By Rob Abrey
It’s Friday and that can only mean one thing; Friday night open racing at Romford. Forget the second round of the Open Championship golf, Romford is where it is at. With fourteen open races on show from 6.36pm there is plenty to enjoy and get involved in. With several greyhounds making their Romford race debuts tonight, I have endeavoured to find out more about some of them. With extra assistance there may be no ‘bogeys’ tonight!
Towcester trainer Paul Clarke makes the trip to Essex from his Oxfordshire base with several greyhounds making their Romford debuts.
First up for Paul Clarke is Ballymac Misty in the first race at 6.36pm. On before the Racing Post TV cameras start rolling the race is only available to view in Coral or Ladbrokes shops or at the track itself. The July ’14 whelp could be worth the trip to the bookies as she is in fine fettle. The daughter of Casheen Legend and Miss Misty has mainly run over sprint trips winning at Towcester over 260 metres and Henlow over 277 metres. She has won at Towcester recently in D2 company over 260 metres beating the useful Trapstyle Lark and will be looking to win at the first time of asking at Romford.
Trainer Paul Clarke on Ballymac Misty said: “She has been running well at Towcester over the sprint trips. She has had a couple of niggles and will look to run her over 400 metres at some point.
“Being drawn in red is good for her as she is an out and out railer. You can get away without having a trial sometimes if your on the rails. We are using this race as a trial and see how she gets on.”
Towstar Lucy is next up for trainer Paul Clarke in the first heat of the Friday night maidens over 400 metres at 7.12pm. Similar to kennelmate Ballymac Misty the August ’14 whelp has run all her fifty races over sprint trips winning eleven. The daughter of Razldazl Rioga and Derryadd Diva has been running well winning two from her last six including a win at Henlow over 277 metres in an inter-track race. During that spell she also finished second three times showing how consistent she is at the moment.
Trainer Paul Clarke on his charge said: “She is a good bitch. She has won a couple of £500 bonus series finals at Towcester. She won last Saturday clocking 15.50, which is a fairly useful sprint time at Towcester.
“She has a nice bit of early and if getting in front may nick a race. She has been running in a lot of sprints at Towcester and can pull ahead if in front. She has trap six which is perfect for her.”
Killinan Act has been given a baptism of fire in the standard affair over 400 metres at 9.26pm for trainer Paul Clarke. The December ’13 whelp however is on a rich vein of form, winning his last four races all over sprint trips. Two were won at Henlow over 277 metres in inter-track races and two at home track Towcester over 260 metres in D3 and D2 graded company. The son of Tullymurry Act and Jaytee Dancer is in a tough race for his debut but if holding the rails with his early pace has a chance of causing an upset.
Trainer Paul Clarke on Killinan Act said: “He nicked a sprint open at Henlow, way, way back so is in the standard race. He is not a fast trapper from the boxes but after three or four strides takes off.
“He is running really well at the moment winning his last four races, two of them inter-track races at Henlow. I’m happy he is in trap one for his first time around Romford as he could hold his own at the first bend. He has been winning/ sprints so could have enough early.”
Paddy Power make Killinan Act an 8/1 poke. That should be considered. They have made trap two, Parkers Dynamite the 6/4 favourite but with his sprinters pace if he can get to the bend first can cause an upset. Parkers Dynamite’s split times are all around 3.85. That is not electric at Romford and can leave him vulnerable to earlier paced types in the opening exchanges.
It looks like greyhound derby winning trainer Danny Riordan has another decent greyhound on his hands in the shape of Rio Coco. The April ’15 whelp contends the second heat of the Friday night maidens over 400 metres at 7.29pm. Yet to win on these shores in three previous attempts at Henlow, he will be looking at shedding his maiden tag at Romford at the first time of asking.
The son of Ballymac Vic and Montore Lady clearly has talent and his solo trial back in February of 23.97 over C&D shows he could be the real deal. Interestingly in a race at Clonmel in January this year he was beaten by five and a half lengths after finding trouble at the second bend by Toolmaker Obama. Those on the buzzer will know that Toolmaker Obama came second in the William Hill Classic at Sunderland on Wednesday night.
Trainer Danny Riordan on Rio Coco said: “I have had a lot of trouble with him since he came over but have him right now. I don’t think he will be a Romford dog. He has plenty of early pace but is a big dog and needs a longer run to the first bend and hopefully will go further.
“400 metres at Romford is a good place to start him though and he needs a couple of runs before maybe going somewhere else.
“He is a big dog and will see how he gets around on Friday. I’m hopeful more than anything. He has trap six which he needs as he can be a very wide runner. He could of done with an easier race but we will see how he gets on.”
Paddy Power have made Rio Coco a 7/4 shot and that is a fair price that should be considered. He is clearly a classy greyhound and how good he is we do not know yet. He does need runs and Romford may not be ideal but if turning handy or even leading he will be extremely hard to beat. He stays wide so should avoid any inside crowding.
Clares Kyletaun for Swindon trainer June Harvey is attempting to win over eight bends on these shores at the first time of asking. Running in the 8.37pm marathon maiden race over 750 metres the July ’15 whelp has only had one run at Hove over the stiff 695 metres trip for trainer June Harvey and duly obliged. Winning by seven and a half lengths in a calculated time of 42.16 the son of Ballyana Foxtrot and Lughill Marie could be a bit special over longer trips.
Trainer June Harvey on Clares Kyletaun said: “He has only had one race for me and that was over six bends at Hove which he won. The next day he had a nasty kennel cough and has been off since. He is absolutely fine now and has had a couple of trials at Hove and is well in himself.
“We have stepped him up as we felt six bends wasn’t long enough for him as he was still running on to the pick up at Hove.
“The aim for him is to run in the supporting marathon race on Sky at Hove in a couple of weeks. We really want to run him in that and thought eight bend form at Romford would help him get entered.
“He is going to Romford blind and I don’t normally do that but over eight bends he has a chance to sort himself out. We believe he will stay but I never assume anything in greyhound racing as anything can happen.”
Paddy Power have priced him up at 1/2. That is short but this greyhound could be very special over eight bends. If taking to the track he could blow the others away in the later stages and romp home to victory.
