The Three Steps To Victory and Ted Lloyd Classic are already underway at Sheffield and Sunderland. The Sussex Cup at Hove starts on Thursday and Romford still manage to put on a decent all open card for our enjoyment. As ever several greyhounds are making their Romford and six bend debuts tonight and true to form yours truly has found out more about some of them.
Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr is becoming a regular on the Friday night scene at Romford and tonight tries his ColskiIris around the Essex venue for the first time. The February ’17 whelp started her career at Crayford with Jim Daly before going to Yarmouth. At Crayford the daughter of FrettenhamFlyer and Lads On Tour won once over 380 metres in A4 graded company. At Yarmouth over 462 metres she failed to win in four attempts but over 277 metres won first time up in a D3 graded affair. Since then she has had two races over the 285 metres sprint trip at Hove finishing second both times. The last one she lost by only a neck to his kennel mate after leading. 225 metres could be ideal for her tonight and if taking to the track could be a player.
Paul said: “We put her over sprints as she just doesn’t get 462 metres at Yarmouth. It’s what she needed. We took her to Hove over 285 metres and ran very well both times. In her second race she was very unlucky not to win and was picked up by our other dog in the race.
“She has great early pace but it all depends how she takes to the traps first time up. If she traps on terms she will not be far away. It’s a fair sprint race and if trapping she could be a lively outsider. She has trap six which is perfect for her and is the only wide seed in the race.”
Skybet make her a 9/2 shot to win first time up.
Those who follow Henlow greyhounds at Romford on a Friday night would have seen them win five times last week. Jason Ray had two runners and chipped in with BlackroseChuck that was covered by yours truly last week. This week Jason is back with five runners with three of them making their Romford debuts and one stepping up over six bends for the first time. It is those four that is covered in your favourite read.
First up for ‘team Ray’ is Rathbally Rubble in a maidens race over 400 metres at 7.17pm. The December ’16 whelp has predominately been running in graded sprint races at Henlowrecently winning his last two in D3 and D2 affairs. The son of Laughill Blake and Rathbally Spot clearly has early pace but the 460 metres trip Henlow looks a bit on the long side for him. 400 metres at Romford tonight could be ideal for him in his first race away from the Bedfordshire circuit.
Jason on him said: “He was only a cheap little dog and had a few problems early on. When we got those sorted we put him over sprints and he took off. He has great early but doesn’t stay 460 metres. 400 metres onwards and he completel y fades. When he won his A10 he was just coming back from a shoulder injury.
“He has phenomenal early to the third bend at Henlow. I’ve not seen a dog trap like it. He could cause s shock at a big price.
“The last dog he beat at Henlow in a D2 has won sprint opens. He has trap five and that should not be a problem. He is the the only middle seed in the race with four railers on his inside.
Skybet make him 4/1 to win at Romford tonight over four bends.
Savana Beyonce in a maidens race over 400 metres at 8.38pm is having only her second run on these shores. The first run was at Perry Barr over 480 metres where the September ’16 whelp finished third after stumbling at the start. The daughter of Scolari Me Daddy and Boleys Ace is not lightly raced in Ireland with some good form to her name. She reached the third round of the Irish derby last year as well as the third round of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks. She also finished third in the Shelley Fennelly memorial final at Curraheen Park over 480 metres. She also has wins at Shelbourne Park over 490 metres in an open and A1 graded race. Tonight she tackles Romford for the first time and the drop in distance could benefit her.
Jason on her said: “She is a nice bitch and has great form in Ireland and has clocked around 28.50 at Shelbourne Park. She has great early and next week will be looking at 575 metres for her. We are excited about her. We were lucky to get hold of her and shouldn’t be a maiden for long. Graham Holland thinks a lot of her but thought she would be better suited running over here. She does everything right at the kennels and settled in really well.
“She was really unlucky at Perry Barr and still managed to finish third. She has enough early and has clocked 3.70 sectional at Henlow.”
Skybet make her 5/2 to win on her Romford debut.
Third up for ‘team Ray’ is Savana Delahunty who is making his six bend debut on these shores in a maiden stayers race at 9.26pm over 575 metres. The August ’16 whelp has four races over here all over four bends and is yet to take top spot. The son of Definate Opinion and Washers although making his six bend debut here he has winning six bend form in Ireland. He has won over 549 and 686 metres at Shelbourne Park and Clonmel both in A3 graded company. Six bends and possibly further is clearly what he wants and 575 metres tonight could be just what he needs. Over the longer trips he may not be a maiden for very long.
Jason said: “He is a new dog that come into our kennels and has run over 750 yards in Ireland. He was running in Ireland at a good level. He has run a lot further than 575 metres at Romford and is a different dog over six bends. He will get 575 metres absolutely and it is whether he can handle Romford first time up.
“He is a trap one specialist that has not had trap one much. He is a bang railer and the red jacket is a good draw for him.”
Skybet make him a 7/2 poke to win on his six bend debut on these shores.
In the lucky last at 9.56pm, Savana Sharky is making his six bend debut in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres. The last of the four Ray greyhounds covered in your favourite column, the July ’17 whelp is stepping up over six bends for the first time. Over four bends in nine attempts he won two races both at Henlow over 460 metres in A7 and open race company.The son of Farloe Rumble and Droopys Thrill has run over 550 metres at Henlow recently finishing fourth. He does have form at Romford over 400 metres where in two races he finished fourth and sixth. 400 metres was clearly too short for him and 575 metres could be the perfect test for him.
Jason on the last of his runners said: “We raced him at Romford over 400 metres but that was too short for him. He showed nothing early but ran on. 575 metres could be his trip. He should be up with the pace a lot earlier.
“He could be the real deal over the longer distance. He got 550 metres at Henlow and was three or four lengths clear at the pick up.
“He was bred to stay and definitely will get it no problem. Owner Kevin [Boothby] thinks a lot of this dog and is looking forward to the race.”
Skybet are 8/1 for him to win in his first race over six bends.
Regular readers of tthe Round Up may of had a double figure winner last week curtesy of Blackrose Chuck. Trained by Henlow’s Jason Ray the black dog made his Romford debut and duly obliged first time up returning an whopping SP of 16/1. Jason last week on him before the race said “…..he has great early pace and has been getting better and better with age. He has got enough early to get out the traps and lead.” He was pretty much spot on after his charge led at the first bend to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Tonight he goes again in the final of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens final at 8.53pm.
It pays to follow this column.
