If there is a better way to kick start the Bank Holiday weekend then racing at Romford, I don’t know want to know about it writes Rob Abrey.

As usual the Essex venue have put on their weekly twelve race card featuring ten opens including the finals of the Romford Friday night standard and Rosebowl over 400 and 575 metres. Regular readers of this column will know all about two of the finalists in the Rosebowl which were covered in your favourite read last week. This week they have put on a maiden stayers competition starting tonight and true to form yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about one from each of the three heats.

 

Towcester trainer Patrick Janssens knows what it takes to win at Romford. In the Rosebowl final at 8.54pm he has four of the finalists. Away from that, one of his charges, Jewel Of Madonna is making their Romford and six bend debut in heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 maiden stayers at 6.43pm. The February ’19 whelp has only had three races on these shores all of which were at home track Towcester in open races winning none. Those races were over 500 metres and tonight the daughter of Sidarian Blaze and Droopys Fane races over six bends for the very first time. If she stays, she may not be a maiden stayer for very long.

Patrick on her said: “Does she stay? It’s a good question and we will know more on Friday! I think she will though. It looks like she does.

“When she was knocked out of the maiden derby at Towcester in her semi-final her back straight pace was great to get back into the race. She was desperate not to make the final. She also did good trials at Towcester as well. She looks like she will handle most tracks well. I think a lot of her.

“She has trap two and that is a good draw for her. She will be able to handle that draw.”

On his other runners who he thinks could well Patrick said: “Doolin Princess in the last has a good chance. She is running well.”

Skybet are top 11/8 for Jewel Of Madonna to win her first ever race on these shores while several firms are offering 11/8 for Doolin Princess to win the ‘lucky last’ at 9.28pm.

 

Carol Weatherall is back at Romford after both her greyhounds entered in the Rosebowl last week qualified for the final. Lil Kim in heat two at 6.58pm has come along for the ride to make her Romford and six bend debut. The March ’19 whelp has had all of her twenty-one races on these shores at home track Sheffield over 500 metres winning five. Those five wins came in A6, A5 and A4 graded affairs. It appears the daughter of Holdem Spy and Wont Fall Behind needs further than 500 metres and 575 metres tonight could be a good starting point for her.

Darren Holmes, kennel hand to Carol on her said: “We think she will stay. She should do. She is running well at the moment and won her last race. We have had a few problems with her but she is over them now. She looks like she needs stepping up. We will see if she wants 575 metres or even further.

“We are not sure how she will handle Romford but will hopefully handle it well. She will probably be behind early on and pick her way through. Friday is definitely a fact-finding mission. We are happy with her draw in six, keeps her out of the way of trouble.”

Several firms are offering 4/1 for her to take the spoils at Romford first time up.

 

Towcester trainer Paul Philpott is taking on Romford with his charge Blue Devon. In heat three at 7.18pm and like the previous two covered is also making her Romford and six debut at the same time. The daughter of Kinloch Brae and String Of Pearls has had twelve races at Towcester all over 500 metres winning three in A6 and A5 graded company. She is in fine fettle presently winning and finishing second in her last two races. She appears to have early pace and will need to utilise that tonight.

Paul on her said: “Mick Woolgar who has been an owner with me for years bought her from Ireland. Since then, we have had nothing but problems with her. She came into season straight away. We trialled her in, had a few races and she came into season again, a four monthly bitch.

“She is fully fit now and raring to go. I think she needs further now she is fit. In time I think she will probably get 750 metres at Romford. Others from her litter have run over further and it’s in her breeding.

“When we first had her she would bomb out and fall down a hole but now looks like she wants further. 500 metres at Towcester is a tough 500, the way she gets that she should get 575 metres at Romford.

“I think she will take to track. It’s trial and error but hopefully she will qualify for final and improve for it. I’ll be happy with that. She’s improving all the time and should be alright.”

Skybet are top price 6/1 for her to win at Romford and over six bends at the first time of asking.

 

Regular readers of this column may have had a nice little winner last week courtesy of Fight Power. Trained by Carol Weatherall the May ’18 whelp went off at 10/11 but those early birds could have got 15/8 early in the day.

It pays to follow this column.