We are back! The first Friday since the start of the year a crowd are allowed in the stadium to cheer on their chosen charge writes Rob Abrey
It’s great to be allowed back and long may it continue. To welcome back a crowd Romford have a fine card featuring two finals concluding plus the start of the Romford Friday night 500 standard and the Rosebowl over 400 and 575 metres. To help us enjoy the racing I have endeavoured to find out more about two from each of the Rosebowl heats plus two others in different races.
Perry Barr trainer Lynn Short is travelling from her base in the Welsh Valleys to take on Romford with two of her charges.
First up is Castell Stevie in heat two of the Romford Friday night 500 standard over 400 metres at 6.58pm. The February ’18 whelp is belatedly running at Romford this year after being withdrawn from a race in early March due to lameness. Tonight is his first race back since then. The son of Belles Direction and Tomahurra Cloud finished has had two recent sprint trials at home track Perry Barr and all is looking well. Before his withdrawal he had two spins over C&D clocking very good times of 24.24 and 23.96. If replicating those he could figure in next week’s final.
Lynn on him said: “He did 23.96 in a trial and picked up a niggle afterwards. He did race at Romford last year but he ran poorly. He is not the best of travellers and we had a terrible journey and were rushing to get to the track. He is not in a late race so that will benefit him as he’s not very patient.
“He will do 400 metres standing on his head. This competition may have come a week too early and will hopefully use this race as a steppingstone for the final next week. He is over his niggles and has been given all clear. He has had two sprint trials at Perry Barr and improved in his second one.
“He has won five A1’s at Perry Barr and on his day is one of the best runners there. He is however a trap one specialist. He likes the rails. Hopefully he will get out and make the bend in front.”
5/1 is generally available for him to take the spoils in heat two.
Next up for ‘team Short’ is Southfield Reno in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 7.18pm. Although making his Romford race debut he has had a spin around the track back in February over 400 metres. In that trial the May ’18 whelp clocked a calculated time of 24.50.
Tonight, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Cabra Fifi is back, this time over six bends. He has showed his staying credentials with a recent win over 660 metres at home track Perry Barr in an S3 graded affair. In a recent open race at Perry Barr over 660 metres he led to the fifth bend before being overtaken. 575 metres could prove to be ideal for him.
Lynn on him said: “The best word to describe him is frustrating. One week you’re going home singing and dancing about him the next week you’re going home crying. The trouble with Reno is he is a dog you would not always want to bet but wouldn’t want to bet against either.
“He’s a fast dog. He did 28.43 in his first ever run at Perry Barr. If he gets on the bunny he can do the times but a lot of dogs are like that. He will get the trip but ideally need him to get out.
“We took him to Romford in February for a trial and he won his next race at Perry Barr in an A3 race by six lengths. The switch to Romford will suit him and keep him fresh. He has trap three and he’ll be fine from there. He’s a lovely dog but is one of those that you’re not sure what he’s going to do.”
Skybet are top price 9/2 for him to win first time up at Romford.
Carol Weatherall is braving the Friday night traffic from her Coventry base to race three of her charges around the Essex circuit. Two are in the yearly Rosebowl over 575 metres and it is those who get the ‘round up’ treatment.
First up in heat two at 7.36pm is Free To Be. The January ’18 whelp has winning form at Romford but over 750 metres. The son of Holdem Spy and Holdem Jenga has won over the eight bend trip twice but has never actually raced over 575 metres before. Tonight, he takes a drop in trip but showed in April over 500 metres at home track Sheffield that he can do it over four bends when winning two in a row in A4 and A3 graded affairs. He has track experience and if able to live with the early paced types early could figure in the latter stages.
Darren Holmes, kennel hand to Carol on him said: “We only entered him for the Rosebowl as the marathon didn’t fill. 575 metres is a bit short for him. 750 metres is right up his street. He just got beat at Perry Barr over 710 metres. I thought he would have gone well.
“In a way he is making the numbers up a bit as it is a bit sharp for him and hasn’t quite got the early against these types. That said he will stay all day long. He has got to come from behind. He won a marathon at Romford from behind and from the front.
“He can come from behind, that is not a problem for him. He has a good draw.”
Skybet are offering 10/1 for the marathon runner to take the spoils over six bends.
Next up in heat two at 7.56pm is Fight The Power. The May ’18 whelp does have winning form over C&D last November. The son of Kinloch Brae and Wont Fall Behind hasn’t been at the track since his last placed finish in mid December. He has had his last three races over four bends in open races at Central Park and Perry Barr over 500 and 480 metres. In two of those races at Central Park he finished second twice. He will clearly benefit from a longer trip and with proven form could get back to winning ways.
Darren on him said: “It’s his ideal distance. He doesn’t quite get 630 metres onwards. 575 metres is far better for him. He has won over 660 metres at Perry Barr but it’s a bit far for him.
“We would run him every week at Romford if we could as it’s ideal for him. We like to go to Romford with at least three runners to justify the long trip but haven’t had the dogs since last year. It’s his ideal trip and have been waiting for this to come around.
“He has got a bit of early and posts a time when on the bunny. Trap three is okay for him. When he won from Romford before it was from the three box.”
Corals are top price 15/8 for him to get back to winning ways around the Essex circuit.
Regular readers of this column may have had a very nice 9/1 winner last week courtesy of Cloheena Puma. Trained by Jamie Kingsley before the race he said: “….I think he could go well; I really do.” He wasn’t wrong when he duly took the spoils by a neck in a calculated time of 24.47.
It pays to follow this column.
