Your favourite read is back after a two week hiatus, while yours truly was sunning himself. With Romford putting on sixteen open races from 6.27pm what better way to get back in the swing of things. As ever there are several greyhounds making their Romford debuts and some stepping up in trip for the first time. True to form I’ve endeavoured to find out more about three of them for your enjoyment.
The Champagne club syndicate led by Steve Fluin knows what it takes to win at Romford. Tonight their puppy Bubbly Cain makes his race debut. The son of Droopys Cain and Wonder Pearl runs tonight for the first time in heat one of the Romford Friday night500 maidens at 7.03pm over 400 metres.
The January ’18 whelp has had five trials over C&D clocking a best calculated time of 24.12 along with his fastest split time of 3.71. If he recreates that kind of form in race conditions he will soon be off to winning ways.
Head of the Champagne club, Steve Fluin on him said: “He looks like the real deal, we have high hopes for him. We bought him as a pup. He was quite young when we bought him and we have watched him grow up.
“We wanted to enter him in the puppy cup but he picked up a niggle. We had high hopes for him in that but he missed it. He is absolutely fine now.
“He has plenty of pace and are hopeful for Friday. We are still learning about him but if he hits the boxes and is away and gone he will be hard to pick up. He has trap three but as far as we know he will keep a straight line to the corner. We are happy with the draw.
“Things don’t always go to plan though as Bubbly Bluebird who was brilliant for us lost on his debut! We are looking forward to the weekend as the syndicate has nine runners on Friday and nine on Saturday.”
On who he thinks could go well tonight Steve said: “Bubbly Cain for the maidens and Bubbly Bonita from the rest.”
Skybet make Bubbly Cain a 6/4 shot to win on his debut while Bubbly Bonita is 11/4 with Ladbrokes to win the lucky last at 10.30pm over 750 metres.
Local Handler Phil Simmonds knows what it takes to win over 575 metres and tonight he is stepping up two of his charges for the first time.
First up is Illewin Attempt in a maiden stayers race at 7.49pm over 575 metres. The son of Illewin Allot and Airforce Karla is yet to win over four bends from four attempts on these shores.
Three of those races were at Hove over 490 and 515 metres. Although not winning those races he clocked decent times in defeat suggesting he could be suited over longer trips. The November ’17 whelp has raced and trialled at Romford over 400 metres so has course experience.
Phil on him said: “Yes, he should stay. He went well at Hove and will see how he gets on. He has early boot and can work his way through in races.
“He has not been out of the 575 boxes at Romford before but that shouldn’t matter. Trap five is okay for him. I don’t know if he wants to be that far out but I’m not complaining.”
Skybet make him an 8/1 poke to win at the fifth time of asking on these shores.
Florican Trend is the next to be stepped up by Phil Simmonds in another maiden stayers affair at 9.56pm. Like her kennel mate the daughter of Droopys Cain and Hi Trend Minnie is lightly raced on these shores. The December ’17 whelp has won one from three attempts. That win came in an A3 graded race over 400 metres. Longer trips could be where her future lies and tonight makes her six bend debut. Like her kennel mate she has course experience and could go well if utilising her early pace.
Phil said: “She has won from four bends and are looking forward to stepping her up. It’s about time we ran her over longer. She is fresh, I think she will stay. We are hoping for big things from from her. She could become a regular on Fridays at Romford.
“Trap four is an interesting one. She is probably a bit far out but we are still learning about her. I’m not complaining about the draw at this stage.”
On all of his runners tonight on who could go best Phil said: “Walk On Thomas. We are expecting a big run from him tonight.”
Skybet make Florican Trend 11/2 to win on her six bend debut. For Walk On Thomas to win the Friday night500 standard final at 8.53pm over 400 metres, several firms make him 3/1.
