The turkey is not even close to being put in the oven and already the attention is on the Coronation cup next year writes Rob Abrey.
Over 575 metres the category two competition worth £5,000 to the winner starts on Friday 3rd January. Along with many of the Essex Vase entrants there are several greyhounds tonight making their six bend race debuts in preparation for it.
As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about two of them alongside another who is making their four bend Romford debut.
Fancy Trend trained by Yarmouth’s Kevin Boon makes her Romford debut tonight at 7.03pm in heat two of the Romford Friday night 500 standard over 400 metres. The daughter of Ballymac Vic and Badminton Tyche from eight attempts has won one race. That was at Doncaster over 483 metres. She has also run at Swindon, Sheffield, Crayford and Nottingham to no avail. The October ’17 whelp is now attempting Romford for the first time tonight.
Kevin on her said: “She’s a nice little bitch. I’ve not done much with her at this stage. She did 29.90 at Doncaster which is a good time and run. Her litter brother is Badminton Donal who or Kevin Hutton reached the final of the Romford puppy cup.
“She is only young and at this stage are not sure how good she will be. We thought we would give her a spin at Romford and see.”
Several firms are offering 14/1 for her to win first time up at the Essex venue.
Headford Cain after fifteen races, attempts his furthest distance to date tonight. Trained by Kevin Boon he runs over 575 metres in a maiden stayers race at 9.26pm. The August ’17 whelp has run over six bends over 540 metres at Crayford where he reached the final of the Gold Collar. He almost took the spoils but was pipped on the line by Saving Sonic. The son of Droopys Cain and Headford Fantasy had a recent race at Hove over 515 metres but found trouble at the first bend finishing sixth. Tonight he tackles Romford for the first time and will be looking to win over six bends at the fourth time of asking.
Kevin on him said: “He did get to the final of the Golden Collar at Crayford where he was beat on the line by John Mullins’ Saving Sonic. I’m not sure if he gets 575 metres. He didn’t quite get 540 metres but the trip at Romford in my opinion is easier to get and he has had a few races since Crayford. He might get it but you don’t know unless you try these things.
“If it goes well tonight, the whole plan is to enter him for the Coronation Cup. He still has another week if we need to give him another look before then.
“If you don’t try these things you don’t find out. He is a strong dog. Trap two for him tonight is alright for him as well.”
Ladbrokes are 4/1 for him to win at Romford at the first attempt.
The band Crowded House in their song Weather With You sung: ‘Julius Caesar and the Roman Empire couldn’t conquer the blue sky’. Roman Empire, trained by Ernie Gaskin however could conquer Romford stadium. The exciting July ’17 whelp makes his six bend race debut tonight at 9.56pm in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres. The son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Hilda has won four from nine races and is an exciting prospect over six bends. In a recent trial over C&D he clocked a very impressive calculated time of 35.00 along with a quick 13.56 split time. Tonight is his first race since March and before injury reached the final of the Ladbrokes puppy derby at Monmore over 480 metres where he finished third. With the Coronation Cup around the corner he could big a big player.
Ernie on him said: “He did 35 seconds dead in a 575 metres trial. I’m confident he will stay. Friday is his first race in seven months and he should get better with every run. He needs the distance as four bends are too short for him. He hasn’t quite got the early pace to lead top class four bend dogs. We were ready to step him up before he was injured.
“He is fit enough and the exciting thing is I thought he tied up a bit in his trial near the end. When he is fully fit he could go faster. When he started out trialling, he trialled against Droopys Aoife a few times beating him up to 7 ¾ lengths.
“He has a tricky draw on Friday outside Ballymac Osby as he is more rails to middle and ours is more rails. Still a great race though for a maiden race.
“The Coronation Cup is the target at the moment, it is a good competition.”
Roman Empire is 11/10 with Skybet to win over six bends at the first time of asking.
Regular followers of this column may have had a very welcome early Christmas present last week curtesy of Signature Finlay and Michelle Brown. The Henlow raider was recommended by Brown as her best chance on the night and he didn’t disappoint. Taking advantage of his draw he took the spoils as a 10/1 shot. Brown was right when last week on him she said: “….He has been crying out for trap one and now he has it, can show what he can do. Hopefully the draw can make a big difference.” It certainly did, hopefully leaving readers with a very nice early Christmas present from the bookies.
This is the last round up before Christmas and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all readers a very Merry Christmas!
