With one week to go before the start of the Champion Stakes over 575 metres, trainers are using tonight as a last chance to give their charges a spin over the new C&D. With sixteen races on show from 6.27pm we are in for a treat. Seven of those are over 575 metres including four trial stakes. There are greyhounds making their six bend or Romford debuts tonight and in some cases both. As ever I have endeavoured to find out more about four of them.
Front Edge trained by unattached trainer Kevin Proctor is one of the aforementioned greyhounds making his six bend and Romford debut tonight at 8.38pn in maiden stayers race. The July ’17 whelp has certainly been holding his own on the open circuit. The son of Farloe Blitz and Rosmult Martha reached the quarter finals of the Derby this year as well as reaching the semi final stage of the Ladbrokes puppy derby at Monmore. He has won over 500 metres at Nottingham which indicates he could get the trip tonight. He has had two recent trials around the Essex venue over 225 and 400 metres and went very well in both clocking calculated times of 13.87 and 24.19. If able to stay he shouldn’t stay a maiden stayer for very long.
Kevin on his charge said: “I think he can get the trip. I think he really will get the trip on Friday. Wherever he is in a race he always gets to the pick up first.
“He reached the quarter finals of the Derby. The original plan was to go for the puppy competition but he just kept qualifying. He went out as trap one at Nottingham just didn’t suit him. He then got trap one in the puppy competition and struggled from there as well. It was a great run in the Derby and he was still only a puppy. In his quarter finals he finished only 3 3/4 lengths behind Queen Beyonce. He has been put in the traps with some proper dogs. He is a nice dog.
“Friday is his first race after six weeks. We decided to give him a rest after running six weeks on the bounce. I like my dogs to go into races fresh. He is maturing and thought we would put a bit of weight on him. He had two trials at Romford and with more weight on done some good times straight off his bed. I think he can go faster as well.
“Trap two should suit him. Any trap really perhaps not trap one.
“We will use Friday as a trial and gauge how he gets on. All being well the Champion stakes is the plan. I’ll confirm that at 8.40pm!”
Front Edge is generally available at 4/1 to win on his Romford and six bend debut tonight.
Sheffield trainer Carl Perry is braving the Friday night traffic from his Lincolnshire base to race three of his charges at Romford tonight. Of his three it is Geelo Barclay that gets the ‘Round Up’ treatment. In a Champion Stakes trial stakes over 575 metres at 9.08pm, the March ’17 whelp is making his Romford debut. The son of Azza Azza Azza and Droopys Go is not a maiden stayer though with three wins at home track Sheffield over 660 metres. He was very unlucky not to reach the final of the recent Three Steps to Victory competition at Sheffield when missing out by a head.
He runs at Romford for the first time tonight but getting the trip will not be a problem. He has early pace and could spring a surprise.
Carl on Geelo Barclay said: “575 metres looks perfect for him. It could be his ideal trip. He has good early pace for that sort of trip.
“It is his first look around tonight. Time was against us to get a trial. He does run a track well first time up. He won at Nottingham first time up and ran Monmore well first time as well. We expect him to come on for it. We have been planning for it.
“He is home bred which makes it more special. He gives 100% in every race and is a genuine trying dog. He is not the fastest but wins races. He is not the easiest to get past if he leads. He only missed out of the Three Steps final by a head.
“It is a tough race tonight with the likes of Sporting Dave and Desperado Dan in it but he does have early pace for 575 metres. Trap five is not a problem for him. He is more than capable from traps three to six. He has good track craft.”
Coral make him a 10/1 shot to win at Romford at the first time of asking.
Crayford handler Alison Kelly-Pilgrim is trying two of her charges over 575 metres for the first time tonight. Yours truly has found out more about both of them.
First up of the two is Dantes Inferno in a maiden stayers race at 9.26pm. The February ’17 whelp has run over 515 at Hove and 500 metres at Sheffield and Nottingham. The son of Makeshift and Boynepark Brae won at Sheffield so the indications are there that he could get tonight’s trip. He has Romford experience over 400 metres with two wins to his name. In those wins last October and November he clocked calculated times of 24.20 and 24.13. He has bundles of early and if able to stay could build up a lead for the others to aim at.
Alison on Inferno said: “He has not been any further than 515 metres at Hove. I think he can get it. I was thinking about 540 metres at Crayford but I have other runners tonight and the Champion Stakes starts next week.
“We are using tonight as a warm up. If he stays and does a good time we will possibly enter him.
“Trap six should not be a problem. He can hit the lids or come from behind.”
Ladbrokes and Coral are 2/1 for him to win on his six bend debut tonight.
Next up for Alison over 575 metres is Deanridge Kane also in a maiden stayers race at 9.56pm. The July ’17 whelp unlike his kennel mate does not have track experience at Romford. The son of Droopys Cain and Droopys Pizazz does however have winning form over 515 metres at Hove which bodes well when running over six bends for the first time tonight. In that race he clocked a very good time of 29.97 and interestingly beat Quantum Leap, the new 575 metres track record holder. Form like that suggests the transition to six bends should be seamless.
On him Alison said: “He was staying on strong over 500 and 515 metres and assume he will get the trip. 575 is not the hardest six bend trip to get.
“He has not been around Romford before but think he will handle the track. I don’t think trap six tonight will be a problem for him as he can run from anywhere. Hopefully he will stay out of trouble out wide.
“Like Dantes if he runs the track well and does s good time we will enter him for the Champion Stakes next week.”
On who could go best of the two Alison said: “Of the two I would say Dantes Inferno. He has the most potential as he has track experience at Romford. That is a bit of a plus.”
Skybet make Deanridge Kane a 11/2 shot to takes the spoils tonight.
