By Rob Abrey
The Greyhound derby is now on Saturday’s only so that can only mean one thing; Romford is back on Racing Post TV on Fridays. After a forced absence for two weeks the popular open race card is back where it belongs. With a few novice greyhounds making their race debuts and a couple stepping up in trip for the first time, yours truly has found out more about the interesting entries.
In the first two races before the Racing Post TV cameras roll, Hove trainer Seamus Cahill has entered two promising novice youngsters for their first ever runs.
Classic Cliche is first up at 6.36pm in a maiden over 400 metres. The son of Scolari Me Daddy and Droopys Valerie has been given five trials on these shores and over C&D clocked a calculated time of 24.78 [+20] with a spilt time of 3.90 seconds. The September ‘15 whelp is showing promise and would be expected to improve on that first look.
Trainer Seamus Cahill on him said: “Cliche is very much a pup but does look a dog that would suit Romford. He is still very puppyish and Friday is his first ever race.
“He is promising and his trial was pleasing but Friday will be a watch and see race for me.”
Kennel mate Newinn Power will be looking to make it a possible two for two for the Cahill kennels when he takes on fellow maidens at 6.55pm over 400 metres. The son of Droopys Scolari and Likeyou looks the more accomplished of the two novices and his calculated time of 24.31 [+20] over C&D in a recent trial is impressive for a first look around. His spilt time of 3.76 would also have pleased connections. The October ’14 whelp appears well drawn but is up against more experienced campaigners for his first race.
Trainer Seamus Cahill on Newinn Power said: “400 metres is the right distance for him at the moment. He seemed to handle the track very well for a first look.
“We will see how he goes in his first race. He is a promising pup but is up against some very good local dogs and dogs that have race experience there.
“We have plenty to look forward to with both dogs and we intend to keep them at Romford for a couple of runs and see how they improve for that.”
Bet365 have Newinn Power at 9/2 and that must be considered. Yes it is a hard race with more experience runners in the race but this greyhound could be anything. If he replicates his 3.76 split time he could be a handful and at 9/2 is worth taking a chance.
Haliska Rubra is making his eight bend debut at 8.21pm over the 750 metres trip tonight. Trained by Ken Tester of Hove the January ‘14 whelp won around Romford over 575 metres in an impressive time of 35.04 and is now looking to win over 750 metres at the first time of asking. The son of Blonde Snapper and Grayslands Swan recently won an A2 graded race at home track hove over 515 metres in a decent time of 29.96 and looks in fine fettle. If he runs Romford anything like his dad who won the Golden Sprint around Romford he could build up a lead and be the one to beat.
Trainer Ken Tester on Haliska Rubra said: “Were going to find out on Friday night if he stays. I have my doubts but the owners think he will. 750 metres is a long way but he takes Hove and is still galloping strong to the drop.
“For me he is a 50-50 chance to stay but if he does though he could be very good.
“In a 575 maiden race at Romford he flew out the boxes and made all. He is a different dog if he leads. He has to be on the hare from the start if he is to win. If he doesn’t lead he tends to go into cruise mode but on the hare though he could be hard to beat.
“We are happy with trap six, it’s the draw we wanted. He is an interesting entry and we are all waiting to see how he does.”
Bet365 have priced up Haliska Rubra at 5/4. On first look it does feel a bit short especially as he is “50-50” to stay but with his early and the way the race is set up he should build up a lead and whether he stays or not should be able to get over the line in front.
Graces Blueboy in ten races on these shores is yet to strike gold but could his success lie over six bends? That is the plan and the son of Tullymurry Act and Coolavanny Roxy is now in the care of Kevin Boon after being with Patrick Janssens who has stepped him up in trip. The April ’15 whelp has been running against good opposition and was very unlucky to be eliminated from the Greyhound derby last Saturday. He does look like he needs six bends and the 575 metres trip could be ideal for him especially as he has experience at Romford with three runs around the Essex venue over 400 metres. In a previous article Patrick Janssens said “he is a really fast dog” and that “he will come on for every run”. That could be what trainer Kevin Boon saw in him and made him snap him up.
On Graces Blueboy, trainer Kevin Boon said: “I’m not 100% he will stay but think he will. We are going to run him on Friday and find out.
“He definitely appears to need longer and that’s why I bought him and that is the long term plan to run him as a stayer if he does stay.
“He is not a 400 metres dog but he had to start somewhere. He has a perfect draw [trap four] on Friday. I seeded him middle as he was moving out at Towcester.
“He was desperately unlucky to be eliminated out of the Greyhound Derby last Saturday and is running well at the moment.”
Bet365 make Graces Blueboy a 11/4 shot and that is worth taking. He clearly needs longer and the 575 metres trip should suit him well.
After a tilt at the Greyhound derby, Graigues Loch is back at Romford over a distance he won in the past. Trained by Kevin Boon the son of Kinloch Brae and Graigues Toss tackles the marathon race at 10.23pm over 750 metres. The February ’14 whelp won first time up over the eight bend trip and after being eliminated at the second round stage of the derby at Towcester is back at Romford.
Trainer Kevin Boon on him said: “He is a marathon dog but thought we would give him a go at the derby. He did a really good time at Romford and should do well on Friday. It is a very hard race though but we know he stays and we know he can run the track.
“After Towcester we thought we would give him a spin back at Romford.”
Regular readers of this column will be aware that since being covered back on Friday 26th May, Julie Luckhurst’s Snowdon Bolt has clocked a hat-trick of wins. For those that have followed the pacey Crayford raider would have won at SP returns of 4/1, 5/2 and 11/4.
