England may be taking on USA tonight but greyhounds taking on Romford is where its at for me. Certainly not watching ‘celebrities’ covered in gunge and insects. Essex is where its happening and with eight opens amongst their thirteen race card including two category two finals there is plenty to enjoy. As ever there are several greyhounds making their Romford race debuts and true to form your favourite scribe has endeavoured to find out more about three of them.
Foyle News after fifty three races at home track Yarmouth takes on Romford for the first time over 225 metres at 7.18pm. Trained by Paul Burr who spends more time in Essex these days than the Only Way Is crew, the July ’19 whelp has won over both two and four bends at Norfolk track. The son of Good News and Kelseys Queen has won ten times at Yarmouth with six coming over 462 metres and the other four over the sprint trip of 277 metres. Over 462 metres he has won several A1 graded affairs and has a D1 and open race win to his name over 277 metres. He can clearly hold his own over both trips and 225 metres looks well within his capabilities.
Paul on him said: “462 metres at Yarmouth is too far for him. With the winter going it will be even harder for him to get home over the trip. He will probably get 400 metres at Romford but thought we will start him over the sprint trip. There is a competition starting next week so thought we would try him.
“He has early when he gets it right from the traps. He has won an open at Yarmouth over 277 metres and a top graded race. He has contested in top sprint races at Yarmouth and held his own. He can be a bit hit or miss from the boxes but does have a lot of early.
“He is against trap five who is another Yarmouth dog. He did well last week for Mark [Newbury]. He is a decent dog but anything can happen in sprints. Ours is a proper wide runner and has trap six, which is where he wants to be.”
On his other runners Paul said: “Laidbackpatsy who you covered last week has her draw and now has experience. She ran well from a tricky draw and think there is a big run in her on Friday.”
Coral are offering 7/1 for the Yarmouth raider to take the spoils first time up while they are 7/2 for Laidbackpatsy to win her maiden race over 400 metres at 7.56pm.
Kilara Elk is the first of two for local handler Nathan Hunt to make their race debuts on these shores. The October ’20 whelp goes in the 7.56pm maidens only race over 400 metres and although racing over here for the first time does have some experience in Ireland. He has had seven races at Cork and Shelbourne Park over 480 metres. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Kilara Lizzie won one of those races in an A2 graded affair at Shelbourne Park. He has had two trials over C&D clocking consistent calculated times of 24.49 and 24.59. He will be expected to improve on those times after those looks around the track and will be looking to shed his maiden tag at the first time of asking.
Nathan on him said: “He should be a Romford type. He was bought from Shelbourne after posting a fast split. In his first look he ran okay and there is a bit of improvement there from the traps.
“His style of running should suit Romford. If he traps like he did at Shelbourne he could win. The one concern is that he has trap three. In Ireland his best form was from trap one. Hopefully he will break.
“He is a decent dog and one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.”
Corals and Ladbrokes are 5/1 for him to win at the first time of asking on these shores.
Zoom is the second of Nathan Hunt’s charges to make his race debut on these shores at Romford tonight at 8.17pm over 400 metres in another maidens only race. Unlike his kennelmate who is relatively inexperienced, the June ’19 whelp has had over fifty races in Ireland. The son of Coolavanny Jap and Droopys Dorothy has won at Tralee, Cork, Shelbourne and Kilkenny over 302 and 480 metres. At Cork and Shelbourne Park, he has won open races showing his class. At Romford he has had two trials over C&D clocking calculated times of 24.65 and 24.11. From his first to second trial he found fifty four spots. Continued improvement will be expected from the four time open race winner who on these shores is still a maiden.
Nathan on him said: “He looks more suited to 400 metres. 480 metres at Shelbourne stretched him. He was brought over to run at Romford and Oxford. His trial last week impressed us when he clocked 24.01 [+10]. He trialled at the same time as Mark Wallis’ Annadown King and was eighteen spots faster. He finished second in the Gold Cup at Monmore earlier this year.
“He missed his break in his first trial and was still getting used to the track. We hope he comes forward again this week. He is not a natural breaker but has brute early. He doesn’t need to lead as he shows good pace when sitting in behind.
“He is very experienced and very laid back, very professional. He is a fast dog and if he did get in front early, we would expect him to break twenty four seconds.”
Corals are offering 6/5 for the four time open race winner in Ireland to win his first one on these shores.
