It’s the end of January already and to ease us into February, Romford have put on fifteen races for our enjoyment from 6.27pm – writes Rob Abrey. Fourteen of those races are open class and as ever there are several greyhounds making their Romford race debuts and stepping up in trip and in some cases both. True to form yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about four of them.
The first of today’s profiled runners, Jumeirah Drama in the 7.33 has unfortunately be withdrawn off colour this morning. This will be a 5-dog race.
Next up for ‘team Gornall’ is Bellmore Winx in a maiden puppies race over 400 metres at 8.38pm. The May ’18 whelp has had all of her eighteen races on these shores at home track Henlow over 460 metres winning five. The daughter of Skywalker Puma and Mercury Kate is in great form presently by winning her last two races in A6 and A5 graded races. In her last race when taking the spoils in an A5 she clocked her best calculated time of 27.86. She is clearly heading in the right direction. She has early pace and 400 metres at Romford tonight could be ideal for her.
Jason on her said: “We had a few problems with a cough with her. We brought her back and she has won her last two. I think a lot of this pup. Her 3.76 split at Henlow last time out is very good. That could translate into a 3.80 split at Romford easy.
“It is good for her to be taking on dogs of her own age tonight. We will hopefully bring her back next week, win, lose or draw. She is out in trap six and don’t think that will hinder her. We think she has a good chance.
“She keeps coming on and is one for the future. She could be one for stepping up further down the line.”
Ladbrokes are top price 11/4 for her to win away from Henlow at the first time of asking.
Followers of the open race scene may know the name Rob Roy, not because of his exploits in Scotland in the Seventeenth century but for his exploits on the track, most notably at Yarmouth. Trained by Paul Burr the September ’16 whelp has only had eight races on these shores but still won the Greene King IPA East Anglian challenge at Yarmouth over 462 metres last year. The son of Storm Control and Leezie Lindsay last raced at Peterborough before going lame. Tonight is his first race back after two trials at home track Yarmouth. Tonight the early paced sort goes into heat one of the Burton Lodge Racing sprint over 225 metres at 7.49pm. Although tonight is his first sprint race he has bundles of early and should more than hold his own against more natural sprint types.
Paul on him said: “We took him to Peterborough for the Fengate Collar but he picked up a tendon problem and had to get it removed. We gave him a trial recently over 277 metres at Yarmouth and did 16.34. That time would win most opens at Yarmouth over the distance. We were over the moon with the trial.
“After the trial we had him checked out and is absolutely fine. It is exciting to have him back and he is bouncing. We intend to step him up to 400 metres soon and the Golden Sprint is a target for him.
“He has clocked 25.98 at Peterborough in a trial over 435 metres and that is pretty special. He has also done 28.35 at Shelbourne which is a flying time.
“Trap four is good for him. He has lots of early pace and if he breaks level could draw clear. We will see what happens.”
Skybet are top 15/8 for the classy Rob Roy to take the spoils over two bends tonight.
Seaglass Skyla is not only making her Romford debut tonight but her six bend one as well for trainer Patrick Janssens in a maiden stayers race at 8.21pm over 575 metres. The April ’18 whelp has had all of her eleven races at home track Central Park over 480 metres winning twice. Those two wins came in open races. The daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Slaneyside Asher has had a recent trial over 400 metres clocking a good calculated time of 24.23 along with a nippy 3.79 split. The signs are there that she stays and if able to do so may not be a maiden stayer for very long.
Patrick on her said: “She’s a nice bitch. She has won at Central Park a few times and started racing very young. We always thought she would stay. She has got a bit of early and nice middle pace. I’ll be amazed if she doesn’t stay.
“She could be a proper stayer in the future. She is only an April ’18 whelp. We were thinking about the Monmore puppy cup for her but 480 metres is too short for her.
“She beat Desperado Rocco by over two lengths in a trial at Romford and has a good chance tonight. If she leads I think she is capable of 35.50 tonight.
“Trap two is no problem for her. She has run from a lot of traps and handles it well.”
On all three of his runners tonight Patrick said: “I think all three have chances tonight.”
Ladbrokes are 5/2 for Skyla to win on her six bend debut. Desperado Rocco in a stayers race at 6.44pm over 575 metres is 3/1 with Bet365 to take the spoils. Goldies Hoddle
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice little 2/1 winner last week curtesy of Tullig Thrill. Trained by Heather Dimmock she duly obliged when winning by 1 ½ lengths in her longest distance to date. Last week Heather on her said“….If she is lying handy second or third without any of the runners around her she will run on.” She was spot on when taking the lead at the seventh band.
It pays to follow this column.
