With the Royal Jubilee festivities fast approaching, what a great way to kick off proceedings than with the start of the Coronation Cup. First run at Romford in 1986, the event over 575 metres has been a mainstay on the open scene ever since. Some great greyhounds of the past have won it including Orient Ron, Desperado Dan and Shotgun Bullet. On Friday, thirty six greyhounds line up to try and get their names put alongside the past greats.
Worth £5,000 to the winner for three runs, the competition has attracted some top entries all vying to get their paws on the trophy. Starting at 6.43pm, Essex is the place to be and watch on racing Post TV.
As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about four of the entrants.

Swift Raisin for Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr has won all his ten races over four bends. Those wins have come at Yarmouth and Romford over 462 and 400 metres in both graded and open affairs. Last week the March ’19 whelp was stepped up to six bends for the first time over C&D and finished fourth. The son of Eden The Kid and Swift Scrabble tackles 575 metres once again this week in heat two at 6.58pm. After his first attempt over longer trips, he will be expected to improve for it. The fact that he has winning form over 400 metres and can hold his own against early paced sorts bodes well going into the competition.
Paul on him said: “Last week was his first attempt over six bends. He will have to improve from last week and think he will. There is no reason why he shouldn’t get the trip. He gets Yarmouth strong.
“We thought we would give him another go. He has clocked sub 28 times at Yarmouth and has lots of early pace. Ideally, he leads as he will not be coming from the back. The dog can run and is a lot better off of the front.
“Hopefully he will come on for last week. He was a bit unlucky in a messy race. We will have our fingers crossed he gets on the bunny. He has trap two in his heat and that is perfect for him.”
Both Corals and Ladbrokes are offering 8/1 for the Yarmouth raider to improve on last week and take heat two. Corals are 50/1 for him to take the outright spoils.

 

Burr will be hoping his second runner Swift Cope in heat four of the Coronation Cup at 7.36pm can make it two from two to progress into the semi-finals. The June ’18 whelp is no stranger to the Romford faithful with twenty eight races around the Essex track. Twenty one of those were over 400 metres where the son of Eden The Kid and Zaras Fantasy won five.

Back in late 2020 and early 2021 he had seven races over C&D winning twice including reaching the semi-finals of the Essex Vase. Tonight, he is back over six bends at Romford for the first time since then and will be looking to get back to winning ways over extended trips.
Paul on him said: “He is our main contender. He is strong over 400 metres and 575 metres is far enough. He is a very fast dog at Romford. Over 575 metres he has the early pace to go up with the dogs. Against natural four bend dogs he can’t match the early pace.
“He is a lovely dog and has done us proud. We decided to go for the Coronation Cup with him instead of going to Towcester and have made the right decision.
“He is in good order and has no excuses. He loves this time of the year and loves Romford. He loves the summer months. He has trap two and that is perfect for him.”
Corals are 6/1 for the former Essex Vase semi-finalist to win his heat while they are 25/1 for him to lift the trophy.

Bandicoot Sammy for unattached trainer Ron Grey goes in heat five at 7.56pm in fine fettle after winning the category three Ladbrokes.com Kent Vase at Crayford last Saturday over 540 metres. The August ‘18 whelp will be looking to follow up that success by claiming the Coronation Cup. The son of Droopys Sydney and Samiya has had two races over C&D back in January where he won one and finished last after early trouble in his second attempt there. In April he showed his staying prowess when winning over 640 metres at Sunderland. The strong running sort should make his presence felt in the latter stages of the race.
Ron on him said: “He is on top of himself. He is almost four but is lightly raced due to the pandemic. Touch wood he has six to nine months left.
“We got him from Robert Gleeson after the Derby last year and he is a terrific dog with a brilliant temperament. We have taken our time with him and have mainly gone for one off opens with him. Some tracks he has taken to and there are some he doesn’t run.
“We took him to Crayford and thought he would come on for his trial and did. He finished third and then won the Kent Vase.
“He will get 575 metres at Romford all day long. When we took him there, he won first time up over the trip. In his sprint trial he did 13.66 which is one hell of a time. He will stay the trip no problem. We took him to Sunderland over 640 metres and he was unlucky to be eliminated in his semi-final.
“He has trap one and that is good for him as he rails at Romford but it doesn’t matter as he has won from traps one to six on his travels. He always runs a straight course to the bend.”
Corals are 6/1 for the recent Kent Vase victor to claim heat five while they are offering 25/1 for him to follow up his category three win with a category two victory.

Glenvale Tony for Suffolk Downs trainer Keith Robins goes in heat six at 8.17pm and will be looking to win over C&D at the third attempt. The January ’19 whelp has had two previous attempts at Romford over 575 metres in February this year and October last year finishing second and fourth. The son of Good News and Glenbrentonolive has won over 550 metres at Henlow in top graded and open affairs showing 575 metres is well within his grasp. Over four bends he has won over 460 metres at Henlow in A1 and open races and once at Doncaster over 483 metres.
Keith on him said: “It’s definitely the trip he wants. He will get 575 metres as he runs 600 metres strong. He has never seemed to run Romford that well though. He has got the ability but is not the luckiest dog.
“He has experience at lots of track and at Romford and we will see how he goes. We thought as it a nice competition we would give him one more chance there.
“He has a good draw in two, but he has not been coming out. He can do it but hasn’t been showing it lately. Fingers crossed he does well.”
Ladbrokes are 10/3 for him to win the last of the six heats and are 33/1 for him to win the competition.