By Rob Abrey
It’s the final Friday night before the puppy cup over 400 metres starts. Worth £10,000 to the winner trainers and connections have one last Friday night to test their charges over the course and distance before the heats next Friday. There are several puppies making their Romford debuts tonight and as ever yours truly has found out more about some of them.
Fernhill Jim in the very first race at 6.36pm for maidens over 400 metres makes his race debut tonight. Trained by Henlow’s Richard Joyce he is unraced anywhere. The November ’15 whelp has had three trials on these shores at Central Park, Towcester and Romford and is coming along nicely. His trial at Romford over C&D was impressive for his first look around. Clocking a calculated time of 24.19 the son of Scolari Me Daddy and Perfect Woman has shown he can run. He does lack race experience but if getting in front can enjoy himself.
Trainer Richard Joyce on Fernhill Jim said: “He has his first ever race on Friday. He wasn’t necessary bought with the puppy cup in mind but it has worked out nicely that way.
“Whether he is a Romford dog or not, time will tell. I was satisfied with his Romford trial. He trapped out last in a three dog trial and made the bend in front. He was up against experienced dogs and ran well which was pleasing.
“As he has never run in a race before I don’t know how he will run against five others. He does rail around the bends and I think he will keep a straight line from the traps.
“He has good trial times in Ireland and the plan is to enter him next week for the puppy cup. I’m hoping he can only go one way but I’ll try not to get too carried away.”
Sneezys Rocket is making his race debut for local handler David Mullins in a maidens race over 400 metres at 6.55pm. The October ’15 whelp just sneaks in for a tilt at the puppy cup next week and if improving on current trials could do well. The son of Head Bound and Rafas Wee Pet has had five trials over C&D but it is his last two that has begun to show his potential. He has clocked calculated times of 24.26 and 24.28 with split times of 3.78 and 3.82 which shows he has early. If contuning to improve with his suspected consistency he could become a Friday night regular.
Trainer David Mullins on him said: “When he came to us he didn’t settle well at all and lost a bit of weight. He has now put that back on and he has come back as good as ever.
“I’m happy with his recent improvement and feel there is plenty more to come. Whether it will come on soon is another thing.
“It is a decent race on Friday. He has a lot of early and could lead. I’m happy with his draw in six. He is a wide runner.
“After Friday we will look to enter him for the puppy cup next week.”
The Racing Post TV cameras start rolling for the first time tonight at 7.12pm which sees Linden Twiggy for trainer Anthony Tuffin make her Romford debut. In a puppies race over 400 metres the October ’15 whelp will be looking to make it two wins from four on these shores. The daughter of Superior Product and Swinley Bottom won her first race at Nottingham over 480 metres at open race level but failed to follow it up in her next two races at Nottingham and Henlow.
Trainer Anthony Tuffin on Linden Twiggy said: “I thought she was brilliant at Nottingham to win first time out. In her last race at Henlow over the sprint trip she stumbled out the traps and that was that.
“I like the bitch, I think she is very good. She is from a very good litter. Her litter brother Bottoms Up made the final of the puppy classic at Nottingham.
“Not being around Romford before should not make a difference as she won at Nottingham first time up without a trial so should not matter to much for her.
“She has been seeded middle and I’m happy with the trap draw in five. I think your better off in front at Romford and to me she has plenty of early pace. We will see what see does tonight and all being well will enter her for the puppy competition next week. That is the plan.”
Paddy Power make Linden Twiggy a 4/1 shot and that should be considered. She takes well to new tracks and comes from a very good litter. She hasn’t trialled around Romford but won first time up at Nottingham so can do it.
Tonight is not all about puppies and with a maiden stayers competition over 575 metres starting at 7.46pm, there are several dogs making their six bend and Romford debuts. True to form yours truly has covered at least one greyhound from each of the three heats for your pleasure.
In the first heat, Moreton Madras trained by Swindon’s John Spracklen is tackling Romford for the first time tonight but not six bends. The July ’15 whelp recently attempted 630 metres at Monmore in an open race and managed second after leading. The daughter of Kinloch Brae and Precious Story with the kennel name ‘Ruby’ (Cockneys will get it) has won one from seven races but her future appears to lie over longer trips. Her sole win to date came at Swindon over 509 in an open race metres which indicates she is more suited over longer trips.
Trainer John Spracklen on her said: “She stays. She ran second at Monmore last week after leading. She was tying up a little bit before the line over the 630 metres trip. I have dropped her down to 575 metres which should be ideal.
“She has not had a trial but adapts well to tracks and looks suited to Romford. She is a good railing bitch and trap two is fine.
“She is a little bit short of pace and I would say she is minor open class.”
We know she stays and if taking to the track the 11/2 being offered by Paddy Power feels a bit big and should be on the shortlist.
Sneezys Blue for Yarmouth trainer John Mullins is making his six bend debut as well as his Romford debut. The March ’15 whelp has had six graded races at home track Yarmouth over 462 metres, winning one. He has currently been running in A1 graded races but yet to win. His future does look like it may be over longer trips. The son of Zero Ten and Video Queen appears to have some early and if able to stay may do well.
Trainer John Mullins on Sneezys Blue said: “He looks like he stays but I’m not overly confident. He has a bit of early and could be alright tonight. If he does stay the plan is to keep him over six bends.
“We are trying to get runs in him and I’m happy with trap four tonight. That will suit him well.”
In heat three at 8.21pm, Perry Barr trainer Pat Doocey is represented by two of his charges. Romeo Treaty runs from trap two while Raging Water is in trap six.
Romeo Treaty is a bit a journey dog as he has run at ten different tracks so far in his career winning at five of them. Romford will be number eleven for the April ’13 whelp. At the ripe old age of just over four years old the son of Head Bound and Fabulous Carmen makes his Romford and six bend debut tonight. He has run over 550 metres at Henlow where he came third.
Trainer Pat Doocey on Romeo Treaty said: “I’m not 100% he stays. We will know more after Friday night.
“I don’t think he stays more than 550 metres but the owner wants to try his luck. He is a railer and if he gets on the rails and leads he has a chance. I would be happier with trap one rather than trap two though. He doesn’t win that many and would be better off in trap one.”
Raging Water in trap six in the same heat is also making his Romford and six bend debut tonight. The January ’15 whelp is not so well travelled as his kennel mate but has still notched up open wins at Doncaster and Perry Barr over the 450 and 480 metre trips. The son of Ballymac Eske and Maries Peer is in fine fettle winning two of his last five races all at open race level. His running style does suggest he would be more suited over longer trips and 575 metres tonight could be ideal for him.
Pat Doocey on Raging Water said: “I really don’t know if he stays. It is a bit of a guess. He is running on strong at Perry Barr and to the pick-up. He has got a bit of early and is more of a front runner type.
“He comes out of most traps and is not dependent on stripes but I am happy with his draw there though.”
On which of his two he thinks will go better Pat Doocey said: “Romeo Treaty. Over the trip there is an indication he could stay although I’m not sure. He stays well at Towcester over 500 metres. Raging Water is untried over longer trips and Romeo Treaty is more experienced.
“I would be happy if any of them won though”.
