By Rob Abrey
It’s one week before the Golden Sprint starts and several greyhounds are having their last race around the venue before the competition starts. Tonight’s race card though is not all about the Golden Sprint trails with several interesting greyhounds running in the other three most used distances. As ever yours truly has found out more about those interesting entries as well as some of the Golden Sprint trialists.
Before the Racing Post cameras turn on, Harlow trainer Tommy Batchelor has targeted the maiden marathon at 6.56pm. Over 750 metres he has entered two of his charges to try and claim their first wins over the eight bend trip.
Boleyn Debbie, drawn in three clearly needs the longer trip and eight bends could be where her future lies. The Daughter of Kinloch Brae and Rockburst La Von has won open races over 415 and 592 metres at Harlow but in five previous attempts at Romford failed to win over the six bend trip of 575 metres. Trainer Tommy Batchelor on her said: “She’s been crying out for the longer trip, she doesn’t like the shorter trip and clearly needs longer. She is only a little bitch but will give a good account of herself.”
Tommy’s other charge Normantheforman looks destined to spend his career over eight bends. The January ’15 whelp has had four races on these shores at Harlow over 415 and 592 metres but has yet to open his account. On Tuesday he clocked a very useful calculated time of 24.56 in a trial beating kennel mate Boleyn Debbie by 6 ¼ lengths. Trainer Tommy Batchelor on him said: “He is one of those dogs that can lose himself in the early stages but runs on strongly. I hope he stays the 750 trip with ease. He is an improving pup and one to follow in the future.
“He doesn’t like the 400 metre trip and is not used to four bend races but still did a very good trial time on Tuesday.
“If any of the two win, I would say it would more likely be Normantheforeman.”
Hove trainer Claude Gardiner knows what it takes to win over 575 metres and he has entered two of his charges in races over the six bend trip.
Parkwest Sally in the first heat of the Romford Friday night stayers at 7.12pm has mainly been running in graded company at Hove over 515 metres where she has been consistently finishing in the first three and most recently won her last race in an A2 graded race.
Trainer Claude Gardiner on her said: “She is running out of her skin and has won an open at Harlow over 592 metres. She likes to get in front early and should be okay at Romford first time around as she runs well wherever she goes.”
Ground Hurler is attempting to shed his six bend maiden tag at the first time of asking. The July ’14 whelp has been doing all his running at Hove over 515 metres and looks a natural for a longer trip. The son of Ace Hi Rumble and Rackethall Diva has won an open over 515 metres winning in a very respectable calculated time of 29.88.
Trainer Claude Gardiner on him said: “I’m hopeful with the pair. He needs to get away and prefers to be in front. He should be okay over the trip. He did a 29.88 around Hove which is pretty good going.”
Hall Green trainer Gerry Ballentine has set his sights on the Golden Sprint by running four of his greyhounds tonight around the Essex venue. Two are entered in Golden Sprint trial stakes, one in a bitches race and one in a sprint race over 225 metres.
Ballymac Rosanni in the opening race at 6.36pm over 225 metres has been running mainly in sprint races but has won over 400 metres back in June. The son of Droopys Scolari and Ballymac Scarlet is perfectly drawn and could claim gold.
Trainer Gerry Balentine on her said: “She does have a bit of early. She has won around Romford over 400 metres and her claim to fame is she is the first dog to beat Bubbly Bluebird in that race.
“Maybe next week I will step her up to four bends.”
Glenhill Di in the bitches only race at 8.21pm on paper could be the wild card pick for the Golden Sprint if entered. The December ’13 whelp has winning form over sprint and four bend trips so has the early pace and staying ability.
On her Ballentine said: “She is another decent dog but needs to lead. If she leads she is a fair dog.
“She won at Belle Vue recently in a time of 27.85. For her it is all about the traps but she can be very inconsistent from the boxes.”
Coolavanny Coco in the Golden Sprint trial stakes at 9.44pm ran last week over C&D and ran well in defeat. On him Ballentine said: “He ran well last week. He is only a pup and has a lot of early. Last week he clocked 24.41 in his first look around Romford.
“It is a tough race and I’m more hopeful than confident.”
Dark Train in the 10.01pm makes up the four for trainer Gerry Ballentine and the son of Blackstone Gene and Tyrgal Lola looks overpriced at the 7/1 being offered by Bet365. The December ’13 whelp has winning form over two and four bends. Drawn in trap five, he is perfectly drawn outside four railers and with his early pace could set the target for the others to aim at.
On him Ballentine said: “Like all of them if he leads he has a good chance. He is not consistent at the boxes but if he comes away he has a chance. He should run the track and at Romford you can win at big prices.”
