By Rob Abrey
It is almost September and that means four category one competitions at Romford. The Coral Champion Stakes and the Romford Puppy cup over 575 and 400 metres start next week with the Guys and Dolls and LadbrokesCoral Cesarewitch over 400 and 925 metres following later in the month. What a month we are in for.
Before the competitions start I have endeavoured to find out more about three greyhounds tonight that are eying up tilts at the Champion Stakes, Puppy Cup and Guys and Dolls.
Towcester trainer Heather Dimmock is at the Essex venue tonight with two of her charges making their Romford race debuts.
First up is Felt Fixer in a Coral Champion Stakes trial stakes at 6.43pm over 575 metres. The March ’17 whelp is making his Romford debut tonight but not his six bend debut. The son of Ruthless Man and Curramore Doll has run over 661 and 692 metres at Doncaster and Henlow. He ran three times over those distances but failed to win. He has however run over 550 metres at Henlow several times winning S2, S1 graded races along with an open race as well. That bodes well going into tonight’s race. He should get the distance and after a win at Towcester last time out over 500 metres goes into the race in fine fettle.
Heather said: “He had no race at Towcester this week so thought we would try him at Romford. He should get the distance. Six bends at Henlow and Doncaster was a bit to far for him but 575 metres should be fine.
“He liked the 550 metres at Henlow. If he came away in front over that distance he rarely got beat. Hopefully he has enough early in the early part of the race to stay with the others.
“Trap three should be okay for him. He doesn’t want to be out any further and should be able to work his way to the rails.”
Skybet and Corals are offering 12/1 for Felt Fixer to win on his Romford debut tonight.
Next up for ‘team Dimmock’ is Quivers Mo. The January ’19 whelp is not only making her Romford debut but her race one as well. The unraced daughter of Droopys Jet and Quivers Manor has only had five trials before tonight’s baptism of fire. In a Romford puppy cup trial stakes over 400 metres at 7.36pm she has had a trial over C&D. That was last week and she clocked a calculated time of 24.79 with a sectional of 4.01. She will be expected to improve on that look. At Towcester where she had three trials over 270 metres she improved in everyone.
Heather said: “She is an unraced pup and think she has a bit of a tough race to start with and needs to find a lot of time. We think she will come on for her trial. She was slow away but really got going. We thought we would start her at Romford to give her some experience. If she runs well we will enter her for the puppy cup next week.
“We can’t see trap five being a problem for her. She seems to run a straight line to the bend and with a lot of pace in the race can hopefully work her way through. She improved with every trial at Towcester and in time may get further than 400 metres.”
Ladbrokes are offering 16/1 for the unraced pup to win in her first ever race tonight.
Ballymac Ley for trainer David Lee has been making waves at home track Crayford. The daughter of Ballymac Vic and Ballymac Shirley has won an astonishing eight from ten races, an 80% strike rate. The January ’18 whelp has won her last four on the bounce all over 380 metres in A1 graded races. She is in top form and tonight travels away from Crayford for the first time to take on Romford. Unsurprisingly she has been lined up to go for the Guys and Dolls starting next month and is in a Dolls trial stakes at 8.54pm tonight over 400 metres. Interestingly there is only fifteen spots between her last four winning times and only nine spots from her sectionals showing consistency. She goes to Romford tonight in top form and with her obvious early pace could be ideally suited to the Essex venue.
David on her said: “I think she will run well. She has genuine early pace. She will stay 400 metres standing on her head. I’m not saying she will come from behind but will get it off the front.
“She runs Crayford off the front but has never done a fast time there but is very consistent. She can trap well but it is her early pace to the bend. At Romford she will have to come out in front.
“Trap six is not a problem for her as she tends to keep a straight line to the bend. She needs to get in front though. If she can lead the five dog up and get in front she could land the race at a nice price. The Guys and Dolls is the target and think she will do well around Romford.”
Skybet make her 5/1 to make it five wins from five tonight.
Readers of last week’s column may have had a nice 12/1 winner courtesy of Calzaghe Edward and trainer Carl Jackson. Carl said last week “… If he gets on the bunny it will take a bit to beat him.” He was not wrong as he did, and they could not. He soon led and they could not get to him winning in a calculated time of 35.54.
It pays to follow this column.
