It’s August and that means a busy open race schedule ahead for Romford this month and next. The Coral Champion Stakes over 575 metres starts on Friday 23rd this month followed by the Coral TV trophy and Coral Puppy Cup next month. Three category one competitions in two months is spoiling us rotten.
With that in mind the focus of tonight’s column is on two greyhounds from the three maiden stayers heats and one greyhound from each of the two marathon races. The chances are some of these greyhounds will figure in the first two upcoming competitions and what better way to be to prepared for them.
Dower Dazzler for local handler Phil Simmonds makes his six bend debut tonight in heat two of the Romford Friday night maiden stayers over 575 metres at 8.21pm. The August ’17 whelp although only just out of his puppy status has already had twenty races on these shores winning three of them. The son of Shaneboy Spencer and Brickfield Roxy has also recently reached the semi-finals of the Henlow puppy cup over 460 metres. For a greyhound destined over longer trips, that is pretty good going. The three races he has won have all been at Romford over 400 metres in A3, A2 and A1 graded company. He clearly has early pace and that should serve him well going into tonight’s race. He has recently run over 550 metres at Henlow but found a lot of trouble at the second bend. With a clear run tonight will may see what he is capable of.
Phil on Dazzler said: “I think he will get the distance. He is more than likely to get it. Whether he will win or not is another matter. He is in really good form and is fit and healthy. I do think he will get it.
“Four, five and six bends are okay for him. Trap four is okay for him. He runs rails to middle.”
Skybet are top price 9/2 for Dazzler to win over six bends at the first time asking.
In heat three at 8.38pm new local raider Chadwell Josie makes his six bend debut. Trained by Jean Liles, the former Yarmouth grader with Paul Burr has had three races under the stewardship of Liles and tonight steps up to six bends for the first time. Now owned by the Billy B syndicate the July ’17 whelp has race experience at Romford over 400 metres with a best placed finish of third. Tonight we will see if six bends is the way forward for the daughter of Kinloch Brae and Colorado Josie.
Jean’s assistant trainer and partner Colin Creighton said: “Billy [Brennan] wanted to try him over six bends. I’m not convinced that he will get the trio. Like Billy said we have nothing to lose in trying him but I’m undecided on it. I’m not convinced. I might be proved wrong though.
“We have only had her for three or four weeks now and has come forward. She is just not breaking from the traps at the moment. She doesn’t like greyhounds around her so 575 metres could be better for her. Trap two for her tonight is ideal.”
On his other runners tonight Colin said: “Jaxxhappymoments. He has come forward and is running well. He is the one for me tonight.”
Chadwell Josie is generally 8/1 to win over six bends tonight hole Jaxxhappymonents is 6/1 to win over 400 metres in the 7.33pm puppy race.
Henlow trainer Diane Henry is braving the Friday night traffic from her Doncaster base to run two of her charges in Essex. Both greyhounds are in marathon races. Deanmill Snowy is the first up of the two in a maiden marathon over 750 metres at 7.49pm. The September ’14 whelp is almost five years old and has only had six races on these shores. The daughter of Milldean Panther and Kathleens Holly has won two of those six races at Henlow over 550 and 692 metres. 750 metres tonight could be ideal for her. If taking to the track she may not be a maiden over eight bends for very long.
Diane on Snowy said: “I’ve not thought about the TV trophy for her. She is almost five years old and has only had a hand full of races. She has had a lot of problems bless her.
“She will stay the 750 metres but is ageing. She needs the race as last week at Henlow the hare stopped during the race. We thought we would take her along with ‘winner’ who is the main reason for going. I don’t fancy Snowy for the race but now I’ve said that she will probably win!”
Skybet make her 5/1 to win first time around Romford tonight.
Savana Winner goes next and as stated above is the main reason for attending Romford tonight. The Ladbrokes TV trophy winner at Crayford last year will be looking to make it back to back TV trophy wins next month. Before that competition over 925 metres, the daughter of Ballymac Eske and Old Refrain is being introduced to Romford tonight over 750 metres at 9.41pm. We know the August ’16 whelp will get 750 metres as she has won over 874 metres and was extremely unlucky during the Dorando marathon over 905 metres at Nottingham last month. She runs at Romford for the first time tonight but with winning experience at Crayford should take to the track.
Diane on her staying star said: “It will be a little blow out for her. It will be like a trial for her. We will give her a few looks at Romford in the upcoming weeks all being well. I’m pretty sure she will handle the track as she takes to new tracks well first time around. We will see how she handles the track not how she gets the distance as we know she can get that. It’s a good race, it will test her. She is going into the race fresh and well.
“I have seeded her all over in the past but I like her middle to wide. She does like to go to the rails but finds her way there. She is generally middle to wide from the start. I like her from four which she has on Friday.
“I thought she was very disappointing in the Dorando marathon. She caught the leading dog too early and caused her own problems. She has always been a bit of a madam. She has quirkiness but that’s her. For me ‘winner’ is still the one of the best marathon dogs out there.”
Ladbrokes are top price 5/2 for her to win on her Romford debut tonight.
