It’s Friday and that means open racing at Romford WRITES ROB ABREY. Not only do we have the semi-finals of the Golden Sprint to enjoy we also have the opening heats of the BGBF British Bred maidens competition starting as well. Worth £4,000 to the winner for only two runs, the competition over 400 metres has attracted top British bred entrants.
As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about one from each heat as well as two other greyhounds making their Romford debuts.
To have a British bred competition and not have a ‘King’ or ‘Queen’ represent the KSS syndicate and the McNairs is unimaginable these days. Those prefixes have been dominant on the British Bred scene in recent years and tonight Queen Lilly picks up the flag to represent connections tonight. The May ’18 whelp is Liz McNairs only entry tonight. In heat one at 7.49pm over 400 metres the daughter of Leamaneigh Turbo and Skate On will be looking to take the spoils. She has had two races at home track Central Park over 265 and 450 metres but failed to win on those occasions. Tonight could be third time lucky. She has had a recent trial over C&D clocking a calculated time of 24.20 along with a 3.86 split. She will be expected to improve on that time.
Rab McNair on her said: “She had a recent trial at Romford and looks ideal for the competition. She has had lots of trials as we have not been in a hurry with her. Her racing career along with the others from the same litter starts this weekend. Three are at Monmore for the puppy cup.
“We have taken it easy with them, give them a chance to grow up and find themselves. We gave her a trial at Monmore as well in case the competition at Romford didn’t fill but always wanted her for it. Two runs for £4,000; you can’t argue with that.
“We were happy with her trial and draw on Friday. We are expecting improvement and for her to move forward. We would like to see her put in a nice performance.”
Corals are offering 10/11 for Queen Lilly to take the first heat tonight.
Peterborough trainer Richard Devenish knows what it takes to win at Romford. Back in April 2017 he won the British Greyhound Breeders Forum puppy Oaks with Tea For Tess. Tonight he has entered two of his charges for a tilt at the BGRF maidens competition. Richard who has been a long supporter of the British Bred scene has home bred both featuring tonight.
First up in heat two at 8.06pm is Glatton Galileo. The August ’18 whelp has only had three races but has won two. Both those wins came at home track Peterborough in A6 and A5 graded company. The son of Droopys Vieri and Ballymac Godsend has had a recent trial over 225 metres where he clocked a very good calculated time of 13.66. He clearly has early pace and 400 metres at Romford could be ideal for the pacey sort.
Richard on him said: “He has got early and eventually could become a proper sprinter. I was very pleased with his trial on Tuesday especially as it was his first time at the tracks and traps. We put him over the sprint trip for a trial as Tuesday to Friday was not a long enough gap to trial him over 400 metres.
“He was sidelined for about eight weeks with a minor problem and we took our time with him. He is all fit and well and came off the trial on Tuesday well.
“To sum him up, he is a little power pack. He is soon up to full speed. He should be okay at Romford over 400 metres. The question is how soon the winning line will come as it’s his first race back. Trap three for him is fine as he has early to the bend.
“Afterwards we may look to take him to Nottingham over 305 metres. He would relish that.”
Corals are top price 3/1 for the pacey sort to win heat two.
Next up for Richard in heat three at 8.21pm is Lunar Prince. The August ’18 whelp is the litter brother of Glatton Galileo. Like his brother he has winning form at Peterborough winning three from four races in A7, A6 and A4 graded company over 435 metres. He has raced at Monmore over 480 metres where he finished third. He has had a recent spin over C&D clocking a decent calculated time of 24.40 with a 3.90 split. He will be expected to improve on that after his look around the Essex venue.
Richard on him said: “He will stay the 400 metres well. He got the 480 metres trip at Monmore but thought the puppy comp has come a bit too soon for him. He would have been up against more experienced puppies and some major players.
“He did a nice trial at Romford. He missed it from the traps. I think he could find 30 spots off his trial time. He just got it wrong from the traps.
“Trap one for him on Friday is okay for him first time up in a race. From that trap he only has dogs on his outside to deal with.”
On both his charges, Richard said: “Both are home bred and are the last straws of Droopys Vieri. I spoke to the breeder and he had one left. He has proven to be a fantastic sire over the years.”
Skybet are 3/1 for him to take the spoils in heat three.
Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr is becoming a Romford regular on a Friday night. Tonight he tries his Swift Cope for the first time in a maiden puppies race at Romford over 400 metres in the opening race at 6.27pm. The June ’18 whelp has earned his shot at Romford after winning five times from twelve races at Yarmouth. All five wins have come over 462 metres in A4, A3 and A1 graded company. Three of those five wins have come in top graded A1 affairs. The son of Eden The Kid and Zaras Fantasy is clearly ready to take on the open scene after proving himself in top graded affairs at Yarmouth.
Paul on him said: “He is a new dog to us. He came into the kennel last week. The previous trainer Keith [Dawson] doesn’t race away from Yarmouth. The owners thought he could handle Romford and know we go there regularly.
“If the dog breaks at Romford like he does at Yarmouth he will not get picked up. He stays the 462 metres at Yarmouth really well. It is his first time at Romford though and we will see how he handles the track.
“He did 27.93 last time out at Yarmouth and that is a really good time for this time of the year. Considering he is still only a puppy that is really good.
“He has settled in really well at our kennels and fingers crossed he takes to the track. If he does we are expecting a big run form from him.”
Skybet are top price 7/2 for him to win at Romford tonight first time up.
Deanridge Wrath tackles the longest distance of his career tonight of 575 metres in a maiden stayers race at 10.13pm for trainer Allison Kelly-Pilgrim. The July ’17 whelp has had one race over six bends though over 540 metres at Crayford recently. The son of Romeo Recruit and Sporting Dame on that occasion finished second after finding trouble at the first two bends. He has won twice from twelve runs. Those two wins came at Central Park and Hove over 480 and 515 metres.
Allison on him said: “He got the 540 metres at Crayford recently in a good race. He found a bit of trouble and the one in front was away and gone. He stayed to the drop at Crayford well.
“It is one of those; will he, won’t he scenarios. He looks like he will get the 575 metres tonight but you don’t know until you try.
“He has won at Central Park and Hove over 480 and 515 metres while with Seamus Cahill. The owners sent him back to Ireland for a nice rest and change of scenery. He has come to us and thought we would try him over six bends.
“He can have early and we are happy with his trap draw in two.”
Skybet and Corals are offering 9/2 to win at Romford and over 575 metres at the first time of asking.
