Exciting times lay ahead at Romford. The Coral Puppy Cup over 400 metres starts tonight. A week after the showpiece competition finishes the Premier Racing Champion Stakes over 575 metres starts. Back-to-back category one competitions is certainly something to look forward to. In preparation for them yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about six puppies and one making his Romford and six bend debut.
The Coral Romford Puppy Cup worth £10,000 to the winner has traditionally attracted the top entries and this year is no different. Thirty six puppies line up to try and get their paws on the coveted trophy and winners cheque. Amazingly Central Park trainer Liz McNair has never won it or a category one at the Essex venue. This year they are trying to change that with four of their charges taking it on and all making their Romford race debuts. True to form I’ve found out more about all of them.
First up for ‘team McNair’ is Queen Pink in heat one at 6.43pm. The January ’21 whelp is the youngest in the race but already has six races under her belt. The daughter of King Sheeran and King Danni has won two of those six at Towcester and Central Park over 500 and 480 metres in an open and A2 affair.
In a recent spin over C&D she clocked a good calculated time of 24.50. For that look she will be expected to improve on that and with her running style will make her presence felt in the latter stages.
Rab McNair, assistant trainer and partner to Liz on her said: “She won an open at Towcester then went back to Central Park and won an A2. In that race at Central Park she was chopped off at the first bend, lost two to three lengths and ran a blinder to get up to win.
“She did a decent trial at Romford. It was her first time out of the boxes. We were very pleased with her. Her future is definitely over six bends. She looks a six bender. Her mother, King Danni was a stayer and she will stay. It’s a good competition and had to go for it. We will try and keep her to puppy races until next year.
“It’s a good race and will be good experience for her. She has trap two and that will be okay for her as she wants the rails.”
Several ‘bookies’ are offering 11/4 for her to get off to winning ways at Romford while Bet365 are top price 20/1 for her to take the outright spoils.
No Consideration after four races at home track Crayford for trainer Jim Reynolds attempts Romford for the first time in race conditions in heat two at 6.58pm. The October ’20 whelp has won three from those four in A4, A3 and A2 graded affairs over 380 metres. The son of Laughill Blake and No Recollection has bundles of early and 400 metres should suit him down to the ground. In a recent trial over C&D he clocked a calculated time of 24.45 with a split time of 3.77. His trapping ability could prove fruitful for trainer and connections.
Jim on him said: “He has come on leaps and bounds. He won his third and last race at Dundalk. He did an okay time in that race. We took a chance on him as the time was not top class. His breeding line though is exceptional. His mother was a runner up in the Irish Oaks.
“He took to Crayford really well. He clocked a 3.57 split at Crayford first time up. He has impressed at Crayford and has won races from the start. The owner Steve Taylor is a local at Romford and has always wanted to win the puppy cup. He has had a finalist in it before. The kennel is in good form and 400 metres looks his thing right now.
“Traps two or three are ideal for him with a genuine railer on his inside. He needs his trapping boots on to have a good run at it.”
William Hills are standout 9/2 for the early paced sort to take heat two. Several firms are offering 28/1 for the Crayford raider to claim the trophy and winners’ cheque.
In heat three at 7.18pm, King Ezra for McNair will be looking to get off to winning ways after six attempts at Towcester and Central Park. The January ’21 whelp already has competition experience at Towcester when he reached the semi-finals of the Juvenile Classic back in July over 500 metres. At Romford the son of King Sheeran and King Danni will be looking to go at least one better and reach the final. In a recent trial over C&D he showed his credentials with a very good calculated time of 24.29. Like his litter sister he will be expected to improve on that after his initial look around the Essex venue.
Rab on him said: “It is King Sheeran’s first litter and they look to be good. He will stay 500 metres at least. He has had a few races and reached the semi-finals of the Juvenile at Towcester. He is still very young and the experience at Romford will be good for him.
“We were impressed with his trial and feel there is plenty to come from him. Hr showed a lot of pace. He has a trap three and would prefer him in a bit as he is a railer at Romford.”
William Hills are top price 5/4 for him to take heat three while Bet365 are top price 10/1 for him to win it outright.
Queen Gaga will be looking to make it three from three for ‘team McNair’ to qualify to the semi-finals next week when making her Romford race debut in heat four at 7.36pm. The third and last of the King Sheeran and King Danni litter, she has competed in the least amount of races of three but has won two. Both those wins came at home track Central Park in open race affairs over 480 metres-.
In a recent trial over C&D the January ’21 whelp clocked the fastest calculated time of the three at 24.13.and the best sectional of 3.90. From her first race at Central Park to her second she improved by nineteen spots. Connections will hope there is similar improvement at Romford tonight.
Rab on her said: “At Central Park she has shown unbelievable pace and has been doing everything right. She is a lovely bitch.
“She broke her metatarsal when she was ten months and is a bit behind the others. We are so impressed with her. There is so much to come from her.
“We gave her a look for the comp and was very impressed. In her trial she veered right from the traps and got lost around the first and second bend a bit. There is so much more to come from her. Whether she takes to Romford or is too soon for her we will see. Hopefully she suits the track.
“She is very capable of showing at Romford and will give it her best shot. She could be a big player at the end of the year and next.”
Several firms are 10/11 for her to win first time up at Romford, To lift the trophy, Bet 365 are top price 15/2.
Havana Allablaze is the last of the McNair puppies and unlike the other three is from a different litter. The daughter of Grangeview Ten and Havana Lottie is not only making her Romford debut in heat five at 7.56pm but her race one. The unraced pup takes on five others for the very first time. The May ’21 whelp is the youngest in the competition and potentially has the most improvement to come. In her trial over C&D on Monday she clocked a calculated time of 24.59 along with a split of 3.86 and will be expected to improve on both.
Rab on her said: “I think she is going to be good. It will be a good learning curve for her. Her trials have been ultra-impressive for her age. 400 metres should suit her. We gave her a trial on Monday and was ultra-impressive against Fabulous Bling.
“She is still so young and has loads of potential. She has the same dam as Havana Class and has the potential to match him.”
William Hill are top price 5/1 for the unraced and youngest puppy in the competition to win first time up. Skybet are offering 33/1 for her to set the competition alight and take the spoils.
On the competition and his entrants Rab said: “We like to support open competitions at Romford. We haven’t won a big one yet at the track and as they say, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. We will hopefully do ourselves justice.
“We like to get two or three in the competitions and hope to have a couple in the Champion Stakes next month. We have a good kennel of pups right now and have big hopes for the rest of the year and next.”
Droopys Joan for Hove trainer Jamie Kingsley belatedly makes her Romford debut in heat five at 7.56pm. The December ’20 whelp was to race around the Essex track last week but due to circumstances trialled at Hove over 285 metres on Monday instead to keep her ticking over.
The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Cuckoo in a recent trial over C&D late last month clocked a calculated time of 24.45 and will be expected to improve on that. She has race experience with two wins from three at Central Park over 265 metres in D2 graded affairs. The fact she has won sprints shows she has early and 400 metres could be ideal for her right now.
Jamie on her said: “She trialled in well at Romford. We were happy enough with it. She had a trial at Romford before a short lay off. She has come back well.
“We trialled her at Hove on Monday but would have preferred to have raced her. Her trial time at Hove was okay. We expected better but she has never been around there before.
“The one thing with her is that she rails. She loves the rails and is very brave at the first bend. We were very pleased with her trap one draw, especially for her first race at the track.
“She is still only a baby and is lightly raced. She has early pace and hopefully will qualify. We are very happy with her, but she is short of a run. The competition has probably come two or three weeks too early.”
10/1 is generally available for the well drawn early paced sort to win at Romford at the first time of asking while 50/1 is readily available for her to lift the trophy.
Chelms Jet for local handler Gemma Evans is not only making his Romford debut tonight but his six bend one as well. In a maidens stayers race over 575 metres at 8.38pm he will be looking to get off to winning ways. The son of Good News and Priceless Dancer showed in a recent race over 500 metres at Towcester that 575 metres is well within his capabilities. In that maidens race he saw the trip out well to claim the spoils by six and a half lengths.
In a recent trial over 225 metres he showed all is well with an impressive calculated time of 13.62. To put that into context the previous weeks sprint was won in a calculated time of 13.57. For a potential six bend runner to clock that shows he has some early.
Gemma on him said: “The owner lives local and wants to see his dogs run at Romford. Hopefully he suits the track and is right for him. I’m excited about him.
“I think he will stay. 575 metres should not be a problem at all. The signs are certainly there.
“He has early pace and did 26.15 at Harlow over 415 metres. The dog can run. His sprint time at Romford was very good. Similar to what Droopys Addition was doing.
“We gave him a couple of races at Towcester to give him some runs before stepping him up. The Champion Stakes is a target then maybe the Essex Vase but we will see. We’re praying it all works out.
“He has early but can miss it which may prove to be his Achilles heel. We will soon find out.
“He has trap four and he should be alright from traps three or four. Hopefully he can stay out of trouble and show us what he can do.”
William Hills are top price 7/2 to win at Romford and over six bends at the first time of asking.
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Regular readers of this column may of had two winners two weeks ago at SP returns of 9/2 and 6/4 courtesy of Crafty San Diego and Chelms Marley. Crafty San Diego trained by David Mullins duly obliged by three lengths in a calculated time of 24.18. Chelms Marley won his race for local handler Gemma Evans by half a length in a calculated time of 24.42. Both puppies feature in the Puppy Cup tonight.
It pays to follow this column.
