By Rob Abrey
The Coral Champion Stakes is almost upon us with the 575 metres competition starting next week. With one week left before it starts some trainers are using tonight as a chance to give their charges one last look around the track in race conditions. As well as the Champion Stakes contenders there are many others making their Romford debuts as well as those stepping up in trip for the first time and as ever I have endeavoured to find out more about some of them.
Yarmouth trainer John Mullins is making a play for the Champions Stakes by testing his kennel star Carn Brea over six bends for the first time. In the maiden stayers over 575 metres at 8.03pm the Greyhound Derby quarter finalist and Produce Stakes finalist clearly has early pace and if able to stay could be a real contender for the Champion Stakes next week. During his stint to third place in the Produce Stakes the April ’15 whelp looked like he would benefit from a longer race and tonight is the night we find out if he will.
Trainer John Mullins on Carn Brea said: “I don’t know if he will stay. We will see what happens on Friday. I think he might and he has plenty of early. If he does stay he will entered for the Champion Stakes 100%. It is what we are aiming him for.”
5/2 is generally available for Carn Brea and should be considered. He has been crying out for a longer trip and with his early could dominate from start to finish.
Before the Racing Post TV cameras start rolling at 7.12pm tonight, trainer John Mullins is giving his puppy Oh Yesyesyes his first race at Romford tonight after a trial on Tuesday. The January ’16 whelp is making his Romford race debut at 6.55pm in a puppies only race after clocking a calculated time of 24.59 in his trial. You can expect the son of Iso Octane and Swift Sail to improve on that and at home track Yarmouth has already run in an A1 graded race in only his third race.
Trainer John Mullins on his puppy said: “He a brand new pup. He has had a couple of races at Yarmouth and is already running in A1s at Yarmouth. He did a good trial at Romford on Tuesday for his first look around.
“I’m happy with trap three and he will get the 400 metres trip no problem as he gets 480 metres at Yarmouth.”
When there are two greyhounds making their Romford debuts in the same race, why cover just one of them? It’s a good question and for your favourite column I’ve found out more about both of them.
In the winner of one standard over 400 metres at 7.46pm, Brinkleys Ryan trained by Swindon’s June Harvey and The Other Bear trained by Hove’s Seamus Cahill contest in the same race.
Brinkleys Ryan for June Harvey makes his Romford race debut after trialling over C&D last week. The son of Tullymurry Act and Bigmans Daisy has had five races winning two of them. One of those wins came at Swindon over 480 metres in an A4 graded race while the other was a win over the 277 metres sprint trip at Henlow in an open race. To win an open sprint race you clearly need early pace which bodes well going into tonight’s race at Romford.
Trainer June Harvey on Brinkleys Ryan said: “We gave him a trial as he is not very old. I was pleased with the trial especially as it was his first look around there.
“He was off for a month with a minor injury which is sorted now. He won a sprint around Henlow recently and thought we would step him up to 400 metres at Romford.
“We don’t know how he will get on. We are not expecting a lot from him on Friday. We will see how he runs around the track and go back again to get more experience.”
The Other Bear in trap six in the same race for trainer Seamus Cahill is coming along nicely. The July ’15 whelp has only had four runs but has already bagged himself a maiden trophy final win at Nottingham over 480 metres. In a recent trial at Romford over C&D the son of Razldazl Jayfkay and The Other Peach clocked a very good calculated time of 24.16 and more importantly a 3.76 split time.
Trainer Seamus Cahill on him said: “We had a couple of niggles with him which has been sorted now. He trialled nicely at Romford and we are still finding out about him.
“He is a nice little dog in the making and we are hoping Romford will suit him as he seems to have early pace.”
Why stop there? Why indeed. In the 8.53pm for maidens over 400 metres there is two interesting greyhounds making their Race and Romford debuts and I’ve found out more about both of them. Barricane Batman is making his race debut on these shores for Towcester trainer Patrick Janssens while Babyface Owen for Hove trainer Seamus Cahill is making his Romford debut.
Barricane Batman for Patrick Janssens has only had two trials on these shores and is going straight in to an open race. The September ’15 whelp has had two trials at Towcester and Monmore both over 480 metres. The son of Kinloch Brae and Oneco Regina does have race experience though in Ireland with graded wins at Dundalk and Drumbo Park.
On Barricane Batman, Patrick Janssens said: “He’s a nice dog. His Monmore qualifying time was okay but not spectacular. He showed very good early at Monmore so thought we would give him a go at Romford as you have to start somewhere.
“We will keep him at Romford for a couple of weeks and see how he goes. He has won at Dundalk and he did a very quick time at Drumbo Park.
“He found trouble in both his trials from traps two and four so he will be perfectly fine in trap one on Friday.
Babyface Owen for trainer Seamus Cahill contests in the same race from trap three. The December ’15 whelp has only had two races winning one of them. That win came at home track Hove in an A7 race over 515 metres. The daughter of Scolari Me Daddy and Newinn Echo is progressing nicely with each run. Her two trials at Romford show that. In her first trial over C&D back in July she clocked a calculated time of 24.79. On 1st August she trialled over C&D again this time clocking a calculated time of 24.26. If she keeps on improving she could be a bit special.
Trainer Seamus Cahill on her said: “She is a very novicey dog. She has had a couple of trials and her improvement is encouraging. She might develop into a puppy derby dog.
“It’s not going to be an easy race as there are very good dogs in the race. She is improving nicely and that is what your looking for.”
Mustang Milo for Swindon trainer June Harvey is making his Romford debut in the stayers race over 575 metres at 8.37pm. The December ’13 is no youngster but is in fine fettle at home track Swindon winning in top graded company and constantly in the top two over 480 metres which appears to be a bit on the short side for him. In a recent trial over C&D the son of Milldean Panther and Mustang Sal clocked a calculated time of 36.12.
Trainer June Harvey on him said: “He is more than a four bend dog and about 600 to 650 metres would be his most he could get.
When he contests in a four bend race he lacks a bit of early pace and get clobbered every time.
“We have entered him in a 575 metres race in the hope he gets a clear run. He has not had much luck in running. We are hoping 575 metres will give a little more time to sort himself out.
“With a clear run we want to see what he is capable of.”
Swindon trainer June Harvey tries Ower Girl Misty in the lucky last at 10.23pm over 750 metres. The March’14 whelp is making her Romford debut. The daughter of Westmead Hawk and Kingsmill Ebony has won over 695 metres at home track Swindon in an open race so the extra 55 metres may not be too problematic for her.
June Harvey on her charge said: “We believe she can handle 750 metres. She is a very nervous dog and gets out well but then lets them pass her at the first bend. After that she runs through them.
“We can only but try and as long as they all come home safe and sound that is the main thing. Everyone wants to win and you have to respect the other dogs in the race.”
It pays to jot down the greyhounds in this column to follow in future weeks. On Friday 28th July six greyhounds were covered in your favourite column. A week later on Friday 4th August all six ran again. Two were in the same race and came first and second at 3/1 and 5/2. Pennys Bubbles won at 9/2, Drumcrow Chris obliged at 5/2 while Barricane Carina rolled in as 11/8 favourite. Only Coonlough Melody let the team down by coming third.
