It’s the last Friday before fireworks night next Tuesday but the action is not in the sky but on the Essex track. Romford as ever have put on a fifteen race card with thirteen open races for us to enjoy. With several greyhounds making their Romford debut or stepping up in trip yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about some of them.
Perry Barr trainer John Lambe is making the journey down to Essex today from his Birmingham base to give his sprint star a run. Fridays Zeus has reached the final of the Scurry cup at Belle Vue, the RPGTV sprint trophy at Nottingham and the Northern sprint at Sheffield. Tonight the son of Droopys Malpini and Farlie Lulu makes his Romford debut over 400 metres in a standard affair at 8.38pm. The December ’15 whelp is nearing his fourth birthday but is still going strong. He is in fine fettle at the moment with an open race win over 480 metres at home track Perry Barr recently. 400 metres looks to be ideal for him tonight and could get off to winning ways at the Essex venue.
John on him said: “Basically he is no spring chicken and he wasn’t trapping like he was in sprint races. We decided to run him over four bends at Perry Barr and he has won a open over 480 metres but the distance stretches him. 400 metres down at Romford could be the ideal distance for him.
“He is going to Romford without a look but has been to several tracks and takes to them well. He is that type of dog. He adapts well.
“If he breaks on level terms he has a chance. Trap two is ideal for him as trap one at Romford first time up can be hard. If he runs well we will bring him back next week.”
Coral make him a 11/4 shot to win first time up at Romford.
Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr called it perfectly last week when stepping up Cloncunny Loch over six bends. Tonight he steps up Swift Bullet from six bends to eight bends. The son of Octane Swift and Swift Venom makes his eight bend debut in a maiden marathon over 750 metres at 9.41pm. The March ’16 whelp has experience at Romford and has won twice over 575 metres which bodes well going into tonight’s race. He has also won over 659 metres at Yarmouth in an S1 graded affair. He is in good form with a recent win over 462 metres at Yarmouth in an A2 graded race. To win over four bends shows he has enough early and if able to get the trip tonight could be a player.
Paul on him said: “It is his eight bend debut and in my opinion he will get 750 metres, yes he will get it. Over 659 metres at Yarmouth he was still finishing strong to the pick up.
“He is a lovely big fawn dog but can be a bit clumsy at times. We hope he leads and hangs on.
“He has won over 575 metres and runs the track well. Trap two for him is fine. We are expecting a big run from him tonight.”
Ladbrokes and Coral make him a 9/4 poke to win over 750 metres at the first time of asking.
Fabulous Mila for Yarmouth trainer John Mullins is running at Romford and over 575 metres for the first time tonight in a maiden stayers race at 10.13pm. The daughter of Barcia Bale and Lemon Steff has run over 660 and 630 metres at Perry Barr and Monmore finishing second both times giving the impression she stays. Tonight is only her second race with John after being in the care of Laurence Tuffin and Dave Firmager. While with Tuffin and Firmager she won over 500 and 480 metres at Nottingham in an A2 and open race.
John on Fabulous Mila said: “100% she will get it. She ran well at Monmore and Perry Barr over six bends. She is coming out of season and has not been long with me. It is only her second race with me. Trap three in her race is 100% fine.
“Will keep her to six bends for a few weeks then go for the English Oaks at Swindon in December.”
Skybet make her 13/2 to win over six bends at the third of asking.
Regular readers of this column may of had two winners last week curtesy of Our Lucky Fool and Cloncunny Loch trained by Paul Young and Paul Burr. Our Lucky Fool was put up by the Romford handler as one he expected to do well. He certainly did when making it two from two over 575 metres returning an SP of 11/10. Yarmouth handler Paul Burr stepped up his Cloncunny Loch over six bends for the first time last week and said “….I’m fairly sure he will get it. He has a bit of early as well but I’m not sure he will get any further. If he gets in front he will be difficult to peg back.” He certainly has and certainly was when winning by 6 1/4 lengths at a massive SP return of 14/1.
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