It is all happening tomorrow; greyhound Derby semi-finals at Towcester, England playing their quarter final match and tennis from Wimbledon. To keep us going before then Romford have as usual put on opens for us to enjoy. Eleven from their twelve-race card to be exact. Several greyhounds running tonight are making their race debuts around the Essex track and making their six bend debuts. True to form I gave endeavoured to find out more about three of them writes Rob Abrey.
When Hove trainer Jamie Kingsley last contributed to your favourite read he had an 9/1 winner courtesy of Cloheena Puma. His charge Crackaway Kiki is covered tonight and will be looking to emulate her kennelmate.
The September ’19 whelp runs at Romford for the first time at 6.43pm over 400 metres in heat two of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens. The fast starting daughter of Droopys Sydney and Littleton On Air has had all of her seven races at home track Hove over 500 metres winning twice. The drop to 400 metres may prove beneficial for the early paced sort.
Jamie on him said: “She trialled there on Wednesday and it wasn’t a great trial; she was all over the place. She did 24.85. If we trialled her there again I’m confident she would find fifty spots. She did the same at Hove and the penny dropped.
“She needed the look and that’s why we trialled her. She is only a baby and has never been away from Hove. If she does one of her 3.51 splits she can do at Hove at Romford she has a good chance. Her race will be won or lost at the boxes. She has trap six and that is the best draw for her.
“Our March on Leo improved on his time from his first look to do a 24.12. We are hoping she will improve as well.”
Crackaway Kiki is top price 8/1 with Skybet to improve from his trial and take the spoils.
Towcester trainer Patrick Janssens knows what it takes to win at Romford and tonight gives his novice Goldies Jennings his very first race at the Essex circuit. The October ’19 whelp goes in heat three of the maiden competition at 6.58pm over 400 metres.
The son of Loughteen Blanco and Droopys Berry has had five trials all on these shores with four at Towcester over 270 metres and one over C&D. In that trial he clocked a calculated time of 24.19 along with a 3.83 sectional. He will be expected to improve on that time and it shouldn’t be long before he sheds his maiden tag.
Patrick on him said: “He did a nice trial at Romford and has done some very good times at Towcester. Since his Romford trial he has done two sub 16 second trials at Towcester which is very good going.
“We think he is very good. He has been lightly schooled and it is first race and we will see how he reacts with five others in the race and with a crowd. I think he is capable of 24 seconds all day long.
“He was bought with the puppy cup in mind and that is the target. All being well we will keep him at Romford and then go for the puppy cup.
“He is a bang railer. He has trap two but that will be fine for him.”
Skybet are offering 9/4 for him to win his first ever race.
Local handler Nathan Hunt steps up his Binsky Larry over six bends for the very first time tonight at 7.18pm over 575 metres. The March ’19 whelp has winning form at Central Park over 480 metres which bodes well before stepping him up even further.
That win is his only one from fourteen attempts which suggests longer trips may be the way forward. The son of Skywalker Tuco and Skywalker Alice has had several races at Romford over 400 metres in top graded company so does have plenty of track experience.
Nathan on him said: “He has shown a lot of pace at Central Park. He has been running well over 480 metres. He hasn’t looked too strong to the pick-up there but could get a short six bend trip like 575 metres.
“He has got enough four bend speed to see him home. He is capable of getting 35.50 seconds. He doesn’t have to lead. As long as he is handy and has a good pitch early on as he has lots of middle pace. He has trap four and that is good for him.
“Stepping him up may be the making of him.”
On his other runners Nathan said: “Up Stumps and Scala Omeara in the maiden competition both have good chances. We will be disappointed if they don’t do well.”
Coral and Ladbrokes are 6/1 for him to win over six bends at the first time of asking. Up Stumps goes in the 6.28pm and is 2/1 with both Corals and Ladbrokes to claim heat one while Scala Omeara goes in heat two in the following race at 6.43pm and is 13/8 with Corals.
A very young but ever popular Peter Payne
Former Romford trainer Peter Payne has been posthumously added to the Romford Hall of Fame and has a named race at 8.17pm. I indirectly worked with him in the early noughties and found him a pleasure to deal with.
The ‘Ginger Fox’ certainly could train and is still sorely missed by those who knew him and the industry itself. In that race over 400 metres, Carter Bar trained by Derek Knight makes his Romford race debut.
The July ’18 whelp has had one trial over C&D back in October last year where he clocked a calculated time of 23.99. The son of Pat C Sabbath and Auntie is in good form and won in his last race out over 480 metres at Central Park.
A shorter four bend trip could suit the early paced sort but has to overcome a tricky draw, where seeded rails he has trap four.
Derek on him said: “It’s not a good draw. The distance would suit him but he has to come away to overcome the draw. He has come back from an Achilles injury and has possibly lost two or three lengths on his previous form.
“He is 100% and is in good form and is as good as we can have him right now.”
The bookies have formed a difference of opinion on Carters Bar. He is as short as 5/2 with one firm while Corals are offering 6/1.
