It’s Friday and that can only mean one thing: open racing at Romford. The Essex track have put on eleven opens amongst their thirteen race card for our enjoyment and with a category three competition starting and two concluding there is plenty to get stuck into. As ever there are several greyhounds making their Romford race debuts and true to form I’ve endeavoured to find out more about four of them.
Henlow trainer Andrew Ioannou is back at Romford again this week and tries his Nineteenred over 400 metres at the Essex venue for the first time in heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens at 6.43pm.
The son of Ballymac Vic and Westmead Angelic has had all of his eighteen races at home track Henlow over 460 metres winning six times. Those wins came in A9 to A5 graded company as the February ’20 whelp worked his way through the graded ranks. The early paced sort has had two trials over C&D clocking calculated times of 25.63 and 25.02 and will be expected to continue his improvement.
Andrew on him said: “He is the same type of dog we brought to Romford last week. He has early but doesn’t quite stay the trip at Henlow.
“The Romford distance is ideal but will find out if Romford is better. In his first trial he moved very wide. His second trial was much better and he improved on his time dramatically. It’s all about experience at Romford and hopefully will give him and the two last week a few more races at the track to see how far they can progress.
“He has nice early and needs to get around the bend in a good position. He can be a bit hit or miss at the traps and hopefully he will be fine from trap six. He tends to run at Henlow from traps four and five but seems to run Romford wider.
“We will see what happens, it’s all you can do.”
Ladbrokes are top price 14/1 for the Henlow raider to win first time up at Romford.
Brennans Mick is not only making his Romford debut but his race one for local handler Michelle Brown as well in heat two at 6.58pm over 400 metres.
The August ’19 whelp has had all his previous nineteen races on these shores with Doncaster trainer Debbie Calvert. At then home track Doncaster the son of Ballymac Best and Emers Ivy won four races over 275 and 450 metres in D3, D2 and B3 graded affairs. The switch ‘dahn sarf’ to Romford may prove fruitful as 400 metres could be ideal for him. He has had two trials in Essex over 225 and 400 metres clocking good calculated times of 13.74 and 24.44. It may not be long before he gets his first win at Romford.
Michelle on him said: “We got him from Debbie Calvert and looks a bargain. He’s been impressive in trials and did a 3.77 split last time out and hopefully that gets him around in front.
“His sprint trial was good and thought we would start him off in a little maiden. He has taken to the track which is good and is a lovely compact little dog.
“His game is trapping. He has a good trap draw in six and looks like he is in a winnable race.”
On her other runners, Michelle said: “Bodell Frankie in the sprint race is one of mine that I like. She did it last week over two bends and hopefully does it again this week. She leads in 90% of her races over 400 metres but gets picked up. She has her trap one draw again.”
Brennans Mick is generally available at 11/8 to take the spoils first time for the trainer and at Romford. Bodell Frankie in the 8.17pm over 225 metres is 5/4 to make it two from two over C&D.
Hove trainer Richard Rees rarely visits Romford on a Friday night but tonight is mixing things up by braving the Friday traffic with his charge Droopys Comaneci.
The son of Laughil Blake and Droopys Pizazz is not only making his Romford debut but his six bend one as well in a maiden stayers race at 7.36pm over 575 metres. The August ’19 whelp has had the majority of his races at home track Hove over 500 metres winning three times. Those three wins came at the end of March and start of April when he completed a hat-trick by winning the Jenny Bunting Memorial Sweepstake final. At Hove he does his best running later on and the step up to 575 metres is well within his capabilities. In a recent trial over 225 metres he showed all is well with a calculated time of 13.96.
Richard on him said: “We haven’t been to Romford for a while. Hopefully it has been worth the wait. The signs are there that she stays. We think she will. She has been running well at Hove and does her running later on.
“It is a good next step for her and a good test for her. She did a good trial and seemed to take to the track. She will be fine from trap five and is a nice little bitch that is still improving.”
He is 11/2 to win at Romford and over six bends at the first time of asking.
Towcester trainer John Mullins knows what it takes to win at Romford and tonight tries his charge Alana Pet over 750 metres for the first time in a marathon race at 9.42pm.
The son of Droopys Roddick and Mustang Jill has been ever present on the open scene with wins at Hove over 500 metres and Towcester over 712 metres. 750 metres tonight is the furthest the August ’19 whelp has attempted but with wins over 712 metres will be expected to get the trip. Although attempting 750 metres for the first time he does have experience at Romford with four races over 575 metres. Having that track experience bodes well going into tonight’s race.
John on him said: “It’s his first race over 750 metres but has won over 712 metres at Towcester. He is a different dog on the bunny and will get the trip off of the front.
“He won’t be winning from off the pace unless he gets on the bunny early on and stays but not later on.
“Trap two is good for him. He is all good and will see how he gets on.”
On his other runners John said: “Sonic Emjay cannot break as bad as he did last week! He is improving all the time and has chances.”
Alana Pet is 13/8 with Corals to win over his longest distance to date while Sonic Emjay in the 8.17pm over 225 metres is 2/1 to take the spoils.
