By Rob Abrey
It’s Friday again and that can only mean one thing: open racing at London Road, Romford. With several maidens on show there are many interesting greyhounds being tested tonight and as ever I have found out more about some of them.
In the first race in front of the Racing Post cameras at 7.12pm, Fatboyz Nathan trained by Peterborough’s David Pruhs is looking to shed his maiden tag at the fourth time of asking. Over 400 metres, the son of Ace Hi Rumble and Inshaaria makes his Romford debut tonight with his three previous unsuccessful open attempts at Nottingham over 480 and 305 metres. The June ’15 whelp has won at home track Peterborough over 435 metres in A3 company so has shown 400 metres should not be a problem.
Trainer David Pruhs on Fatboyz Nathan said: “He wants trap three. He was seeded middle but he kept getting trap five. I took the middle tag off of him and then he gets trap one. He will be fine from the rails but he doesn’t break from trap one.
“He is a good starter but not from trap one and for that reason I don’t particularly fancy him to win. I expect him to run Romford well as he went round Peterborough well enough but the draw is not in his favour.”
For those who follow both the graded and open race scene at Romford will remember the name Courts Ad Em, who last graced the Essex venue in August. The daughter of Droopys Jet and Courts Ad Nina was trained by Jim Reynolds but is now in the capable hands of Romford handler Philip Simmonds. The November ’14 whelp won an open and graded race at Romford over 400 metres and is back to her old hunting ground after a stint at Towcester and an injury lay off. Racing tonight at 8.03pm in a race restricted to bitches only and over 400 metres she has recently showed her credentials once again by posting a calculated time of 24.35 in a recent trial over C&D.
Trainer Philip Simmonds on her said: “She came from Jim Reynolds over a week ago in first class order. She is a nice little bitch and thought we would give her a spin round. She is back from injury and Friday night is a bit of a big ask. She is well drawn and her trial time of 24.35 shows she is back to where she was.
“Bitches races can be very hard to win and I will learn a bit more about her. I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do in the coming weeks.
“It’s not down to me if she wins tonight!”
Aithusa in the 10.01pm maiden stayers race is looking to win over the 575 metres trip at the first time of asking. Trained by Daniel Brabon of Central Park the daughter of Shaneboy Lee and Mams Hawk makes her Romford and six bend debut tonight. In a recent trial over 400 metres the September ’14 whelp clocked a calculated time of 24.73. Over four bends she has won nine times including top grade wins at home track Central Park over 480 metres. She is in fine fettle over four bends and if her current form moves to Romford and she stays she could be a livewire tonight.
Trainer Daniel Brabon on Aithusa said: “I think she will definitely stay. As six bend trips go, Romford is one of the easier ones.
“I was disappointed with her trial time as I thought she would go better, a lot better. I feel she will definitely improve from her trial and if she goes round the first bend in front think she will win.”
Like Daniel Brabon’s Good Start last week that improved and won from his trial, Aithusa is expected to and should improve from her look around and the 6/1 being offered by Paddy Power should be considered.
Those who read this column regularly would know that Good Start that was covered last week duly obliged at 11/4 for trainer Daniel Brabon.
