By Rob Abrey
On tonight’s card there are several greyhounds running at Romford for the first time and those stepping up in trip and as ever yours truly has found out more about some of them.
Lashiton for Harlow trainer Edward Palmer is making his Romford and open race debut tonight at 6.36pm in a maiden over 400 metres. The August ’15 whelp has had four races at home track Harlow winning two in A5 and A4 graded company. The son of Scolari Me Daddy and Unico is coming along nicely and in a recent trial over C&D clocked a calculated time of 24.65 along with a 3.98 sectional. If improving from the traps after his recent look around he would be expected to improve on his overall time.
Trainer Edward Palmer on Lashiton said: “He is not really suited to Harlow and thought I would try my luck at Romford. He has not been getting out at Harlow. I think he misses it there because of the noise of the hare.
“He missed his break at Romford in his trial but that could be down to the change of hare and traps. He is a front runner and if he gets out he has a chance. If he doesn’t he will struggle.
“He goes to the bend like a rocket once he gets going but needs to break. Trap three tomorrow [Friday] is oaky as long as he doesn’t miss his break as he has an apparent fast starter on his inside.”
If someone was making a checklist of what they wanted in a racing greyhound it may go something like this; Early pace, consistency and stamina. Bentekes Bocko trained by Towcester’s Patrick Janssens certainly ticks off the first two. He clearly has early pace as shown in a recent trial over 400 metres at Romford. The February ’15 whelp clocked an impressive calculated time of 23.79 with a 3.74 split. He also clearly has consistency as he won the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial stakes at Limerick over 480 metres unbeaten. You simply do not win five on the bounce in a top competition without consistency. Tonight the son of Tullymurry Act and Tullig Paula runs over six bends for the first time at 7.29pm in a maiden stayers and if you can add stamina to the list this greyhound can be special over longer trips. With the Essex Vase starting next month he could be a major player.
Trainer Patrick Janssens on Bentekes Bocko said: “He’s a good dog and has won a good competition in Ireland. We think he stays over 575 metres. We have had the Essex vase in mind for a while and that is the target if he does. We will know more on Friday.
“He did a great time at Romford in his trial first time up and looks like he has taken to the track. To do a 3.74 sectional with a 23.76 you have to stay a strong 400 metres to get that. Kilmore Lemon for example in a trial could get around 23.80 but would fade towards the end. Bocko didn’t appear to do that.
“We are hopeful he stays.”
Thatchers Juliet is being fast tracked through the distances and tonight makes her eight bend debut. Trained by Paul Young the son of Droopys Ward and Droopys Dance has only had two races in his career to date and is now being tested over 750 metres in the lucky last at 10.23pm. Those who remember his dad, Droopys Ward will remember his second placed antics in the greyhound derby losing to Salad Dodger. Those will also remember he had stamina in the bucket load. If Juliet has inherited some of that she could be destined to spend her career over eight bends. The December ’15 whelp has only had two races over 500 and 575 metres in open races at Towcester and Romford and appeared to struggle against the early paced types. Over eight bends she may be more at home.
Thatchers Juliet is co-owned by four and one of the four, Seamus Ryan on Thatchers Juliet said: “Some of the others thinks she will stay but I can’t see it. If she stays within touch of some of the others she could win a maiden.
“You have to be in it to win it but I’m not sure but don’t mind being wrong. Tonight is a watch and see job.”
It can pay to follow some of the greyhounds covered in this column. Sword of Gold was covered on Friday 6th October before his first race on these shores. It was suggested by yours truly that ”…he will not be contesting maiden races for very long.” He won’t be as although he failed to win his first race he followed that up last week with a win at 9/4 favourite in a calculated time of 23.91. Tonight he contests the final of the 500 maiden stayers and could net connections a handy £500 winners cheque.
