It’s the semi-finals of the Coral Puppy Cup at Romford tonight writes Rob Abrey.
The first of the three heats start from 7.49pm and regular readers of this column will be well cognisant with six of them. To support the three semi-finals Romford have put on ten additional open races for us to enjoy. It is greyhounds from some of those races that figure in your favourite column. With several greyhounds making their Romford and six bend debuts I have endeavoured to find out more about five of them.
Our Lucky Fool trained by local handler Paul Young is making his race debut on these shores in a maiden race over 400 metres at 7.17pm. The April ’17 whelp has had three trials over C&D clocking a best calculated time of 24.26. Although making his debut on these shores the son of Romeo Recruit and Droopys Frizz has had eleven races in Ireland winning four. All four wins were over 480 metres at Clonmel, Thurles and Waterford. Tonight although seeded rails he runs from trap four. Over in Ireland he has a win ratio of one from one from that trap so could overcome the tricky draw.
Paul on him said: “He’s a nice dog. He has won four from eleven in Ireland. He was a bit nervous when he first came to us but is coming to hand. He could be a nice Friday dog.
“He is a strong running sort. He can get a strong four bend trip. He has early pace and stays strong.
“He needs the rails, that is the key to the race. There are five railers in the race and a railer on his outside with plenty of pace. He needs a bit of luck to the bend. It is not an ideal introduction and I would have preferred him nearer the rails.
“He done three nice qualifying trials. He showed nice early pace and will get the trip well. He does need a bit of luck to the bend.”
On who of his runners he thinks could go well, Paul said: “Smithybyesadream. He is running well, is well drawn and will get the trip. He shouldn’t be far away.”
Local handler David Mullins steps up Windmill Rover over six bends tonight for the first time after seventy races. The March ’16 whelp has won all of his fifteen races over four bends and reached the second round of the Derby this year. The son of Tyrur Big Mike and Windmill Beauty has won open races and top graded affairs at Romford over 400 metres and tonight makes his six bend debut over 575 metres at 7.33pm in a maiden stayers race. If able to stay his four bend pace could serve him well.
David on him said: “I don’t know if he will stay. I think in time he will run into it. Friday is more of a trial really. If he runs well and gets beat I will enter him into a maiden stayers competition next week.
“If he gets away in front he could put a lot of daylight between him and the others. If he doesn’t stay it will be the last twenty yards. Good going will help him. He is definitely a front runner. He won’t come from behind.
“He is a sub 24 dog on his day over four bends and trap six on Friday is a bonus.”
Followers of the open scene will definitely have come across Jelly Flood. The April ’16 whelp is making his Romford debut over 400 metres tonight in heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 standard at 8.38pm. The son of Godsend and Mays Bodyguard is having his first race under the stewardship of David Mullins. Previously with Peter Swadden and Kevin Hutton he is now in the capable hands of David. With his previous trainers he reached the quarter finals of the Derby at Towcester last year and the third round at Nottingham this year. Last year in Ireland he reached the fourth round of the Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park. In his two trials at Romford over C&D he clocked calculated times of 24.13 and 24.18 showing no signs that the drop to a short four bend trip will bedetrimental..
David on him said: “We have had him a while before we started trialling him. He has settled in nicely. 400 metres is far too short but want to get a bit of fitness in him then step him up. We we see how he goes. If he qualifies then he will run over 400 metres again next week. If he doesn’t he could go over 575 metres or a middle distance.
“Trap three for him is not a problem. He shouldn’t lead and will hopefully tuck in behind and get a decent pitch. I would be shocked if he led.”
Hitachi Wayne is making his six bend and Romford debut for trainer Heather Dimmock tonight in a maiden stayers affair over 575 metres at 9.41pm. The December ’16 whelp has won open races at Hove and Sheffield over 490 and 500 metres and recently showed his staying potential with a win over 550 metres at Henlow in an S1 graded race. The son of Sidarian Blaze and Hitachi Mollie has proved himself over long four bend trips and should be able to handle the step up tonight.
Heather on him said: “Yes he should stay. I mean around Romford he should. Any further I don’t think he will. He has early pace and if he gets in front and see if the others can catch him. It’s all about leading. If he does he should stay.
“He is a railer and is pretty much a bang railer. I’m a bit worried he may miss his break though from trap one.”
Regular readers of this column may of had a nice little winner last week and still some runners in the Coral puppy cup. Make No Apologie trained by Heather Dimmock won at 5/2 in a calculated time of 24.16 while Faydas Jet and Ballymac Micko both qualified for tonight’s semi finals. Those who followed puppies covered in previous weeks may also be on Blue Tick George, Kelseys Phoenix and Droopys Carat for the ante post market. All six contest in the puppy cup semi finals tonight.
It pays to follow this column.
