By Rob Abrey
The Romford Puppy Cup is finally here. After weeks of preparation, warm up runs and trials, the first of six heats starts tonight at 7.12pm. Over 400 metres and worth £10,000 to the winner for puppies whelped in October ’15 or younger, it has attracted top class greyhounds. This puppy cup with the class entered is the strongest in terms of depth in recent years.
As ever yours truly has found out more about some of tonight’s entrants.
Miss Aethelflaed trained by Henlow’s David Puddy is first up in heat one. Named after Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians who ruled in the English Midlands from 911, the December ’15 whelp will need that warrior spirit. The daughter of Zero Ten and Elegant Ana has a fighting chance and needs to show her best form from the traps. She came fourth in a sprint open at Hove over 285 metres and recently won at Henlow in an A5 graded race. She has early pace and needs it tonight.
Trainer David Puddy on Miss Aethelflaed said: “She was bought from the Henlow sales for not much at all. She has a lot of early pace and is beginning to stay a lot better. She won her first race at Henlow last Sunday but 460 metres is too far for her. She is out on her feet by 460 metres and seems to lose her stride in the final metres.
“400 metres seems about right for her and I’m hopeful for tonight. She is not a natural trapper but has started to come away with the others and with her early has a chance to qualify. If she comes away from the traps tonight and leads the inside three she could make a statement.
“I tried her over sprint trips and in her first race at Henlow the traps malfunctioned but she would have won comfortably. The following week she came third after finding trouble. I took her to Hove and she did well against very good sprinters but didn’t manage to win.
“She is learning all the time and is progressing with every race. I have seeded her middle and trap four will be good for her. The middle appears to be where she wants to be now.”
Doncaster trainer Hayley Keightley has made a statement of intent by entering puppy plate victor Roxholme Nidge. In heat five at 8.21pm, the November ’15 whelp has won three of his four races on these shores and is quite simply the real deal. In a recent trial over C&D the son of Droopys Nidge and Silver Dollar clocked an ultra impressive calculated time of 23.84 with a 3.78 split time. Not many greyhounds do that for a first look around Romford.
Trainer Hayley Keightley on Roxholme Nidge said: “The trial was a really, really good run. Hopefully he comes on from that.
“I’m happy with his heat and draw on Friday and if he comes away from the traps that would be great. Just to qualify and get race experience at Romford would be ideal.
“The way he ran his trial he probably has already taken to Romford. I would like him to get to the first bend in front unscathed.
“If he gets in front, not many will be able to get past him. I found at Sunderland he seems to find a bit more if a greyhound gets near him.
“I’m hoping he takes over from Hiya Butt. Their sectionals and style of running are very similar.
“I haven’t won the puppy cup yet at Romford. I had Scolari Sound in the final of the puppy cup a couple of years ago and would love to go one better this year.”
To do 23.84 for a first look around Romford is impressive. Roxholme Nidge is a class act and should be considered for the outright market. 4/1 is generally available and that feels to be worth considering. He has drawn comparisons with Hiya Butt and that says it all really.
The 80’s had the A-Team consisting of Hannibal, Face, ‘Howling Mad’ Murdoch and B.A Baracus. 2017 sees Elizabeth McNair’s A-Team of Queen Anna, King Elvis Queen Dawn and Hit The Roaduk take on Romford. The McNairs have shown intent for the puppy cup by entering an extremely strong team, their A-Team if you like. As ever I have found out more about all of them.
Queen Anna is first up at 7.29pm in heat two. The October ’15 whelp just sneaks into the competition as one of the oldest. The daughter of Tullymurry Act and Skate On has not been seen in race action since coming fifth in the final of the British Greyhounds Breeders Forum Puppy Oaks back in April. The winner of that final, Tea For Tess has just recently come third in the BGBF Oaks final at Doncaster. She has won at Romford over C&D and her most recent trial suggests she is getting back to top form.
Trainer Rab McNair on Queen Anna said: “She came into season and has not peaked yet. I’m happy with her improvement in her trials.
“She may not be at the standard of this competition just yet. She may of just come back a week or two late. These competitions don’t come around to often so if she qualifies you have to take your chance. You have to go for these competitions.
“She is 100% and I’m hoping she will improve through the rounds if she qualifies.”
Next up for team McNair is kennel star King Elvis. The October ’15 whelp is again one of the oldest in the competition and also brings the most big race experience with him. The son of Tullymurry Act and Skate On has won eleven of fourteen races, all at open race level including big wins of the Produce Stakes at Swindon and the Trafalgar Cup at Monmore. All unbeaten I hasten to add. In two recent trials he clocked calculated times of 23.86 and 23.81 which shows he hasn’t lost his touch at Romford after winning two from two back in April. He was first covered by yours truly back in April and even then Rab McNair said the litter was the “best he has ever trained”.
Rab McNair on King Elvis said: “At Swindon he was amzing. At Monmore he was brilliant. He has blown me off my feet. He is the perfect dog for the competition and deserves to be the price he is to win it [4/1].
“His early pace is there for everyone to see. His pace is mind blowing and his pace from the winning line to the third bend is the fastest I’ve ever trained.
“From a young puppy he always showed he was a professional in the way he looked and carried himself.”
The 4/1 being offered by Betfred and Boylesports must be considered. Rab McNair is spot on in that he deserves to be that price. He is so consistent from the traps and if getting loose will be hard to beat. He is a class act and should not be dismissed.
Queen Dawn in the fourth heat at 8.03pm is another of McNair’s A-Team tackling Romford. The November ’15 whelp is coming along nicely with good recent trial times of 24.15 and 24.34 and being a wide seed should get her draw in six most times. The daughter of Leamaneigh Turbo and Wee Tiget Tots is lightly raced with only three runs to her name. She has won, one of them at Central Park in A3 graded company over 480 metres.
Trainer Rab McNair on Queen Dawn said: “He was at my good friend Daniel Brabons kennels. She had three runs at Central Park over 480 metres and won her second race in 29.08. After that race he said ‘She will be a good bitch Rab’.
“She has also done a quick time over the sprint trip so decided to take her away as the looks ideally suited for Romford.
“Romford may prove to be a bit short but 480 metres is not a problem for her.
“She has been trialling against very good dogs and holding her own. She is a nice age and could take her chances. She is a wide runner and although not big she is very brave.
“She could do with another race to bring her on though.”
The last member of the A-Team for the McNairs is Hit The Roaduk in heat six at 8.37pm. This greyhound could be anything and as a January ’16 whelp would be expected to improve. The son of Leamaneigh Turbo and Shirocco Star clocked a calculated time of 23.94 in his very first trial. Not only an impressive time to do it first time, the talent of this greyhound cannot be overstated. He simply looks special and could have a glittering career ahead of him. He could be a major player against King Elvis and Roxholme Nidge.
Trainer Rab McNair on Hit The Roaduk said: “I reared him over here then sent him to Ireland to continue his development. He looked something special when he came back.
“This dog has got some serious pace to the corner.
“To do that time for his first look around was special. You expect Elvis to do that but not him.
“His last trial at Romford told me a lot about him. He missed his break and still managed to win and do a decent time. This dog wants to win. It is okay banging out the boxes all the time but he made a mistake and still showed his qualities.”
Hit The Roaduk is generally 7/4 to win his heat tonight and that should be taken. He is against a very good dog on his outside but that is on his outside. If he can pace him up to the bend which he is capable of he wins the race.
The 10/1 being offered for the ante post market is tempting for those wishing to take on Elvis and Nidge. Hit The Roaduk is young and lightly raced so can be expected to improve. If he does, 10/1 looks a steal.
On who he thinks will do best from his A-Team, Rab McNair said: “Elvis. He is proven in competitions. He has done it and got the t-shirt.
“Elvis is King!”
Regular readers of this column would have had a nice little winner and forecast courtesy of Raging Water and Romeo Treaty last week. Raging Water won at 11/4 after being backed in and the forecast paid a nice little £19.58 to the pound.
