By Rob Abrey

With the Champion Stakes at Romford over 575 metres lurking around the corner there are several greyhounds making their six bend debuts tonight. With the start of the Champions Stakes on Friday 18th August some trainers are using the maiden stayers and other races to see what their charges are capable of. Along with other greyhounds on show tonight for the first time yours truly has found out more about some of them.

Before the Racing Post TV cameras start rolling at 7.12pm, Rising Razor trained by David Mullins makes his six bend debut at 6.55pm over the 575 metres trip. The son of Tyrur Sugar Ray and Rising Pearl has had two trials over C&D posting calculated times of 36.09 and 35.96. Before his first race on these shores back in April, he was covered by yours truly and won at the first time of asking at 3/1. Can history repeat itself and he wins at the first time of asking over six bends?

Trainer David Mullins on him said: “We were looking forward to stepping him up and waited to do so. Now after a couple of trials he has struggled to get home, I’m not convinced he can stay. Some greyhounds take to six bends straight away but some take a bit longer. A couple more races and it might click for him.

“He is not a trial dog and will never post a flash time in trials so in a race may improve his times. He has the early and middle pace so should lead races but may have to hang on. I wouldn’t recommend anyone to steam in on him tonight!

“Over stiff four bend races everything suggested he would stay but that may not be the case. If he does improve the Champion Stakes is the main objective. If he doesn’t it’s not the end of the world and Henlow towards the end of the year is an option.”

Paddy Power make him a 7/4 shot. It’s not the toughest maiden race on the card and a decent lead that he is capable of building could see him home. I wouldn’t “steam in” but he could be worth a little dabble.

 

Yaya More Pints trained by local handler Philip Simmonds is making his race debut on these shores after only two trials at Romford at 7.46pm in a maiden stayers race.. The son of Tullymurry Act and Forest Bell showed his credentials over the longer trips with an impressive calculated time of 35.43 over 575 metres in a recent trial. More importantly the December ’14 whelp clocked a sectional time of 13.73 showing he has the necessary early pace which can be all so important at Romford. In Ireland he has proven six bend form with wins at Kilkenny over 663 metres in a D2 graded race and in an open race.

Trainer Philip Simmonds on Yaya More Pints said: “He looks a nice dog. The syndicate have been looking for a stayer for some time for a bit of fun. He has staying form in Ireland and we will be looking for short six bend races for him. We have to start him somewhere and after seeing how he goes the Champion Stakes or Monmore Stayers Classic could be an option.

“He did a good trial time but it is one thing to do it in a trial but another thing to do it in a race. It is an interesting race and we are not judging him on this one run.

“We are happy with trap six. He has a tendency to move off at the first bend. We are hoping the extreme cambering at Romford will bring him in.”

 

Barricane Carina trained by Towcester’s Patrick Janssens makes her six bend debut in the final of the Romford Friday night 500 dual distance over 575 metres. The heats were over 400 metres which the daughter of Superior Product and Arsenal Lady duly won with a calculated time of 24.12. She is being given a baptism of fire in her first ever six bend race after being pitted against five other greyhounds all with proven six bend form including the one and only Roswell Romanov. The May ’15 whelp has early pace which will be required in this type of race. She has been holding her own against good four bend dogs and if that form translates to six bends she will not be out of her depth.

Trainer Patrick Janssens on her said: “I think she does stay. Does she stay well enough to beat Romanov we will have to see. I do think she will stay though, I really do. She is not a world beater but every time she gets a chance, she takes it.

“I would prefer her in trap six. Trap five will be fine but six would have been better. She is a genuine, genuine wide runner. She tends not to cut across that much which can let other greyhounds get the advantage on the inside.”

In an incredibly tough race against track specialist Roswell Romanov it is hard to take him on. Carina is available at around 8/1 and with the trainer convinced to he can stay we know he has early so backing him each way with Skybet who offer three places might be the way forward.

 

Belle Vue trainer Brian Thompson is braving the Friday night traffic to take three greyhounds to Romford from his Staffordshire base. As ever I have endeavoured to find out more about the ‘Belle Vue Three’.

First up is Drumcrow Chris in the second heat of the Friday night 500 maidens at 7.29pm over 400 metres. The son of Kinloch Brae and Drumcrow Blossom is making his race debut on these shores after three trials at home track Belle Vue. He has winning form in Ireland at Drumbo Park over 306 metres so clearly has early pace. The July ’15 whelp improved in his second trial at Belle Vue over the 470 metres trip by eight spots and has the potential to keep on doing so.

Trainer Brian Thompson on Drumcrow Chris said: “He has been bought as a potential open racer and has his first race at Romford on Friday. He has been flying over the first 400 metres at Belle Vue in his trials.

“He hasn’t had a trial at Romford but in my experience greyhounds that can run Belle Vue can run Romford as the bends are very similar. The aim is to qualify and then see what happens. Being drawn in two will be fine.”

 

Next up for trainer Brian Thompson is Coonough Melody in heat two of the Friday night standard over 400 metres at 8.21pm. The son of Tullymurry Act and Forest Bell has had one previous race at Romford in May over C&D managing third place after leading to the second bend. Last month the December ’14 whelp won an open at Nottingham over 305 metres showing he clearly has early pace. Recently he has been running back at Belle Vue in A3 graded races over 470 metres while although running well has just been unable to get home after leading. He has lost his last two races by half a length and a head. The drop to a shorter four bend trip is just what he needs and with his early pace could be a danger.

Trainer Brian Thompson on him said “He had problems with cramp but that is all sorted now. He is very similar to Drumcrow Chris as he appears to be a 400 metres dog.

“He had a race at Romford back in May but he didn’t perform as expected. He has improved a lot since then and is currently running well. Like Drumcrow Chris, being drawn in trap two is fine for him.”

 

Last up for the ‘Belle Vue Three’ is Pennys Bubbles in heat three of the Friday night standard at 8.37pm. The daughter of Kinloch Brae and Pennys Papaver is in fine fettle winning five of her ten races on these shores. The November ’14 whelp has won an open race at Nottingham over 480 metres and has recently won an A2 and A1 graded race at home track Belle Vue. She clearly can stay a longer four bend trip so if managing to lead tonight she could be a handful for the others to get past.

Brian Thompson on the last of his three runners said: “If she leads she wins. She can handle a longer four bend trip so if she leads she should be hard to catch.

“Seven out of ten times she bangs out the traps.”

On his three runners he jokingly added: “Romford, watch out, here we come!” watch out indeed.

William Hills make Pennys Bubbles 9/2 and that must be considered. I like the sound of “if she leads she wins” and knowing she can win over a stiffer four bend trip she will be a handful if she does indeed lead.