It is the semi-finals of the Golden Sprint at Romford tonight. The eighteen greyhounds left are all vying to become the final six. With only two qualifying from each of the three heats there is very little margin for error and lots for us to relish – writes ROB ABREY.
Away from the showpiece competition, Romford have put on three supporting competitions kindly sponsored by the ‘oncourse bookies’ over 225, 750 and 575 metres for our enjoyment. As ever yours truly has been busy finding out more about one from each of the three heats from the first two competitions over 225 and 750 metres.
The Steve Simmons Sprint over 225 metres kick starts our evening of thrills and spills at 6.09pm. Getthecash for trainer Patrick Janssens races over two bends for the very first time tonight. The April ’18 whelp has run at Romford before and has winning form over 400 metres. Back in November last year the son of Laughil Blake and Droopys Harbour won a maiden open in a calculated time of 24.30. Interestingly he has had one trial over 225 metres in preparation for that maiden win where he clocked an impressive time of 13.52. He clearly has ability and on paper looks like he could hold his own against sprinters.
Patrick on him said: “He did a trial over 225 metres and did 13.47 [+5]. The thing is he is such a tight railer and is desperate for trap one. He needs the red jacket. It’s all about him popping out. If he flashes out from trap three then he is a runner. If he gets on the bunny he won’t get caught.
“I would rather see him over 400 metres than 225 metres. There wasn’t a 400 metres race this week so thought we would try him over two bends. He has early but don’t think he quite has sprinters early.
“We will ideally keep him to short four bend trips. 400 metres is his maximum. He is capable of sub twenty four seconds and winning his fair share of races at Romford. He is not quite in the same level as a Goldies Hoddle though.”
The aptly named Getthecash is 15/8 with Corals to win over two bends at the first time of asking.
Bockos Boss for Yarmouth trainer Robert Copping like Getthecash in heat one has won over 400 metres but yet to race over two bends. The March ’18 whelp lines up at 6.28pm in heat two. Formerly owned and trained by Kevin Boon the son of Laughill Blake and Shes A Dream reached the final of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore over 480 metres last year, finishing second by only half a length. When winning at Romford last October he clocked an impressive time of 23.90.
Since being with Robert he has had three races winning twice. Those two wins were his last two races at home track Yarmouth in A1 graded company. The early paced sort goes into his heat tonight in fine fettle.
Robert on him said: “We bought him off Kev Boon. He has been running really well at Yarmouth and his splits have been fantastic.
“We were going to aim him for the Winter Derby on the advice of Kev, but he cut his foot after the trial stakes which put back his preparation back a bit. We have just got him going again. In that trial stakes he was up against Tenpin and Queen Jessiej and beat them to the first bend.
“He is a cracking little dog and has early. Whether he has sprinters early we will see. I’ve always had sprinting in mind for him. I’m looking forward to it. He is up against Shelone Milo who he beat in their last race at Yarmouth. It will be lovely to get to the final.”
Skybet are top price 6/4 for the ‘Boss’ to do the business in heat two tonight.
Yarmouth trainer Jane Craske is becoming a regular at Romford on a Friday and tonight races her charge Adamant Trooper over two bends for the first time in heat three at 6.43pm. Like the previous two greyhounds he has won over 400 metres at Romford clocking a calculated time of 24.32. The son of Taylors Sky and Adamant Gem is in fine fettle winning his last race at home track Yarmouth over 462 metres in A1 graded company. His experience at Romford with his early pace could prove vital tonight.
Jane on him said: “He ran at Yarmouth on Monday and won his race. He did a good split of 5.26 so we decided to put him in the sprint competition.
“He is a lovely little dog. He is a real trier; he just keeps going. He puts it all in. You never give up on him during a race and he is such a trier. He will give you a good run.
“At the moment he doesn’t quite get 462 metres at Yarmouth but could in the summer with better weather.
“He has trap six on the outside and will need to ideally lead from that trap. I will have to tell him!”
Ladbrokes are top price 13/2 for him to claim the spoils in heat three.
The first of three heats for the Tony Byerley Mercury start at 6.58pm over 750 metres. Simply Barntick trained by Henlow’s Jason Bloomfield goes in the opening heat and is making her Romford and eight bend debut at the same time. The May ’18 whelp has only had five races on these shores winning once. That sole win came at Henlow over 460 metres in an A9 graded affair. The daughter of Definate Opinion and Zulu Duchess has had one race over 550 and 692 metres at her home track in S3 and E1 graded races finishing fourth in both. Tonight, she is stepped up once again to 750 metres.
Kelli Windebank assistant trainer and partner to Jason, on her said: “I hope she stays. I think she stays. At this stage she looks a class apart from the others in her race. There are not many places to go for eight bend races. Henlow do not do eight bend graded races. She was in one six bend one but was up against A1/A2 and open race dogs such as Ballymac Zoro. With that we thought we would try and see how she gets on over further.
“We thought we would give it a try. We expect her to go off at a big price against the class of dog she is up against. She is a nice bold little girl though.
“She hasn’t been around Romford before which may go against her, but it shouldn’t bother her. If she can have a look around off the front I won’t be embarrassed if she loses.
“She has trap four and although we think she is more of a railer she does have nice track craft and can weave her way through.
“I keep telling myself she is on the same path as Micks Little Gem. She started in A10 and A9 graded races at Henlow and she was stepped up at some point. You do not know until you try.”
Skybet are offering 28/1 for her to overcome the odds and win over eight bends at the first time of asking.
Unlikely Rouge for Henlow trainer David Elcock makes his Romford and eight bend debut at the same time tonight in heat two at 7.18pm. On paper it looks like the May ’18 whelp will get the 750 metres at the Essex venue. He has won over 642 metres at Central Park and last August reached the final of the Coral Regency at Hove over 695 metres. After a break from racing the son of Ballymac Eske and Droopys Rogue has had three recent races at Swindon over 476 metres. Before tonight he had one trial at Swindon over 649 metres and all looked well before being entered over eight bends for the very first time.
David on him said: “He is a well capable dog. He should stay all of it. He did quite an impressive trial at Swindon on Sunday over 649 metres.
“We gave him a winter break and to bring him back gave him three races at Swindon over four bends to clear the cobwebs. He is not a four bend dog but still did a 4.05 sectional in one of them which is very good. If he gets the lead which he is capable of, it will take a good dog to go by him. During the Regency at Hove he did one of the fastest sectionals.
“He had problems with his trapping early on and we had to overcome them which we have. He can run. It is his first race at Romford and are expecting a big run from him if he leads at the first bend.
“He is seeded wide, but half the problem is he will cut in at the first bend. Over eight bends he should be in with dogs he can beat early to get to the front. At Swindon over four bends, he was struggling to do that.”
Skybet are top price 7/1 for the pacey sort to take gold in heat two.
Since coming to these shores Bubbly Dave has hit the ground running. Trained by local handler Paul Young, open race followers will already know the name.
From five races over here he has won four, an impressive strike rate of 80%. All four wins were at Monmore over 630 metres. His one loss was in the final of the Ladbrokes Summer Classic after reaching the final unbeaten. Tonight, the December ’17 whelp runs away from Monmore for the first time and attempting eight bends in heat three at 7.36pm. After a lengthy lay off the son of Skywalker Puma and Imokryou showed all is well when winning the Ladbrokes 630 supporting competition at Monmore last month. Tonight, he attempts his longest distance to date and his previous form suggests win number five will not be far away.
Steve Fluin, head of the Bubbly syndicate on him said: “We named him after Dave Collins who sadly passed away last year. He was Paul’s [Young] inhouse physio. He was a great guy and is dearly missed by us all. We wanted to remember him and named ‘Dave’ after him.
“He was doing extremely well in Ireland and we decided to buy him. He reached the final of the Monmore Summer Cup unbeaten. He was off afterwards with an injury and we brought him back for the supporting stayers comp at Monmore which he won unbeaten.
“We liked the way he stayed and sort of know he will get the 750 metres at Romford. We don’t know how much further yet and will play it by ear from there onwards. There wasn’t much going on in the open race calendar so thought we would try him at Romford.
“He has beaten good dogs at Monmore and is a proper dog. We are expecting a big run from him on Friday. We would love him to win and think he has chances.”
Corals and Ladbrokes are offering 4/5 for ‘Dave’ to make it five wins from six races on these shores.
