Christmas may be upon us in two days’ time but with Romford putting on thirteen open races for us to enjoy, Santa Claus has arrived early. The Essex track have put on a full open card just before Christmas and what better way to get the festive season underway. With the start of the category two Coral Winter Bonanza Bitches and Coral Essex Vase trial stakes taking place we are in for a treat. The prestigious Essex Vase starts next month and tonight there are several greyhounds racing over 575 metres for the first time for a potential tilt at it. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about three of them.
Kilgarran Lemon is not only making his Romford debut but his six bend one as well for Yarmouth trainer Craig Morris. In a maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 6.43pm the September ’20 whelp tackles Romford and six bends for the first time. The son of Pat C Sabbath and Lemon Juliet has had all of his five races on these shores at home track Yarmouth in top graded affairs. He is yet to get off the mark but six bends could be the making of him. In Ireland he has raced over 526 metres twice at Shelbourne Park finishing fifth and third. That experience over longer trips bodes well going into tonight’s race.
Craig on him said: “His brother Kilgarran Lime has won over 750 metres at Shelbourne Park. At Yarmouth over 462 metres he has clocked some smart times. He doesn’t seem to have the early needed for A1s at Yarmouth. In a six bend race he might be able to get off the front.
“He is a fast dog and if able to get on the bunny could post a fast time. It would be no surprise to us if he won from off the front. He has pace but would struggle to come off the pace as he is bit green when behind.
“We think he will get the trip, ideally off the front or lying handy early on. He has trap four and think that will be alright for him. His ideal trap is three but four is not too bad for him.”
Corals and Ladbrokes are 7/1 for the Yarmouth raider to win over six bends at the first time of asking.
Low Pressure for Hove trainer Belinda Green races over 575 metres for the first time at 8.54pm in a Coral Essex Vase Trial Stakes. The September ’20 whelp had a trial over C&D back in September clocking a very good calculated time of 35.34. That trial was in preparation for the Champion Stakes but was withdrawn off colour before he could race over the trip. The son of Sabbath and Highview Lauren is back but this time with the Essex Vase as a target. He has shown his staying qualities when winning at Monmore over 630 metres back in August. Recently he has been running over four bends and holding his own against top dogs including Burnchurch Mick and Fromposttopillar. Six bends could be where his future lies.
Gary Whittington, assistant trainer and partner to Belinda on him said: “He did a good time of 35.34 before but got a bit of sickness before we could race him. We were aiming him for the Champion Stakes. We took our time with him and are now back for a go at the Essex Vase. Hopefully he will stay at Romford for the foreseeable future in preparation for it.
“He is not an easy dog; he has a sprinters mentality for a dog that stays. He does everything like a sprinter. He is very trappy but doesn’t have the greatest early. With a shorter run to the bend hopefully he can hold them off and get on the bunny.
“This race is a warm up for him. He gets the 575 metres. In time he could get 710 metres at Perry Barr. The long term plan is the Essex Vase and Golden Jacket at Crayford.
“He has been in some very tough races and was not outclassed against the top dogs. He just doesn’t have that early of the top four bend dogs.
“He has trap three and that is fine as he can handle most boxes over six bends. We would like to see him out front early on.”
Ladbrokes are offering 11/4 for him to win at Romford over 575 metres at his first attempt.
Local handler Paul Young and The Champagne Club syndicate knows what it takes to win the Essex Vase as they lifted the trophy back in 2016 with Bubbly Torpedo. The double act will be trying to recreate that win early next year with their charge Bubbly Bluebelle. The daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Jaytee Sahara has only had four races on these shores and reached the final of the Puppy Oaks at Towcester over 500 metres finishing fourth. She looks like she needs further and 575 metres could be an ideal starting place for her. She has had a recent spin over 400 metres so has some track experience before attempting six bends and 575 metres for the first time in a maiden stayers race at 9.12pm. If able to stay which it appears she will, she may not be a maiden stayer for long.
Steve Fluin, head of the Champagne syndicate on her said: “She is a nice bitch and if she comes away she could go close. She reached the final of the Puppy Oaks but finished a bit sore afterwards. We have treated her with kid gloves and this is her first race back since the final.
“We would love to see her off the front. Over four bends she is not blessed with early. She should stay 575 metres. She was bought as a stayer and we will be disappointed if she didn’t get the trip.
“The Essex Vase is a potential target. She is still young and will see how she progresses. It is a tough maiden but are expecting her to go well. She has trap three but does like the rails. We will see how her sat-nav is. She has got to be at her best but are hopeful.”
Ladbrokes are 15/8 for the Puppy Oaks finalist to win at Romford and over 575 metres first time up.
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice little winner last week courtesy of Hawkfield Mia. Trained by Patrick Janssens she showed short four bend trips is her forte when winning over 400 metres at the first time of asking last week. In a calculated time of 24.07 she duly obliged by four lengths at an SP of 10/11. It pays to follow this column.
