Gold Cup or Golden Sprint? I know which one I prefer and that is the one based in Essex writes ROB ABREY
After three weeks we will find out tonight who wins the first category one competition of the year at Romford. On the undercard is also the final of the BGBF British Bred maidens over 400 metres. Along with thirteen other open races there is a lot to enjoy. Away from the showpiece finals there are several greyhounds making their Romford race debuts and as ever yours truly has found out more about four of them.
Peterborough trainer Richard Devenish is back this week with a finalist in the British Bred maidens that was covered by your favourite scribe last week. Tonight he is giving Blue Mischief his Romford race debut in a maiden puppies race at 7.17pm over 400 metres.
The son of Droopys Vieri and Ballymac Godsend is the litter brother of finalist Lunar Prince. The August ’18 whelp has won four races already in his short career from ten starts. All those wins came at home track Peterborough over 435 metres in A8, A7, A5 and A4 graded races. He is progressing all the time and will be expected to improve on his recent trial over C&D. In that trial he clocked a calculated time of 24.49 along with a 3.79 split.
Richard on him said: “She won her three dog trial at Romford and deserves her chance in one of those little opens. She is very determined and has the right attitude. She has nice early and has done well at Peterborough.
“We expect a bit of improvement from her and with a bit of lady luck could do well. We are happy with trap four. She doesn’t want to be on the wide of middle. From traps three or four she goes up straight to the bend.
“She can run and in time may be a stayer as she has no stamina issues. We thought we would start her at Romford in opens and further down the line bring her back over 575 metres. She is a bit too young for six bends at the moment. The way she runs she does want further and 500 metres at Nottingham could be for her.”
Skybet are offering 15/2 for her to take the spoils.
Elizabeth McNair is another trainer back at Romford tonight with a finalist in the British Bred maidens. Queen Lilly like Lunar Prince was covered by yours truly and duly obliged when taking her heat. Along with her they are giving King Sam his Romford race debut in a puppies race over 400 metres at 7.33pm. Like Lunar Prince and Blue Mischief he is also from the same litter as finalist Queen Lilly.
The son of Leamaneigh Turbo and Skate On has had three races so far winning once. That one win came at home track Central Park over 265 metres in an open race. The May ’18 whelp clearly has early pace and showed that in a recent trial over C&D. He clocked a calculated time of 24.27 along with a nippy 3.70 split. He will be expected to improve on that trial and tonight could double his win tally.
Rab McNair on him said: “I like him. He is showing nice early. I trialled him over 480 metres at Monmore but have brought him back to 400 metres. That distance may suit him better.
“He did a nice trial at Romford when King Axle came back and beat him. At one stage he was six lengths clear. He is a big lump of a dog but is showing nice early. In a maiden sprint at Central Park he beat Queen Lilly who won at Romford last week.
“He ran Romford well and we are pleased with him. We are looking for a decent run from him. Trap five for is okay. We have had him from traps three, four and five at Central Park and trap six and Monmore.”
Ladbrokes are 2/1 for King Sam to do what litter sister Queen Lilly did last week and win at the first time of asking.
Vinegarhillsmile is not only making her Romford race debut but her six bend one as well for Henlow trainer Jason Bloomfield at 7.26pm in heat one of the Romford Friday night stayers. The August ’17 whelp on these shores has had three runs all at Henlow over 460 metres winning once. That win came in A3 graded company. The daughter of Razldazl George and Minister Hill is much more experienced than her three runs over here suggest. Over in Ireland she has had twenty one races at Enniscorthy winning five times. Her last race there was over 526 metres which she won in an A3 graded affair. The signs are there that she may get the 575 metres. She has had two recent looks around Romford with two sprint trials from the same boxes she will encounter tonight clocking calculated times of 13.93 and 14.34.
Kelli Windebank, partner and assistant trainer to Jason on her said: “We don’t know if she stays. She is new to us. The owners were clear that they wanted to try her over six bends. They have seen something in her.
“We will give it a go and hopefully qualifies. She is good enough to compete and if she stays; great.
“In her last trial over the sprint trip she badly stumbled at the start. Don’t read anything from that trial. Her 460 times at Henlow are good and she is from the same dam [Minister Hill] as Vinegarhill Ruby who won several opens over 575 metres at Romford.
“She has settled in well and if she gets it right from the traps and leads we will take it from there.”
Skybet are 9/2 for her to win at Romford and over six bends at the first attempt.
Vigorous Kevin like Vinegarhillsmile is making his Romford and six bend debut at the same time for Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr. The December ’17 whelp goes in heat two of the Romford Friday night 500 maiden stayers at 8.06pm over 575 metres. The son of Droopys Nidge and Vigorous Lindsey has won three times from nineteen starts. Those three wins have all come at home track Yarmouth over 462 metres in A2 and A1 graded races. He has had his last two races over 500 metres at Hove where he gave the impression he could handle further.
Paul on him said: “I have no doubt in my mind he will get the distance, possibly further in time. In his last race at Hove he ran on really well and got beat by the shortest of short heads. He was six lengths clear to the pick-up. At Yarmouth he is a really strong runner.
“The original plan was to try to win a maiden over four bends then try him in maiden over six bends. He was very unlucky at Hove and with a nice maiden stayers comp at Romford thought we would go for that.
“He handles both Yarmouth and Hove well so hopefully will take to Romford first time up and qualifies.”
Skybet are 7/2 for him to take spoils at the first attempt around the Essex venue tonight.
Last week one greyhound from each of the three heats of the BGBF British Bred maidens were covered in your favourite read. From the three, two qualified for the final with Queen Lily winning her heat. Trained by Liz McNair she duly obliged by 2 ¼ lengths in a winning calculated time of 24.27 at an SP return of 4/6. Lunar Prince for trainer Richard Devenish was the qualifier after finding early trouble and running on to take a place in tonight’s final at 8.53pm.
