By Rob Abrey
The Essex Vase starts on Friday 24th of this month and with several maiden stayers races on the fourteen race open card at Romford tonight there are some greyhounds stepping up in trip and making their track debuts. Along with others I have found out more about some of the potential Essex Vase entrants.
Bubbly Big Eddie trained by local handler Paul Young and owned by the Champagne club makes his Romford and six bend debut in a maiden stayers race at 7.12pm tonight. In the first race in front of the Racing Post TV cameras over 575 metres the October ’15 whelp has been fast tracked to six bends. The son of Sparta Maestro and Melodys Diamond has had one race on these shores at Central Park over 480 metres and came last in a trouble strewn affair. Although lightly raced over here he has had six trials at Romford over 400 metres so has experience at the Essex venue. His trial times were consistent with his fastest calculated time of 24.15 clocked on Tuesday.
Head of the Champagne club syndicate Steve Fluin on Bubbly Big Eddie said: “He was called Melodys Maestro and won a nice little graded competition at Tralee over 480 metres. He is named after Eddie Newman, co-founder of the Bubbly club with me thirty one years ago. He passed away this year so I named Bubbly Big Eddie after him. I would not name a greyhound after him if I didn’t think he would be extremely good.
“He has had one race at Central Park and missed his break and got all tangled up at the first band.
“We bought him as a six bend dog and looks a smart six bend dog. He seems to like Romford and we have given him plenty of trials there. He doesn’t have tremendous early pace but once he gets going he flies.
“If he is ready we will give him a tilt at the Essex Vase later in the month.”
Paddy Power make Bubbly Big Eddie Evens to take the spoils. That should be taken. The kennels have taken their time with him and he has had six trials around the track. He has been bought as a six bend greyhound so should stay.
Bubbly Tempest for the Champagne syndicate is also making her Romford debut tonight over 575 metres at 9.26pm in the first heat of the Romford Friday night 500 stayers. Trained by Paul Young the November ’14 whelp is not making her six bend debut however as she is well adverse to longer trips. The daughter of Kinloch Brae and Cover Up has won four times, all at Harlow in open races over 592 and 769 metres so getting the 575 metres trip tonight will not be a problem. Her most recant run was at Harlow last Sunday over 592 metres winning by 5 ¾ lengths in a calculated time of 37.64 as a 4/7 favourite.
Head of the Bubbly syndicate Steve Fluin on Bubbly Tempest said: “We originally planned to enter her for a 750 metres marathon but that didn’t fill so entered her in the 575 metres competition instead. She may find 575 metres at Romford a bit sharp.
“The Essex Vase is not really an option for her right now but you never know. After the competition we are going to switch her to Crayford and there is a little competition starting there soon over 714 metres.
“If she turns handy on Friday I would expect her to qualify as she runs on so strong. I don’t think she is a bitch capable of 35.40 but more of a 35.70 dog.
“We will ideally keep her to longer six bend races and eight bend races.”
She will be rattling home and the 4/1 being offered by Coral may be worth considering. If the race is at all messy then Bubbly Tempest will be the first to benefit. Backing her each way with Skybet who offer first three is also an option.
Peterborough trainer Richard Devenish is back at Romford after winning the British Bred breeders forum puppy oaks with Tea For Tess back in April. Along with the aforementioned Tea For Tess he is giving two of his charges their Romford debuts tonight.
Ballymac Fergal is first up for team Devenish at 7.46pm tonight in a maiden stayers over 575 metres. The September ’15 whelp has won over 500 metres at Nottingham and has recently been running at Henlow and Peterborough over 550 and 620 metres respectively. In his open race at Henlow in October over 550 metres the son of Drumcrow Obama and Ballymac Sky led all the way until getting beat on the line. In graded races at Peterborugh over 620 metres he appears to struggle to see out the trip. The drop to 575 metres tonight could be ideal
Trainer Richard Devenish on him said: “He ran at Henlow over 550 metres and got picked up on the line.
“He gets 500 metres at Nottingham and that should stand him in good stead for Romford as he gets short six bend trips.
“The traps at Henlow are similar to Romford so should be okay without a trial. He is a nippy sort out of the traps and he ideally needs to lead.
“I’m very pleased with trap one and I’m always happy to get the hotbox you need. We will see how he goes.
“The Essex Vase may be too much of a step up in class for him. Tonight is only a maiden but we will see how he gets on.”
Ballymac Fergal is 6/1 with Paddy Power. Although he has not had a trial at Romford he is ideally drawn, has early pace and the option to back him each way with Skybet should not be ruled out.
Tea For Tess is back to Romford after her unbeaten antics in the British Bred breeders forum puppy oaks. Tonight she runs in a bitches only open race at 8.53pm over 400 metres. The September ’15 whelp needs little introduction as she will be known to those who follow open racing at Romford and those who read this column. She has won her last two open races at Harlow bringing her total wins to nine from fourteen; impressive indeed. She has trap one tonight and her unbeaten streak at Romford could extend to three.
Trainer Richard Devenish on Tea For Tess said: “She was a bit unlucky in the final of the Oaks at Doncaster, she only got beat in the last two strides. That was a stiff four bend trip and she had only just come back from a season break.
“We have decided to give her a spin at Romford over 400 metres to keep her ticking over. After Friday will we look to take her to Belle Vue for the Oaks.
“400 metres is still ideal for her as she has lovely early pace and is very good from bends two to three. We are happy with trap one tomorrow [Friday].
Coral make her 11/10 favourite and that should be taken. She is in fine form, loves Romford and has the perfect trap draw.
Ballymac Eliza is the third and final runner for team Devenish. She is making her Romford debut in the bitches only stayers race at 10.01pm over 575 metres. The September ’14 whelp is in fantastic form at the moment winning her last four races. All four were at Peterborough in open races over 620 metres so getting the 575 metres trip tonight will not be an issue. The daughter of Tullymurry Act and Ballymac Sky in her last race at Peterborough broke the track record so shows how well she is running at the moment.
In total she has had eighteen races on these shores winning ten of them which is a terrific return. If taking to Romford she could be a player in the upcoming Essex Vase.
Trainer Richard Devenish on her said: “She is running really well and broke the track record at Peterborough last week. Trap four tomorrow [Friday] bothers us but if she can get to the front she can do it. She is a front runner and can do cracking sectional times. Her sectional at Peterborough last week was very quick.
“575 metres is the ideal distance for her. She has early and is a front runner.
“She is classy enough for the Essex vase. If she settles down and does a good run then it is a possibility.”
She hasn’t had a trial around Romford and the trap draw tonight is troubling but she is clearly a classy greyhound and any track record holder should be taken seriously. Coral offer 11/8 to her and that should be considered.
Castlemary Ruby is making her eight bend debut tonight in the lucky last at 10.23pm for Hove trainer Paul Garland. For greyhounds yet to win over eight bends the February ’14 whelp will be looking to shed her marathon maiden tag at the first time of asking. The daughter of Sparta Maestro and Aughane Tip has won ten races from forty with all her wins at Hove over 515 metres in graded races. She has had a race at Romford over 575 early last month but on that occasion came last after finding a bit of trouble.
Trainer Paul Garland on Castlemary Ruby said: “I think she might stay but that is to be found out on Friday. With a sensible break from the traps I think she gets the trip. She won’t win from off the back.
“She impressed over 540 metres at Crayford and ran on well. She runs on strong at Hove to the pickup but that is not always a clear indication as some dogs slow down near the pickup. 515 metres at Hove is as hard as 575 metres at Romford and she gets that.
“I’m optimistic about tonight, put it that way.”
