It’s the semi-finals of the Greyhound Derby tomorrow, as if you didn’t know. To help fill that gap between now and then, Romford have put on fourteen open races for our enjoyment. Starting from 6.27pm, there are several greyhounds making their Romford debuts and as ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about some of them.
Crayford trainer Mark Fenwick tackles Romford tonight with two of his charges. Both are making their Romford debuts.
First up for ‘team Fenwick’ is Bellagors Sal in a maidens race over 400 metres at 7.03pm. The daughter of Rio Quattro and Bellagors Cadge has only had two races on these shores finishing second both times. Those races were at Central Park at open level over 265 and 480 metres. The March ’17 whelp looked more at home over the shorter distance than the stiff four bend race. Over in Ireland she has more race experience and ran in thirteen races at Clonmel winning over 480 and 274 metres graded races. 400 metres looks ideal for her and if taking to the Essex venue tonight, could be a player.
Mark F said: “She looks a half decent prospect and is going the right way. In her last race we put her over 480 metres after a sprint race didn’t fill. We didn’t want her to miss a race so thought we would give her a go. She ran well enough but was maybe not fit enough.
“In her first trial at Crayford she did a really good sectional time of 3.58. I wasn’t worried by her overall time as she will get stronger but her early pace is good.
“400 metres at Romford could be right up her street. She may not win this week as it is her first look but Romford could be her track. She is not the best trapper but if she gets her head in front has a good chance.
“From what I have seen from her so far although seeded rails she is better from traps two or three as she tends to step to the right at the first bend.
“We will see how she takes to the track and hope for the best.”
Skybet make Bellagors Sal a 9/2 shot to win first time up around the Essex venue.
Next up for ‘team Fenwick’ is Tarsna Belle in the following race at 7.17pm. Also in a maiden race over 400 metres the May ’17 whelp will be looking to potentially make it a quick fire double for the kennels.
Like her kennel mate the daughter of Tarsna Havana and Stunning Millie is also lightly raced on these shores. She has only had one previous race and that was at Central Park over 480 metres where she finished third. Although lightly raced on these shores she does have experience in Ireland with eleven races to her name. They were all at Clonmel, Kilkenny and Thurles. She won two races at the latter track over 480 metres in A6 and A4 graded races. Tonight she races at Romford for the first time and will be looking to shed her maiden tag.
Mark said: “I bought her from the Crayford sales last month. I lost out on the top lot and another one and bought her instead with Brian Kelly as I thought she would trial in and make a nice grader. I trialled her after two weeks and she flew round. She clocked 23.49 seconds which is flying over 380 metres. We were well over the moon. If I had bought an open racer I would have been very happy with that time. In her last trial she found trouble.
“I took her to Central Park as I was going anyway and over 480 metres the big track exposed her. She showed very good early but was exposed. Tracks like Crayford, Romford and Harlow look her forte.
“At Central Park she showed nice early and clocked the fastest sectional over 480 metres for the whole meeting. If she utilises her early around Romford she has a chance. It may not be this week but she should be able to do around 24.20 if taking to the track. She is a railer and trap one will suit her.”
Skybet make Tarsna Belle 4/1 to win on her Romford debut in only her second outing on these shores.
Henlow trainer Jason Ray has four runners tonight but it is Final Mustard that is the focus of this column. Entered in an standard affair over 400 metres at 8.38pm the son of Laughil Duke and Final Shannon will be looking to win on his Romford race debut.
The November ’17 whelp has had a trial over C&D clocking a calculated time of 24.67 with a 3.86 sectional. He will be expected to improve on that after his look around. He has shown he can do it away from home track Henlow when winning a open race at Perry Barr over 480 metres earlier this month. Before that he was in fine fettle at Henlow winning three on the bounce in A11, A9 and A7 graded races.
Jason said: “He came to Henlow as a young dog and has great early pace. I was expecting a lot more from his trial. I was a bit disappointed with his run. He pecked at the traps and took a while to get used to the track. He will come on for the run and I expect a big, big run from him on Friday.
“His split at Perry Barr (3.56) was phenomenal. It was his early pace that won the race. Trap six for him on Friday is no problem. He is better further out and cuts the bend.”
On all his four runners who he thinks could go best, Ray said: “Myself personally, I think Savana Sharky. He has great early and looks a Romford dog. He should handle the track blind. Connections like his chances as well along with Savana Cain in the last.”
Ladbrokes and Coral make Final Mustard a 12/1 shot to win on his Romford race debut.
Unattached trainer Steven Howard is leaving another country to try his two charges at Romford tonight. That other country may only be Wales but it is still a long way to Essex from his Port Talbot base. Of his two runners it is Overandout that I have endeavoured to find out more about.
In a maiden stayers race, in the lucky last at 9.56pm over 575 metres, the May ’15 whelp is attempting his longest race distance to date. At over four years old, tonight’s distance is the longest he has faced in all his sixty races. The son of Definate Opinion and Vicarz has contested the majority of his sixty races in open affairs and has won at Hove over 515 metres and Henlow over 550 metres.
Those wins bode well in getting tonight’s trip. He is in fine fettle winning an open over 480 metres at Perry Barr recently. His early pace against six bend types could prove pivotal if he is to win on his Romford debut tonight.
Steven said: “Taking him to Romford is something I have been thinking about for a while. I have been mulling it over for ages. The trip won’t be an issue. He has been up against top class dogs over four bends and has been getting banged about a bit. Hopefully over six bends he will get a clear run. He has good early and if he leads I can’t see him being picked up.
“He is a nice dog and is devilishly hard to pass. He stays 550 at Henlow and will hopefully take to Romford. He has to win off the front. He will not come from behind.
“He is a bang railer but trap three is good for him. He is well in himself. I have taken dogs to Romford in the past without a trial and they have won so hopefully he can do the same.”
Skybet are offering 7/4 for Overandout to win on his Romford debut at over four years old.
The mighty Meatloaf once sang; Two out of three ain’t bad. Regular readers of this column may agree with that sentiment.
From three greyhounds covered last Friday two duly obliged. Colonel Mustard and Droopys Biker both won their races at SP returns of 5/4 and 4/6. For those that took early prices could have got 5/2 and 4/5 for the Patrick Janssens trained duo.
It pays to follow this column.
