. We are not overly worried about her draw in six.”
He is generally 9/2 to win his first ever race.
Distant Oscar for Towcester trainer Patrick Janssens makes his four bend debut in a winner of one race over 400 metres at 6.58pm after three races over two bends at Towcester and Yarmouth. The October ’20 whelp won two of those three races at home track Towcester in an D2 graded affair and open race.
At Yarmouth over 277 metres the son of Droopys Sydney and Distant Lucy finished last after finding trouble at the first bend. In a recent trial over C&D the early paced youngster clocked a calculated time of 24.61 along with a 3.85 sectional. Both times will be expected to be improved for that look.
Patrick on him said: “It is his first four bend race and are not sure if he 100% gets the trip. We are still to find out if he is 400 metres dog or a sprinter. 400 metres will be his top whack.
“He has won an open and a D2 at Towcester over two bends and as an October ’20 whelp is still very young, he is still very green. As an October puppy he is still eligible for the Romford puppy cup later in the year. We will see how he gets on but going for that is a possibility.
“He clocked 24.61 in his trial and if you have a puppy as young as him who can do 24.40 your on the right track. At Towcester he is a lid pinger so if he does that at Romford he is better than his 3.85 split.
“He has trap three and that is a perfect draw for him.”
Skybet and Paddy Power are top price 15/8 for the youngster to win over four bends at the first time of asking.
Local runner Bubbly Mischief trained by Paul Young, after twenty eight races all at Romford over 400 metres makes his six bend debut in a maiden stayers affair over 575 metres at 7.56pm. The October ’19 whelp has won seven of those twenty-eight, winning in A7 to A3 graded races. The son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Greatest has moved up the grades nicely and now attempts six bends for the first time. He is the only wide seed in the race so could take advantage of the draw early on and show what he can do.
Steve Fluin, head of the Champagne Club Syndicate on him said: “We haven’t a clue whether he gets it. It looks like he could but the only way to find out is to try him over the distance.
“He is the litter brother of Anastasia, Doghouse Dazzler and Wentworth who have all won over 575 metres so staying is in the family. We hope he can follow suit.
“He has been going through the grades and done us proud. He has decent early and needs to lead to have any chance. It is a watching brief for us. He is the only wide seed in the race and does keep out of the way. We will see how he handles the last two bends.”
Corals are standout 7/1 for the local runner to win over six bends at the first attempt.
Lightfoot Styles for local handler Michelle Brown makes his eight bend debut in a maiden marathon race over 750 metres at 8.17pm. From thirteen previous races the May ’20 whelp has won one, which was at Towcester over 500 metres.
The son of Eden The Kid and Russanda Rhona has had two races over 575 metres at Romford recently finishing second in both. He raced at Yarmouth last month over 659 metres in the first round of the George Ing St Leger but was eliminated after finishing fourth after trouble at the first bend. If able to stay eight bends it could be where his future lies.
Michelle on him said: “I think he will get the trip. We are still trying to work him out. We took him to Yarmouth for the George Ing St Leger but he found trouble at the first bend.
“He is a bit of a clumsy dog as he runs in, then out, then in again. He is still young though and learning all the time. We seeded him middle and hopefully he will get a clear run.
“He has shown bits and pieces in trials and races that he can run. He has been running well in defeat and hope over eight bends he can get a clear run. Over 750 metres there shouldn’t be as much early in the race as he has been up against over six bends.
“He wasn’t bought as a stayer but more of a 500 metres dog but he does his better half of racing at the end. He has trap four and that is where he wants to be at the moment.”
He is generally 9/2 with the ‘bookies’ to take the spoils first time up over eight bends.
