This week Rob discusses their Romford prospects with Aran Green, Mark Wallis and Jason Gornall (races 2, 11, 12 & 13), though we have also included full form for the entire 13 race card to include the PGR Champion Stakes and Standard Trophy form. For a reminder of the first round, click.
The Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes is well under way with the remaining seventeen greyhounds battling it out to get their paws on the coveted trophy on Friday 21st October. Regular readers of this article will know all about four of them. Away from the £20,000 to the winner showpiece competition the semi-finals of the category two Coral Standard Trophy are also taking place for what looks like a cracking night.
With seven other opens including the start of the Romford Friday Night 500 Bitches Dual Distance competition over 400 and 575 metres the night should not be missed. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more four greyhounds on the supporting card.
Pennys Servius after thirty six races takes on Romford for the first time in a standard affair over 400 metres at 6.28pm. Trained by Monmore’s Arran Dunn, the May ’19 whelp will be looking to win around the Essex track at the first time of asking. While under the care of trainer John Lambe the son of Ballymac Vic and Pennys Queen won at then home track Perry Barr five times in graded and open affairs. After the switch to Arran Dunn he has had all three of his races at Monmore over 480 metres winning once in an A3 graded affair. He has early pace and the drop to 400 metres could prove beneficial for him.
On him Arran said: “We’re not sure how he’s going to go. He has only been with us for around six weeks. He came to us with nice form from Perry Barr.
“He won first time up at Monmore and ran a cracker. He has run twice since and should improve on his recent form. We have put the work in. He has nice early pace but he hasn’t really been trapping at Monmore. We hope that changes at Romford. He has trap four and that’s fine for him; it could have been worse! He needs to get out and ideally get on the bunny early to have a chance.”
Ladbrokes make him 16/1 to win at Romford at his very attempt.
The interesting Romford Friday Night 500 Bitches Dual Distance competition starts with heat one at 9.12pm over 400 metres with the final the following week over 575 metres. In the opening heat My Little Ivy trained by Towcester’s Mark Wallis is not only making her Romford debut but if qualifying for the final will be attempting six bends for the first time. All her twelve races on these shores have been over four bends where she has won three times. Those wins for the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Bangia Road came at home track Towcester over 500 metres in A2 and A1 graded races and an open. The September ’19 whelp has early and looks like she needs further so could relish this competition.
Mark on her said: “She has all to do to qualify but could sneak into the final. We were going to trial her but thought we would run her in the competition and if she qualifies get to see how she goes over 575 metres.
“If she qualifies, we will see find out if she stays. The owners think she will but I’m not convinced she will although I was a couple of months ago.
“She has run recently at Perry Barr but didn’t take to the track. She does run Towcester well and has shown glimpses of good form.
“She sometimes has early when she feels like it and will hopefully show it at Romford. She has trap one but would prefer her more towards the middle. We are more in hope then confidence.”
Ladbrokes and Corals are offering 3/1 for her to do the business at Romford first time up.
In heat two at 9.28pm, Aero Doreen is another tackling Romford for the first time and if qualifying will race over six bends for the very first time. Trained by Arran Dunn the Monmore raider has had all of her thirty one races bar one at her home track. The one on the road away from the Wolverhampton track was at Perry Barr over 480 where the November ’19 whelp finished fifth after early trouble. At Monmore she won eight times with wins in graded affairs from A4 to A1. She showed in her last race at Monmore she has bundles of early when leading all the way to take a top graded heat. The daughter of Laughil Blake and Minish appears to want further so if qualifying could get the 575 metres trip in the final.
Arran on her said: “I’m a bit unsure about how she will get on. At Perry Barr she ran a bit flat and didn’t seem to take to the track. She has got it in her and will see how she gets on.
“At Monmore she does stay 480 metres well but going over 575 metres if she qualifies is a pure gamble. Off the front she could get it.
“She has trap four but would prefer her closer to the rails. From there she will need to get out and get her pitch. Trap two would be perfect for her.
“She won at Monmore first time up after going to Perry Barr in a very good time. If she doesn’t qualify we will take her back to Monmore as she appears to like to be freshened up.”
Corals are 6/1 for her to take the spoils at her first attempt around the Essex circuit.
Peejays Forever is making her six bend debut for Henlow trainer Jason Gornall but not her Romford one. In a maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 9.42pm in the lucky last the April ’20 whelp had a spin over the 400 metres last May for then trainer Heather Dimmock. On that occasion the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Sydney Marlfield finished fifth after early trouble. She is now back to Essex to right the wrongs of last time. She is attempting six bends for the very first time and on paper that trip looks achievable for her. At home track Henlow she has won eight times over 460 metres including five top graded wins. She can clearly hold her own against natural four bend types so may be a handful if able to get loose early.
Jason on her said: “She shapes up as if she will stay. She looks like she will when running at Henlow. She has been around Romford before over 400 metres with Heather Dimmock so has some track experience.
“She won a top A1 recently and was three to four lengths in front at the drop. How strong those dogs are she has gone past is debatable. She went past Savana Raven and he has been on fire at Henlow.
“She has early and does run on over four bends. We are happy with her draw in trap six. Everything is in her favour for it. She is well in herself and has a good chance off the front.”
Ladbrokes and Corals make her a 11/4 shot to win over six bends at the first time of asking.
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice 7/2 winner last week courtesy of Droopys Soldier. Trained by Michael Hurst the Northern raider took the spoils by three lengths in a calculated time of 34.99. In doing so he qualified for the semi-finals of the Champion Stakes and goes again tonight.
Of all seven covered greyhounds last week, four qualified for their respective semi-finals tonight and if backed ante post are still in the game.
It pays to follow this column.
