Form for all 13 races – Round Up comments under relevent races
After weeks of trial stakes and heats the final of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup is finally here. The remaining six greyhounds from the original thirty six will all be looking to get their paws on the coveted trophy and £10,000 winners’ cheque. Regular readers will know all about Queen Pink who goes to traps as favourite.
Away from the showpiece final, Romford have put on several races over 575 metres in preparation for the upcoming Premier Racing Champion Stakes. First inaugurated in 1947 it has been won by past greats just as TricTrac, Palace Issue and Murrys Act. This year it is worth a whopping £20,000 to the winner. In preparation for it several greyhounds are making their Romford or six bends debuts and yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about three of them.
Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr is back to Essex with his charge Swift Mellow who is not only making his Romford debut but his six bend one as well in a maiden stayers race at 6.28pm. The December ’20 whelp after seventeen races is being stepped up to 575 metres. At home track Yarmouth he has won five times in A3, A2, A1 and open race affairs all over 462 metres. The son of Swift Mellow has also won over 500 metres at Nottingham. In a recent trial over 400 metres at the Essex circuit he clocked a decent calculated time of 24.67. That look will benefit him when going over six bends for the first time. At Yarmouth he certainly looks like he needs further and 575 metres is a good first test for him.
Paul on him said: “He is a young dog, only a December ’20 whelp. I don’t tend to put them over six bends until they are at least two years old. He looks like he needs it now and he will get the distance easy.
“At Yarmouth he has done good sectionals and calculated times. He is a good prospect for this year and next. In his last race at Yarmouth in an open he took five lengths off of Kev Boons dog (Farneys Trend) to win. Boony was surprised his got picked up as his stays.
“He has done what he has been asked and is an exciting dog who was relatively cheap. If he does a decent run then the Champion Stakes is an option. He will definitely get 575 metres and hopefully he will get a clear run to show what he can do. He definitely has a chance.”
Ladbrokes and Betfred are 5/1 for the Yarmouth raider to win at Romford and over six bends at the first time of asking.
Patrick Janssens knows what it takes to win the Champion Stakes as his charge Desperado Dan took the spoils in 2020. Tonight, in a maiden stayers race at 9.28pm his tries his charge Crossfield Lexi over six bends for the first time. The January ’20 whelp trialled over C&D early last month but stopped at the sixth bend. She appears to be over that and is back to prove a point. The daughter of Droopys Jet Crossfield Kate is yet to win over four bends after seven attempts. She looks like she needs further and six bends could be where her future lies.
Patrick on her said: “She seemed to be distracted before when she stopped and I’m not sure why she did it to be honest. She has shown no signs of it since and won ‘t do it again. We are not concerned about it.
“She is well out of season and has been running on well over 500 metres at Towcester. We think she stays and hope she will. It looks a very trappy race but hopefully she can get a clear run and show us what she can do. She has trap two and that is fine for her.
“If she runs well and shows she stays then the Champion Stakes is an idea for her.”
Crossfield Lexi has divided opinion over her chances with Betfred and Ladbrokes offering 9/2 for her to taker the spoils while William Hills are as short as 5/2.
Towcester trainer John Mullins is another trainer that knows what it takes to win the Champion Stakes as he trained the 2016 winner Ascot Woodie. Tonight, he tries his charge Chelms Chris over six bends for the first time in a trial stakes at 9.42pm. The October ’20 whelp has won at Towcester over 500 metres which bodes well before going over 575 metres. The son of Skywalker Puma and Champagne Doll has been running against top dogs over four bends and holding his own. He runs at Romford for the first time and will be looking to show what he is made of.
John on him said: “It is a tough race for a first attempt over six bends. I think he will get the trip though. Hopefully he can get on the bunny and show what he can do. A clear run around the first two bends would be ideal. His trap draw in three is good for him.
“The Champion Stakes is definitely the plan for him all being well.”
On his other runners John said: “Ballymac Diverse in a maiden stayers race has a good chance.”
Chelms Chris is generally 5/1 with the ‘bookies’ to win at Romford and over 575 metres first time up. Ballymac Diverse goes at 6.28pm in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres and is generally 11/4 to cross the line in front.
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice winner last week courtesy of Havana Bale Out. Assistant trainer Rab McNair was unsure whether she was a ‘575 metres bitch’ but by winning by 4 ¾ lengths in a calculated time of 35.01 showed she certainly is. On that performance she will almost certainly be entered for the Champion Stakes next week. Before that she goes again in the final of the Romford Friday Night 1000 stayers at 8.17pm.
