The Golden Sprint starts next week. Tonight is the last chance for trainers to try their charges over 400 metres before the showpiece category one competition gets underway – writes Rob Abrey.
With several trial stakes put on by the Essex venue tonight there is a good chance to see some potential entries in action. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about two of them. Away from the trial stakes Romford have also put on a maiden stayers competition over 575 metres. To help us unpick that I have found out more about one from each of the three heats.
Sheffield trainer Kirsty Grayson is taking on the Friday traffic from her Sheffield base to race two of her charges at Romford for the first time tonight in Golden Sprint trial stakes.
First up is Onefortheroad at 6.58pm. The August ’17 whelp certainly has the ‘sprint’ part of the competition sorted as he has won all of his seven races over two bends. All of those wins have been at home track Sheffield in D2, D1 and open races. The son of Scolari Me Daddy and Pippy has only had one race over four bends which was at Sheffield back 2019. Tonight he steps back up to four bends and tackles Romford for the first time. To win seven races over sprint trips including an open race shows he clearly has early pace which bodes well going into tonight’s race.
Kirtsy on him said: “We have raced him over 500 metres and tried him over 480 metres but he doesn’t quite get it. We thought we would try him over 400 metres. The trip could suit him down to the ground.
“He has changed his style of running a bit lately and doesn’t come away as quick and is instead staying on a bit better. We have tried him at Crayford and Belle Vue and seemed to take to them. He should be okay first time at Romford. He has trap four and that is fine for him. He is a bang middle dog.”
Ladbrokes are top price 12/1 for him to win at Romford first time up.
Next up for ‘team Grayson’ is Nah Then Bella at 8.17pm. The well-travelled September ’17 whelp has been and won open races at several tracks. This year she has won at Newcastle and Perry Barr over 480 metres. Late last year she won at Sheffield and Central Park over 500 and 480 metres. The daughter of Ballymac Matt and Ballymac Scala can clearly adapt to new tracks and interestingly has had a recent spin over C&D in a trial. In that trial the pacey sort clocked a calculated time of 24.25. She will be expected to improve on that after her look around. She can clearly hold her own on the open circuit and if able to handle the drop down to 400 metres could be a player.
Kirsty on her said: “She is running really well at the moment and her trial at Romford was good. I don’t mind taking them for a trial as it can be beneficial. She should come on for that trial, I will be disappointed if she didn’t. She is our main reason for going to Romford.
“She has tremendous early but doesn’t come out but has very good pace to the bend. If she gets to the first bend in front it will take a good dog to back run her, she likes to win.
“I think dropping her down is fine. She is normally a front runner and has plenty of early pace. She is running out of her skin. We took her to Monmore recently but the going was too slow for her. She likes top of the ground going. We went to Perry Barr with her afterwards and she won.
“She has a good draw in one. We’ll take that. Trap one is perfect for her. She has come from a good litter, her brother Ballymac Cooper reached the Irish greyhound derby last year.”
Ladbrokes and Corals are top price 2/1 for the classy bitch to add Romford to her list of tracks she has claimed top spot at.
Romford handler Paul Young knows what it takes to win over 575 metres at the Essex venue. Tonight he is stepping up three of his charges over six bends for the first time tonight. It is the first two that get the ‘Round Up’ treatment.
Bubbly Bollinger attempts six bends for the first time in heat one of the Romford Friday night stayers at 7.18pm. The October ‘18 whelp is a very interesting entry. The son of Loughteen Blanco and Droopys Ant reached the final of the puppy cup last year over 400 metres finishing second to Tenpin. Those with sharp memories may remember reading about him last August in your favourite read when he made his race debut in that competition. Recently he reached the semi-finals of the Winter Derby at Monmore finishing third by only three and a half lengths. He has clocked very fast times at Romford and if able to stay will not be a maiden stayer for long. He is clearly very talented and could prove to be a player on the six bend scene.
Paul on him said: “He’ll stay off the front. He gives us the impression he will stay.
“He finished second in the puppy cup and had some issues and has done well since returning. He ran really well at Monmore and finished third. It was only the first two who qualified. He lost nothing in defeat.
“He has plenty of pace and has done some really good times at Romford over four bends. He has talent and hope he runs a big race on Friday.
“He has trap three and that shouldn’t be a problem for him. Trap three at Romford is fine. I prefer him from three than trap one.”
Ladbrokes and Corals are top price at 4/5 for the classy sort to win over six bends at the first time of asking.
Bubbly Beluga goes in the heat two at 7.36pm. The March ‘19 whelp is yet to win from six attempts on these shores. All six races have been over four bends at Central Park, Towcester and Monmore. The son of Belles Direction and Tommys Inluck has had trials over 400 metres and clocked some very good times. He clearly has talent and the key to unlocking it could be over longer trips. It may not be long before he gets on the winners podium for the Champagne Club syndicate.
Paul on him said: “He has been flying in trials and disappointing in races. He doesn’t get going early and showed that in his recent trial when he beat Bubbly Freebie in a trial late on who looks a good bitch.
“He has plenty of pace and potential and six bends could be a turning point for him. We might see a different dog over six bends. We are hoping he shows a bit of pace and is up there with them early.
“Six bends could be his game, maybe even further. He is in good order and we are looking forward to it. He has trap five and that won’t hurt him.
“He might make a nice Bubbly double; you never know!”
Ladbrokes and Corals are top price 9/2 for him to win his first race at the seventh time of asking and his first attempt over six bends.
Crayford trainer Allison Kelly-Pilgrim is trying her charge Deanridge Awesom over six bends for the first time tonight in heat three at 7.56pm.
Regular readers of this column may remember reading about him in January last year when he made his Romford debut over four bends. Now the May ’18 raced is 500 metres at Nottingham. He does have winning open form over 480 metres at Monmore. It does look like he needs further and six bends could be just what he needs to kick start his career.
Allison on him said: “It is trial and error. We think he will get 540 metres at Crayford. We all think he will stay a short six bend trip but greyhounds can make you look silly sometimes!
“He could be a short six bend runner. Over four bends he tends to do his running in the latter stages. He just hasn’t got the early pace against natural four bend runners. Hopefully he turns handy so he can show us what he can do and see how long it takes him to get into his stride.
“He has trap five and that is fine for him. He ran out of five last week and that didn’t bother him.”
Deanridge Awesom has split opinion amongst the bookies with Paddy Power as short as 9/4 while Corals are offering 11/2 for him win over six bends at the first time of asking.
