They finally did it. Team ‘McNair’ after many attempts at Romford landed their first category one at the Essex venue in the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes last Friday. Amazingly before Warzone Tom got up on the line to claim victory a category one victory at Romford had eluded them. Not anymore. In his third attempt to get a category one win for himself at Romford, the August ‘19 did it and kept favourite backers concerned throughout before getting up by a neck.
This week the great action continues as ever with ten opens amongst their thirteen race card. With several maidens on the card there are greyhounds making their Romford race debuts and stepping up in trip for the first time. True to form, your favourite scribe has endeavoured to find out more about four of them.
After two races on these shores at Towcester over 500 metres, March On Rudy is making his Romford race debut. Trained by Patrick Janssens the April ‘21 whelp goes into a maidens race over 400 metres at 6.58pm. The drop to that distance could prove beneficial. In two trials over C&D the son of Ballymac Bolger and Seaglass Shadow clocked calculated times of 24.28 and 24.20 along with identical split times of 3.87.
He clearly has early pace and over a shorter four bend trip may not be a maiden for long.
Patrick on him said: “He is a very, very young dog out of Seaglass Shadow who was very good at Romford. He went very well at Towcester first time up before he blew up in the last fifty metres.
“To be honest he probably wants 480 metres but right now 400 metres could be good for him. He hasn’t got great early but it’s good. We have to go somewhere with him.
“He could be a really good dog in time but how good we don’t know yet. He is more for one next year.
“Hopefully he will be good enough to go for the Monmore Puppy Cup. When Seaglass Tiger started out in December 2018 he was clocking 24.20/10 to start with.
“March On Rudy has found a length on his first trial so is going well and is only eighteen months.
“In his first race at Towcester he had trap one and almost won. Trap one is a good draw for him.”
Corals make him 6/4 to win at Romford at the first time of asking.
Cooliogold for local handler Maxine Locke not only makes his Romford debut but his race one as well. The May ‘21 novice has only ever had three trials before going into tonight’s maiden race over 400 metres at 7.18pm. Over C&D in those trials the son of Laughil Blake and Jays Gold clocked calculated times of 24.38, 24.21 and 24.27 with split times of 3.77, 3.88 and 3.86. He clearly has ability and will be expected to keep on improving.
Maxine on him said: “He looks a promising pup. He was bought with Romford in mind and has a nice bit of early.
“His three trials were very consistent and we opted to go straight into an open rather than graded races. Hopefully he will be good enough at open level but will take it race by race with him.
“Traps one, two or three are okay for him. He has trap three and it’s a shame it’s not from the old Romford traps! Hopefully he can get on the bunny and show what he can do.”
On her other runners Maxine said: “Droopys Garden is running really well and has chances. Loaded Judy in a maiden stayers race has experience over six bends and is well drawn out wide.”
Corals are offering 13/8 for the novice dog to win his first ever race and are 3/1 for Loaded Judy to win her race at 7.36pm. Droopys Garden is 9/2 to take the spoils at 8.17pm over 575 metres with Ladbrokes.
Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr knows what it takes to win at Romford and tonight tries his charge, Chasing Lottie there for the first time. The October ‘20 whelp has had all her fifteen races at home track Yarmouth over 462 metres winning three times in A2 and A1 graded affairs. Tonight, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Absolutey Ace goes over six bends for the first time in a maiden stayers race at 7.36pm. She looks like she needs further and 575 metres could be ideal. If taking to Romford she may not be a maiden stayer for long.
Paul on her said: “I think she will stay. I’m pretty confident she will get it. What I like about her is that she has early and should lead. I’m not saying she is a Swift Mellow though.
“The tight track should suit her and she has early. She clocked a very good sprint time at Yarmouth in a trial recently.
“Trap five is not ideal for her as she will turn left a bit. She is the only middle seed in the race though so it’s not too bad.
“Hopefully she will run well. She is in good order and has the early to lead. Hopefully she does so we can see what she can do.”
Corals and Ladbrokes are both 10/1 for the Yarmouth raider to win at Romford and over six bends at her first attempt.
Local raider Pro Zo attempts six bends for the first time in the ‘lucky last’ at 9.42pm for trainer Michelle Brown. After twelve races, eight at home track Romford the January ‘21 whelp is going over 575 metres. At Romford over 400 metres the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Creed has won once in an A7 graded affair. Away from Romford she has raced four times with two at Towcester and Oxford over 500 and 450 metres. Longer trips could be where her future lies and with a good draw could take advantage of it.
Michelle on her said: “I think she will get it. The first time she ran at Towcester she ran well. She has trap one and she is a trap one dog. Hopefully she will get loose to get confidence.
“She has only won once at Romford but is not really a 400 metres dog. Over that trip she was always first to the pick-up so thought we would step her up.
“She has track experience but has never been out of the 575 metres boxes. Hopefully she will still break well and hang on. We will see how she goes.”
Corals are 6/1 for her to win over six bends at her very first attempt.
♦ Regular readers of this column may have had a nice 5/1 winner last week courtesy of Droopys Stairway. Trained by local handler Gemma Evans he repaid the faith shown in him when taking on six bends for the first time to win by 10 1/4 lengths. Gemma also put up Chopchop Rainbow as one that could go well. She certainly did when claiming her heat to make a second category three sprint final over 225 metres. Her mum chopchop Hope was the Queen of Romford and Gemma joked last week she is the Princess and she is not wrong.
♦ Ante post backers of the Champion Stakes May have been rewarded with an each way win on Aero Squeak. Trained by Arran Dunn he was covered by yours truly before the first round and was available at 66/1 outright. After three rounds the former Romford raider finished fourth.
It pays to follow this column.
