Your favourite read is back at Romford after a three week hiatus. Our summer may be on the wane but something that is certainly not is the open race action at the Essex track. With the Coral Romford Puppy Cup starting in two weeks’ time, the track has put on several puppy cup trial stakes for our enjoyment. The next potential stars are out in force to show their potential ahead on the showpiece competition, first inaugurated in 1975. With several puppies making their Romford race debuts yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about three of them.
Crafty San Diego trained by David Mullins who has won the puppy cup four times previously is making his Romford race debut after one race away from the Essex track. In the first puppy cup trial stake at 6.28pm over 400 metres, the February ’21 whelp although the youngest in the race has already raced at Central Park over 480 metres. In that race the promising youngster finished last after early trouble. The son of Droopys Jet and Cockyourconfident has had two recent trials over C&D clocking good calculated times of 24.57 and 24.43. That improvement of fourteen spots will be expected to improve.
David of him said: “He’s potentially going for the puppy cup. We will see how he goes. It’s certainly in the pipeline for him. He is improving gradually and hopefully improves enough to go in.
“He’s taking a bit of time to get going but is still very young and very inexperienced. In time he looks to be a very nice dog.
“He has trap five and that should be okay. He might come in but at Nottingham he trialled from six and kept a straight line to the bend. It’s quite a difficult race on paper, more so for the sectionals as they are all very similar and could all go into the corner at around the same time.
“We also have Fabulous Big in the race and she has a much better draw in trap two this week.”
Corals are top price 4/1 for him to win at Romford at the first time of asking.
Chelms Marley for Romford handler Gemma Evans makes not only his Romford debut but his race one on these shores. In the first heat of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens at 7.18pm over 400 metres the October ’20 whelp will be looking to get off to winning ways. Although yet to race over here the son of Droopys Buick and Melodys Molly does have race experience in Ireland. He has winning form at Shelbourne Park over 480 metres in an A3 graded affair. He goes into tonight’s race after three trials over C&D. From his first trial time of 25.00 to his last one of 24.23, he has found an amazing sixty seven spots. Continued improvement will be expected for the improving youngster.
Gemma on him said: “He has trialled in really well and ideally will go for the puppy cup. After his first trial we were not sure about the competition but he kicked on in his next two trials.
“We are still learning about him, but he does have race experience in Ireland and his splits improved with each trial.
“He was bought with the puppy cup in mind and thought we would enter him in the maiden competition to hopefully get a few maiden races in him before the competition starts.
“Trap three may not be ideal for him but hopefully he can get to the first bend in front.”’
On one of her other runners, Glengar Jenny she said: “She is running really well and won last week. Hopefully she can repeat that again on Friday. The Oaks is a target for her next.”
The ‘bookies’ are generally 3/1 for Chelms Marley to win on these shores first time up while Glengar Jenny is top price 2/1 with Skybet and Paddy Power to make it two from two in the 9.28pm.
Suffolk Downs trainer Kevin Boon knows what it takes to win at Romford and tonight tries his Farneys Trend in a puppy trial stakes over 400 metres at 8.17pm. The November ’20 whelp has had five races already at Nottingham over 305 and 500 metres winning once. That win came over 500 metres. The son of Magical Bale and Gentle Trend trialled at Romford before four of those at Nottingham and clocked a decent calculated time of 24.50. With race experience since then he will be expected to improve on that. The early paced sort looks ideal for a short bend trip right now.
Kevin on him said: “He is a nice dog for the future and the puppy cup is definitely an aim for him. We went for the classic at Nottingham with him but was a bit unlucky in his heat.
“In time he will be a good 480/500 metres dog but 400 metres could be good for him right now. He did 24.50 in his trial at Romford and that was okay but he has more experience since then and hopefully runs the track well.
“He has trap five. I would prefer him in four but five will be alright for him. He is a big dog at 35kg and needs a bit of space to the bend.”
On another potential entry, Kevin said: “We are trialling his sister, Farneys Select before racing. In Ireland they hold her in high regard so we will see how she gets on and progresses.”
5/1 is generally available for him to take the spoils.
For those who read my Monmore version of this column last week may have had a nice little winner at an SP return of 6/4 courtesy of Maglass Brave. Trained by Nathan Hunt he duly obliged in his maiden race by four lengths. Those early birds may have snaffled up the 7/4 being offered during the day.
It pays to follow this column.
