It’s Friday night and that means one thing: open racing at Romford. It certainly doesn’t mean watching so called ‘celebrities’ moaning about being hungry. With nine opens on amongst their thirteen race card including two category two competitions, Romford is where it is at. With races over 225, 400 and 575 metres there is plenty to enjoy. As ever there are greyhounds making their Romford debuts and attempting different trips for the first time. True to form, your favourite scribe has endeavoured to find out more about two of them.
Laidbackpatsy is not only making her Romford debut but her race one as well for Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr. The January ’21 whelp has formerly been in the care of Sheffield’s Gwyneth Rees and Oxford’s Matt Dartnall.
While at Sheffield the daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Easy On won an A5 graded race over 500 metres and at Oxford won an A3 and A2 graded race over 450 metres. Tonight, she attempts Romford and 400 metres for the first time in a maidens race at 7.36pm and will be looking to claim the spoils at a third track. She won her last race before going to Paul and goes into the race in fine fettle.
Paul on her said: “She was bought by one of my owners and put with me. We are still learning about her but what we have seen of her looks tailor-made for Romford.
“She has not been with us for very long but has settled in really well and is a good addition to the kennel.
“She looks like she has the pace. Her 4.13 split at Oxford is rapid. Her sectionals there certainly suggest she has early. Oxford and Romford are not too dissimilar so hopefully she will take to Romford straight away.
“We are looking forward to her race and with a clear run feel she could go close.”
Corals are offering 4/1 for her to win first time up for trainer Paul Burr and at Romford.
Thirty Two Bags has been with Romford trainer Gemma Evans since June winning four races all over 400 metres. Tonight, the March ’20 whelp goes over the 225 metres sprint trip for the first time at 9.28pm. The daughter of Ballymac Best and Chubbys Sarah can clearly hold her own over the standard trip winning in A4, A3, A2 and A1 graded affairs. She has early pace and aims to show what she can do over the two bend trip. She goes into the race in cracking form after winning three from her last five races. She is the only railer in the race and will be looking to take advantage of her favourable draw.
Gemma on her said: “She is in good form and has a very good draw. She has not been out of the 285 boxes before but like to think she will be fine.
“She can hold her own over four bends and will hopefully show her early over two. You have to be paw perfect from the traps in sprints and hopefully will be.
“She has done really well since coming to us and is quite lightly raced due to her being a railer. If it all goes well we will take it from there.”
On her other runners Gemma said: “Droopys Stairway in the Bonanza Semi-Final has chances if he pings like he can. He doesn’t have the early over 400 metres but does over the 575 trip. Since stepping him up he has found his vocation.
“He has got to be in with a chance, got to be.”
Corals are top price 10/1 for Thirty Two Bags to win over 225 metres at the first time of asking while Ladbrokes are 3/1 for Droopys Stairway to win the 8.38pm over 575 metres.
