By Rob Abrey
It’s that time of the week again where Romford host their weekly open race feast. This Friday is slightly different than normal as the Essex track host the inaugural running of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum Puppy Oaks over 400 metres. Worth £4,000 to the winner with the final next Friday it has attracted many promising bitches and as ever I have found out more about some of them along with interesting entries for the Friday night 500 maidens competition.
Fabulous Finale trained by David Firmager of Towcester is hoping to set the standards in the first heat of the puppy oaks at 7.12pm. The June ’15 whelp is only experiencing her second ever race tonight with her last race back in November at Hall Green over 480 metres. The lightly raced daughter of Ace Hi Rumble and Fabulous Puzzle showed her potential with a smart calculated trial time of 24.36 even with a split time of 4.03.
Trainer David Firmager on her said: “I was previously at Hall Green and gave her a race there. After that she had a really bad cough and took a long time to get back. She has done her qualifying trials and had a look around Romford on Tuesday. I was delighted at her time and feel she can break a lot better.
“She will be a very nice bitch and will be all the better with more experience and if she qualifies has a chance with a little bit of luck. A time of 24.10 to 24.20 could win the competition and with a quicker spilt she could get to that time.”
Paddy Power are currently 7/2 for Fabulous Finale and that should be more than considered. For a greyhound expected to improve on her sectionals and with already good times on the clock and with a good draw she should not be overlooked.
Peterborough’s Richard Devenish has assembled a team of three together to try and take the spoils. He has two in heat two and one in heat three. His other entry, Ring For Joanie has been withdrawn due to coming into season.
Princes Royal & Tea For Tess in heat two at 7.29pm have been doing all their running at Peterborough going nicely through the grades. The litter sisters from Head Bound and Milliesupreme have both trialled at Romford with Tea For Tess going better with a calculated time of 24.54 and a sectional of 3.76 compared to Princes Royal calculated time of 24.73 and sectional of 3.97.
Trainer Richard Devenish on Princes Royal said: “She is a nice bitch and all the ones tonight are from the same litter which is a repeat litter that Romany Rouge came from.
“She did a fine time for her first look around but got a little bit lost. I originally seeded her middle but she started to rail so I swapped her seeding. She doesn’t have as much early as Tea For Tess so they shouldn’t get in each other’s way.”
On Tea For Tess, Devenish said: “She has more early pace than Princes Royal and looks well suited to a track like Romford. She shows good early pace at Peterborough and should go well.
“With her early she should lead Princes Royal with her slipping in behind and they should avoid each other.”
Tea For Tess is currently available at 5/1 with Paddy Power and with a greyhound expected to out kick trap one to the bend could be a player once in front and one for the value seekers.
Thameside Bound is next up for Richard Devenish in heat three at 7.46pm and will be looking to make it a hat-trick of qualifiers for the Peterborough trainer. Like her sisters the September ’15 whelp has run only at Peterborough winning in an A5 graded race over 435 metres.
On her Richard Devenish said: “She is a nice bitch. She had a little problem which we have overcome. Ideally we would have liked one more run for her before the competition but hopefully she qualifies for the final.”
Asked who he feels will go best tonight, the Peterborough handler said: “Tea For Tess is well suited for the style of runner you need at Romford and has the early pace but Thameside Bound is improving all the time.”
As well as the Oaks, Romford have a 500 maidens competition starting tonight over 400 metres with the final next week. With three heats starting from 8.03pm I have found out more about one from each heat.
Rising Razor in the first heat for David Mullins has his first race on these shores tonight. The son of Tyrur Sugar Ray and Rising Pearl has been looking good in trials with his last two calculated times of 24.31 and 24.34 showing good consistency.
On the May ’15 whelp local handler David Mullins said: “He is a nice dog and a maiden is a nice place to start but Romford will not be his track. He will be a middle distance dog and will need longer than 400 metres. His draw is good as he currently runs middle to wide rather than rails to middle.
“He has a decent future and we are hoping he goes to Towcester for the derby if he trains on.”
Rizing Razor is available at 5/2 with Paddy Power and that looks a good price for a greyhound clearly capable of going places. At this level the shorter trip should not be a major problem and if lying handy or in front at the first bend will be a real handful for the others to deal with.
Batmans Aunt is next up for trainer Paul Young and owner Seamus Ryan in the second heat at 8.21pm. The son of Uncle Eoin and Pinafore is only having her second race on these shores after getting knocked over in a race at Hove in February. The September ’14 whelp showed in a recent trial over C&D that she is in fine fettle with a smart calculated time of 24.25.
Owner Seamus Ryan on him said: “She is a little bitch that I brought over from Ireland. In her first race at Hove she looked likely for the win before getting knocked over at the third bend.
“She is back and I’m really pleased with her last trial. She will stay all day at Romford as she has done 28.74 at Shelbourne Park over 480 metres.
“She maybe does not have the pace to win top open races but could win minor opens. She has good early but is not really a sprinter type and her ideal distance is not known yet.”
Shaneboy Sol in the third heat at 8.37pm for Central Park trainer Spencer Mavrias is in great form on home turf and if transferring that across to Romford can shed his maiden tag tonight. The son of Shaneboy Nadal and Shaneboy Diva has been around Romford before but has not been seen since last September. On that occasion the August ’13 whelp made a hash of the start and only managed fourth place. At Central Park he has won two top graded races from three and has come second in another two.
Trainer Spencer Mavrais on him said: “He has hit a purple patch. The change in weather has made a massive difference for him.
“He never broke when at Romford before but came home strong. He has nice back straight pace and is capable of winning a maiden at Romford. He paces up well and could be a big runner tonight.”
