Last week the Coral Puppy Cup and the Coral Champion Stakes got underway – writes Rob Abrey.
This week the Ladbrokes Guys and Dolls start. What a month September has been already at Romford. This year held at Romford, the competition for bitches and dogs gets the meeting off to a flyer at 6.09pm with the first three heats for the boys all over 400 metres. After six heats of that we then move on to the semi-finals of the puppy cup and Champion Stakes. What a night we are in for.
Those who follow this column will know about several dogs in the semi finals already. For the guys and dolls I have endeavoured to find out more about two greyhounds making their Romford debuts tonight.
Madabout Amigo is not only making his Romford but also his race debut for trainer David Mullins. The June ’18 whelp was previously with Central Park trainer Luke Morrison for four races. The son of Scolari Me Daddy and Bellmore Pebbles while with Luke failed to win any of those races but the switch to Romford could pay off. He has had three trials over C&D with his last trial catching the eye.
In his last trial he broke twenty four seconds with a calculated time of 23.98. That impressive trial time shows he is going the right way. Tonight he guys straight into the guys and dolls in heat one at 6.09pm.
David said: “He has impressed us each time he trialled. He looks a good acquisition. He has nice early and we are pleased with how he qualified. We don’t know a great deal about him except for his qualifying trials which we were pleased with. He is not the finished article at the moment but we will take what we have at the moment.
“He is a railer and he has trap three on Friday. We are not sure how much of a railer he is but will learn more about him after his race.”
David has four other runners tonight, Two in the guys and dolls and one in the puppy cup and Champion Stakes. On them he said. “They are all tough races. The two bitches Luciejane and Whisper (Swabys Lucyjane and Pantone Whisper) when they get it right are very good.
“We are looking for a bit of luck. We have decent runners and chances but you still need a bit of luck in competitions.”
Madabout Amigo is top price 7/1 with Corals and Ladbrokes to win first time up at Romford and is top price with several firms at 20/1 to take the outright spoils.
Rolex Mick makes his Romford debut for trainer Barry O’Sullivan in heat two of the guys at 6.28pm. The December ’17 whelp has had all of his ten races at Central Park and tonight races away from the Kent track for the first time. Of those ten races he has won four, all over 480 metres. Two were in top graded company and two were at open race level.
The son Skywalker Puma and Cockle Island has had two recent spins over C&D clocking good times of 24.08 and 24.32 along with split times of 3.77 and 3.83. He showed in his last race he is in fine fettle when winning an open race over 480 metres at Central Park on Sunday and will be expected to improve on his trial times.
Barry said: “He’s a good genuine dog. He’s had a few niggles but is all over them now. He ran well last week and 400 metres is okay for him, especially if he gets on the bunny. He has good early pace.
“Trap three is a good box at Romford and should be good for him. He is seeded rails but is rails to middle so should be okay.
“In one trial he did a 3.77 split which is good. In another trial he was beaten by trap five [Ballymac Micko] so needs to reverse that form.
“We are planning to go over the hurdles with him and he could be a force to be reckoned with. Hopefully he will go for the Springbok.”
Rolex Mick is 12/1 with several firms to win first time away from Central Park and is top price 66/1 with Ladbrokes to win outright.
Regular readers of this column may have had a field day last week. Six greyhounds were covered, three from each of the two competitions that started. Of the six, five qualified to their perspective semi-finals with three winning. Those wins came courtesy of Bubbly Magnum, Lightfoot Ripley and Black Olive, returning SPs of 11/8, 11/8 & 10/1.
The performance of the week was undoubtedly Bubbly Magnum who in his first ever race clocked an incredible calculated time of 23.72. Those who liked what Steve Fluin said about him last week may be on ante post at 10/1. Most firms are now around 3/1 for him to win the Puppy Cup.
It pays to follow this column.
