Christmas will be upon us in two weeks time. To get us in the festive mood Romford as usual have put on a feast of open races for us to enjoy. With twelve races on show from 6.09pm it feels like Christmas has come early. As ever there are several ‘hounds’ making their Romford and six bend debuts tonight and in some cases both. True to form yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about three of them for your enjoyment – writes Rob Abrey.
Perry Barr trainer John Lambe is travelling ‘dahn sarf’ from his Birmingham base to race his charge Drumcrow Nelson at Romford for the first time in a maiden race over 400 metres at 6.28pm.
The son of Droopys Nidge and Drumcorw Chrissy on these shores has had all of his eleven races at home track Perry Barr winning four. All those four wins came in graded races over 480 metres in A4 and A3 affairs. The September ’18 whelp has interestingly run in one D1 sprint race over 275 metres where he finished third. He clearly has early pace and the drop to 400 metres could be ideal for the pacey sort.
John on him said: “I thought I would try him over a shorter trip. This time of year at Perry Barr he will struggle to get the trip. In the summer months the trip is not a problem for him.
“He’s the type of dog that runs well first time at a track. He has got nice early pace. That is his weapon. Hopefully he will lead. He had his last race in A1 and that is a really good grade with the likes of Pat Rosney there. I am wary of the traps though as he has not been out of the style of traps Romford has.
“We tried him over the sprint trip but he is not a great trapper. He has tremendous early but doesn’t trap that well. In sprints you need to do it from the boxes so that is why he had only one race over the shorter trip.
“Trap four wont bother him. He has been out of trap four before at Perry Barr and run well.”
Central Park trainer Patrick Janssens knows what it takes to win at Romford and tonight steps up two of his charges in trip with one also making their Romford debut.
First up is Drumcrow Jody in a maiden stayers affair over 575 metres at 6.43pm. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Drumcrow Kylie has had all of her eleven races at home track Central Park over 265 and 480 metres winning only once. That win came in an A2 graded affair in mid-October. The August ’18 whelp does look like she needs further and six bends could be where her future lies. In a recent trial over C&D she clocked an impressive calculated time of 35.42. In that trial she overtook one Affleck Lady who finished second by only a neck in the Regency final at Hove over 695 metres back in August. It seems longer trips is the way forward and it won’t be long until she sheds her maiden stayers tag.
Patrick on her said: “I’ve had her quite a while. During lockdown we couldn’t run her and then she picked up a niggle. In her races at Central Park she runs on very strong towards the end. She will get 575 metres and could stay further. In time she could get 750 metres. She is the sister of Drumcrow Brent who is in the semi-finals of the Olympic at Hove right now with Mark (Wallis).
“Her trial at Romford was very good. She has only been around Central Park before that. She took to the track straight away and ran it well. She has trap one but I would prefer her in two or three. If she comes away and takes her chance she could win it.
“At Central Park she comes away, gets outpaced to the bend, shows a lot of pace down the back straight, checks at the third bend and runs out of race. Over 575 metres she has a chance to lead.”
Next up for team Janssens is Nightingale Don in a marathon open over 750 metres at 8.17pm. The son of Droopys Nidge and Blanemore Sasha attempts his furthest distance to date tonight attempting his first race over eight bends.
The June ’18 whelp does have solid form over six bends at Central Park with two wins from his last four over 642 metres in open class. He has also run over 686 metres at Shelbourne Park where he finished second. That bodes well going into tonight’s race. ‘Don’ also has track experience at Romford with four attempts over 575 metres in October. He failed to win any of those with his best finish second place. Of thirteen races on these shores he has won twice which were over 642 metres which looks good going over eight bends for the first time tonight.
Patrick on him said: “He’s a bit of an enigma. He has so much middle pace. He stays 642 metres but I’m not totally convinced he will get the extra 100 odd metres. He ran over 750 yards in Ireland at Shelbourne Park and looked liked he stayed. He has got to lead to win.
“He has experience at Romford and knows the track inside out. In his 575 races there was a lot of pace in them and he couldn’t get in front. He will do well in front and might hang on.
“I don’t think there is too many in the race that can do his 642 metres time at Central Park. He has got to lead to win. I have no issue with trap five, he has won from that trap at Central Park.”
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the readers of the ‘Robs Romford Round Up’ a very Merry Christmas as I’m unfortunately unable to keep you all informed next week. Don’t despair your favourite read will be back thereafter.
