The Golden Sprint concluded last week with Bockos Jon Jo taking the top spot. Regular readers of this column certainly knew all about him as he was covered by yours truly in the run up to the category one competition.
The Golden Sprint may be over for another year but that does not stop the great action put on by Romford. With two finals concluding and two competitions starting there is plenty to enjoy. The two competitions have two heats each and as ever yours truly has found out more about one greyhound from each of them.
Olivetree Deano for Henlow trainer Paul Rea makes his Romford debut in heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 standard over 400 metres at 6.58pm. The pacey April ’19 whelp has had twenty two races on these shores winning seven. Six of those wins have come at home track Henlow over 460 and 277 metres. Over four bends he won has won five including an A2 graded win. The two bend win came in D2 graded company. Away from Henlow the son of Mileheight Alba and Ionic Hotspot has won at Nottingham over 305 metres. The fact he has winning form over two bends bodes well going into tonight’s heat. He clearly has early and if utilising that along with a favourable draw may get off to winning ways first time up.
Paul on him said: “He has nice early. He is a big dog and does not trap that well but has bundles of early. He does not quite get 460 metres at Henlow and are hoping 400 metres is ideal for him. We were going to give him a trial first but decided to give him a go without one. He took to Nottingham well first time up.
“We are hoping he comes out and any bother behind him they won’t catch him if he uses his early like he does at Henlow.
“He is the litter brother of Bubbly Rascal and is an improving puppy for sure. He ran well at Nottingham first time and has a good draw in six. He is a wide runner but nine times out of ten he hits the front early. Not many dogs lead him to the third bend.
“Were hoping he takes to Romford and aim to keep him there for a while. If he qualifies on Friday with his first look around the track he is sure to improve the following week.”
Several firms are 9/2 for the pacey sort to win at Romford first time up.
Towcester trainer Patrick Janssens knows what it takes to win at Romford and tonight races his Puff The Tiger around the Essex venue for the first time.
In heat two at 7.18pm, the March ’19 whelp has had a look over C&D in a trial last month. In that trial the son of Droopys Jet and Burgess Dancer clocked a calculated time of 24.27 along with a 3.92 split. Since that trial he has won at Central Park over 480 metres in open class. Late last year he reached the final of the Star Sports English puppy derby at Towcester over 500 metres finishing fourth. He clearly has early and will be expected to improve on his trial time.
Patrick on him said: “He finished fourth in the puppy derby at Towcester. After that we took him to Monmore for the puppy derby but he didn’t take to the track, he just didn’t look comfortable there.
“He has had a trial at Romford for the Golden Sprint but didn’t get accepted. He has since run and won at Central Park. Over 480 metres he faded a bit coming home. I think he could be a really good Romford dog. I think he could break 24 seconds, I really do.
“He has good early. He was blown away for early against proper sprinters in a sprint race but has good early for four bends.
“Trap six is good for him. He started out middleish but is now more wide. In time he should get further but at the moment 400 metres could be ideal for him. He is a good little dog.”
Several firms are offering 2/1 for the former English puppy derby finalist to win at Romford first time up.
Heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 maiden stayers over 575 metres starts at 7.36pm and sees Bang On Sophie make her six bend debut. Trained by local handler Nathan Hunt, the August ’18 whelp has had twenty eight of her twenty nine races at Romford over 400 metres, winning four. Two of those wins came in A2 graded affairs. The daughter of Droopys Jet and Minster Hill does her running in the latter stages of her four bend races and does look like stepping her up will benefit.
Nathan on her said: “The thoughts are that she stays. We will be surprised if she does not get it. She lacks a bit of early over 400 metres but runs well to the pick-up. Hopefully, she can get a clear run and show what she can do.
“She is in a hard heat. Mad Mash Bullet has been running against very good dogs and Alaskan Dawn is a good dog. She has trap one, that’s the main thing. Hopefully, she gets a run on the rails and gives us a guide to what she can do.
“She is bred to stay and will disappointed if she doesn’t. The plans are to see how she goes and get her graded over 575 metres.”
On whom he thinks could go best from his other runners Nathan said: “Storys Be Lucky. He ran very well in an A2 last time out. He hasn’t been trapping very well but broke well last Saturday. If he does that again he has a good chance.”
Bang On Sophie is generally available at 8/1 to overcome her “hard heat” and win over six bends at the first time of asking. Storys Be Lucky in the opening race at 6.09pm over 400 metres is 11/8 with Skybet to make it two from two.
Allen Belle for Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr not only makes her Romford debut tonight but her six bend one as well in heat two at 7.56pm. The August ’18 whelp has had all of her twenty four races at home track Yarmouth over 462 metres winning five. Her best win came in an A3 graded affair. On paper it looks like the daughter of Laughil Blake and Allen Orbit definitely needs further. Six bends could be where her future lies.
Paul on her said: “95% she stays. The way she runs 462 metres, she has been crying out for further. She is a genuine bitch and have been waiting for a maiden for her. I’m looking forward to it and hoping for a big run from her. She should have no problem with the distance. 462 metres is a bit on the short side for her and at the drop she is always leading.
“I think she will take to Romford first time. It’s her kind of track. She could make a good account for herself. 575 metres looks ideal for her. She has got a bit of early and won’t be away from the pace. She should be well up there from the start.
“She has trap three and that is perfect for her. She is a middle runner.”
She is generally 14/1 to win at Romford and over six bends at the first time of asking.
