Romford kick starts the weekend bonanza of open races on show and what a show it is writes Rob Abrey.
Romford get the open race ball rolling with thirteen opens on their traditional open card. On Saturday, Hove host the final of the Winter Derby, while at Crayford you can catch the semi-finals of the Golden Jacket. Further up north Monmore and Sheffield have put on one off opens for our enjoyment. On Sunday Central Park round off the weekend with the first round heats of the Springbok.
Back to Romford and as ever several greyhounds are making their Romford and six bend debuts and in some cases both. True to form your favourite scribe has found out more about three of them plus one that is returning after a break away from Essex.
Seattle Sam returns to Romford after a three month absence in heat two of the Steve Simmons standard at 7.03pm over 400 metres. Trained by Jason Bloomfield the August ’17 whelp has a great strike rate of 50% from his fourteen races on these shores. Of those seven wins, four were in open races including two at Romford. Those two wins came back in October where the son of Taylors Sky and Billis Lee took the final of the Romford Friday night maidens. After that he went to Peterborough where he went on to win the Fengate Collar over 435 metres. Tonight, he is back for a possible tilt at the Golden Sprint later this month and showed all is well when clocking a calculated time of 24.37 in a recent trial over C&D.
Kelli Windebank, assistant trainer to Jason on him said: “After a couple of wins at Romford he went to Peterborough and won the Fengate Collar. After that we took him to Nottingham for the National Sprint but he was eliminated in the semi finals and picked up an injury.
“We intend to keep him to sharp four bend trips and not sprints from now on. We decided to take our time with him and not rush him back. We thought we would wait and bring him back for the Golden Sprint at Romford.
“He is a really nice dog but will need the race. We are not convinced with the draw [trap three] as he is a railer. When he was at Romford before it was around the track the way it is now. He has run from trap five there and beat the draw to finish second. Hopefully he can beat the draw again.”
Seattle Sam is 9/4 with several firms to continue where he left off at Romford with a win tonight.
After only one race over 480 metres, Roxholme Socks is being stepped up over six bends by trainer Hayley Keightley. Tonight, she attempts 575 metres for the first time in a maiden stayers affair at 7.33pm. The December ’17 whelp had her one and only race so far in her career at Nottingham where she finished fourth after crowding at the first bend. The daughter of Farloe Blitz and Lughill Lillymae has shown she has early pace in her qualifying trials and if able to stay may not remain a maiden stayer for very long.
Mark Keightley on her said: “We are stepping her up quicker than we would ordinarily. We are doing something quicker than we thought we would but think she needs it. She was beating slower dogs in trials and looked to have more early then she possibly has. Up against four bend dogs she will find more trouble early on.
“Over six bends she has more chance to get on the bunny. I feel she will get the trip off the front. I don’t think she will come from behind.
“It’s our gut feeling to step her up and it’s the right thing for her. If she leads up and loses, I’ll be bitterly disappointed. The race and trip is the right time for her.
“She is still learning and has only been in the boxes six or seven times and was very lightly schooled in Ireland.”
Roxholme Socks is generally available at 5/6 to win on her Romford and six bend debut tonight.
Wardys Legend tackles Romford tonight for the first time in a puppies only affair at 7.49pm over 400 metres. Trained by Yarmouth’s Raymond Pleasants the July ’18 whelp runs away from Yarmouth tonight for the first time. The son of Tommy Brislane and Turbine Tulip has a great strike rate of 50% from ten races at his home track winning in A8, A7, A5 and A4 graded company over 462 metres. He is in fine fettle presently winning two of his last three. The drop down to 400 metres tonight could be ideal for the early paced sort.
Raymond on him said: “He has plenty to do by the looks of things. He is only a July ’18 pup and is still only a youngster. He is up against pups a lot older.
“He is a nice little pup and is coming on well at Yarmouth. He has nice early pace to the bend and will run through a brick wall for you. I don’t think he is a betting proposition unless you like a lively outsider.
“400 metres tonight is ideal for him. He could be ideal at Romford. He still has plenty of time and all being well will hopefully keep him in puppy company in the upcoming weeks. Whether he will be good enough only time will tell. It’s a run for him tonight and more experience.”
Skybet are 33/1 for him to take the spoils at Romford at the first attempt.
Lightfoot Rio trained by Michelle Brown after only three races at home track Henlow runs at Romford in a maiden race over 400 metres at 8.06pm. The June ’18 whelp won one of those three races over 277 metres in D2 graded company. The son of Rio Quattro and Swift Stranraer clearly has early pace and the 400 metres trip at Romford could be ideal for the puppy. If continuing to progress as expected he should not be a maiden for very long.
Michelle on him said: “He ran at Henlow on Tuesday over 460 metres for the first time and got bumped about a bit. It was a bit of a messy race so was hard to gauge whether he got the trip or not. In his first race over 277 metres he flew out the traps and won. He has a lovely action and are quite hopeful for him for the future.
“He is a strong compact dog and hopefully goes well. He has trap six and we are happy with that. At this stage we are not aiming him for Golden Sprint. We intend to keep him in puppy company and hopefully he proves good enough.”
Michelle on her other runners said: “Signature Dancer in race two has had some niggles but is back and is raring to go. He finally has trap one and will hopefully run a good race.
“Signature Callum in the standard final is in his fourth final of one of these at Romford and has yet to land one. Hopefully on Friday he can win one. He is in great form and has won three on the bounce. Two were at Crayford and one at Romford in the heats. Fingers crossed his good form carries on.”
Lightfoot Rio is 13/2 to win at Romford at the first time of asking. Signature Dancer in heat one of the Steve Simmons standard at 6.44pm over 400 metres is 8/1 with Paddy Power to take advantage of his draw and take the spoils. Signature Callum in the final of the Romford Friday night 500 standard over 400 metres is 13/8 with Corals and Ladbrokes to extend his winning run to four from four.
Regular readers of this column may have had a very welcome 10/1 winner last week curtesy of Braesboy. Trained by Crayford’s Gavin Debenham the early paced sort duly obliged by three lengths in a calculated winning time of 24.31. Last week Gavin on him said “….If he hits the lids he has got every chance. He is 100% fit and we’re looking for a decent run from him”. He certainly did.
It pays to follow this column.
UPDATE: Droopys Aoife has been withdrawn off colour from the eighth race
