It’s Friday and that means open racing at Romford. As usual the Essex track has put on a feast of open racing for us to enjoy. With the Romford Puppy Cup starting next week there are four Puppy Cup Trialstakes amongst their twelve race card. There is also the start of the Friday night maidens over 400 and 575 metres while they were at it. As ever your truly has endeavoured to find out more about four greyhounds from the trial stakes and two minor competitions for your enjoyment.
Hove trainer Patrick Browne races his charge Silverside Billy at Romford for the first time tonight in heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens over 400 metres at 6.28pm. The October ’18 whelp has had eight races on these shores winning five, a very good strike rate of 62.5%.
Four of those wins came at Swindon when Patrick was training there before his switch to Hove. At Swindon he won in A6, A4 and A3 graded company over 476 metres. At Hove he has one win from one over 285 metres in a D1 graded affair. The son of Sonic and Slippery Thelma clearly has early pace and the drop to 400 metres could be beneficial for him. He has had one trial over C&D clocking 24.41and will be expected to improve on that.
Patrick on him said: “He did 24.41 in his first trial there. He did a nice split of 3.77 as well. We entered him going off his run at Hove last week. He won a D1 in 16.44.
“He has a nice bit of early. He started showing it at Swindon and has continued it since. He was a bit injury prone but is fully fit now.
“We are pleased with the race. Trap five looks a bit tasty with his 23.97 time last week but Billy has a nice draw [trap two]. He is not a bang railer and traps two and three suit him. At Swindon he won from traps two and three and won from trap two at Hove last time out.”
Ladbrokes are offering 5/1 for ‘Billy’ to win at Romford in his first race there.
Former Romford trainer Jim Reynolds knows what it takes to win around the Essex track and tonight gives his puppy, Ritzy Spirit his first ever race there. The January ’20 whelp has only ever had six trials and tonight makes his race debut in a Romford puppy cup trial stakes at 7.18pm over 400 metres. The son of Droopys Sydney and Kilare Jessie has had two trials over C&D clocking calculated times of 24.73 and 24.62. From the first to the second trial he found eleven spots and further improvement will surely be expected.
Jim on him said: “He’s making his race debut after six trials. He has done a 24.62 trial at Romford. The reason we got him is his litter brother in Ireland has won three from three at Kilkenny clocking times like 28.87. It is a very progressive litter. We have high hopes for that litter.
“Since we got him, we have taken our time with him. He has gone well in all of his six trials. It is a short trip and he looks like he will want a stiff 480 metres trip before he’s doing his best running.
“It is a tough race on the face of it, he does have a decent draw but a watching brief is advised. It is his first time in race conditions against five other dogs. He needs to sharpen up from the traps. In his last trial at Romford he did a 4.02 sectional. 4.02 sectionals do not win races at Romford. He has potential and if he breaks well can show what he can do.
“The puppy cup is still a target providing he shows us enough on Friday.”
Corals are 10/1 for him to win his first ever race.
In the following race, Ritzy Flyer will be trying to make it back-to-back wins for Crayford trainer Jim Reynolds in heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 maiden stayers at 7.36pm over 575 metres. The son of Confident Rankin and Corrin Emma is making his six bend debut after seven races on these shores.
Of those seven races he has won twice at Central Park in open affairs over 480 metres. He appears to want further and 575 metres could be ideal for him.
Jim on him said: “He’s a little dog we have high hopes for. He has been crying out for longer trips. In his last race at Towcester he was in all sorts of trouble and went to the pick-up a long way clear.
“The trip will definitely suit him. We are 100% he will get it. He definitely wants it, maybe further. Hopefully he will win a few good races for us.
“The Champion Stakes is a target. Over six bends he gets to do his running. He is one to keep on the radar.
“Trap four for him on Friday is perfect.”
Ladbrokes are 7/4 for him to win at Romford and over six bends at the first time of asking.
After twenty seven races at Romford over 400 metres, local handler Gemma Evans has stepped up Droopys Precise in heat two of the maiden stayers at 7.56pm over 575 metres. The June ’19 whelp has won four times over the standard trip including an open race earlier in his career.
Lately the son of Ballybough Mike and Droopys Cuckoo has been in blistering form. From his last five races he has failed to finish out of the first two places finishing second three times and first twice. In his last race he clocked his second best calculated time to date of 24.14. His previous best of 24.12 was in his third race back in January. He looks like he needs further and if he can stay with the form he is in, he may not be a maiden stayer for long.
Gemma on him said: “Will he stay? That’s the question. We are hoping he will. He’s running at the top of his game right now and now’s the time to step him up. You have to try these things.
“He’s running consistent and does his running down the back straight and towards home. He is a bit slow at the start against the four bend dogs.
“He has trap four and although seeded wide that is fine for him. He stays straight to the bend these days. When we first had him he used to turn left from the traps but stays straight now. He is probably more traps four or five than six these days.
“We’re always looking for Champion Stakes dogs. You never know until you try.”
On her other runners and who she thinks could go well, Gemma said: “All of them as I’m biased and full of hope! Sam Starr in the Puppy Cup Stakes has been running in tough A1’s and is now running with other pups. We expect her to do well.”
Ladbrokes are offering 11/4 for Droopys Precise to win over six bends at the first attempt. They are also offering 9/2 for Sam Starr to win his puppy cup trial stakes over 400 metres at 8.17pm.
Regular regulars of this column may have had two winners last week courtesy of Dashing Jo and Im Alright Botch. Trained by Paul Donovan and Nathan Hunt they duly obliged at SP returns of 2/1 and 11/2. Early birds may have got a bit of 3/1 being offered by the ‘bookies’ in the morning. Im Alright Botch was put up by Nathan Hunt as one that would go well. He sure did when winning by 3 ¾ lengths.
It pays to follow this column.
