By Rob Abrey

It may be dark around four o’clock today but with fourteen open races at Romford the night will at least be alight with top quality action. After a few days sabbatical the racing at Romford is back and with several greyhounds showcasing their talents at the Essex venue for the first time tonight yours truly has found out more about some of them.

Yarmouth trainer Nicky Skiggs is back to Essex after his Woodcocks Susie comfortably qualified for the Romford Friday night 500 maidens final last week. Along with Susie he has entered two others who will looking to claim the spoils for the first time at Romford.

First up for team Skiggs is Sonnies Isla in a maidens race over 400 metres at 6.55pm before the Racing Post TV cameras start rolling. Available to watch at the track itself or in Coral and Ladbrokes shops the June ’15 whelp maybe worth the trek to your local shop. The son of Ballymac Vic and Seiskin Diva is in fine form at home track Yarmouth winning three of his last six races going through the grades from A4 to A1 over 462 metres. He has early pace and if taking to Romford the drop down to 400 metres could be ideal.

Trainer Nicky Skiggs on Sonnies Isla said: “He is still young and is still a bit puppyish. He was very puppyish but has now got the grasp of it and is coming on a treat. He has nice breeding is still improving and still learning.

“He has had little problems but that is all sorted now and going forward he could be anything. I’m looking forward to the race on Friday. He hasn’t had a trial but have to see what he does from the traps. He we hold his own if he leads.

“I would have personally liked him in trap four but being in trap three won’t hurt him.”

Next up for team Skiggs is Swift Molly in the first heat of the Friday night 500 maiden stayers over 575 metres at 7.29pm. Those with good memories may recall her two stints around Romford over C&D metres back in June. On those occasions the May ’15 whelp managed second and fifth. Since then the daughter of Godsend and Swift Sally has had eighteen races, mainly at Yarmouth over various distances with one open race attempt over 843 metres at her home track. She clearly has enough gas in the tank for 575 metres tonight but may find the early proceedings a little tough going.

Trainer Nicky Skiggs on Swift Molly said: “She is more of a six bend greyhound at Yarmouth but due to not many chances at graded six bend races at the moment I have had to run her over 462 metres again.

“We know she can run. She runs on strong but 575 metres may be a bit sharp for her. We were looking at a maiden marathon for her but just wanted to give her a run.

“She had a swollen toe and has not had a great run since coming back. She is a nice little bitch but is currently not running to her best. With a nice few runs in her will hopefully get her back to where she was.

“She has been known to break from the traps and if she does and lies handy I would like to think she could qualify for the final next week.

“She is the litter sister to Swift Lucious who won at Perry Barr last week on Sky night. They are well bred and are a nice litter.”

Swift Molly may need a bit further than 575 metres but we know she can stay and has track experience. The 4/1 being offered by Paddy Power feels a bit big for a greyhound against others with potential stamina issues and must be considered.

Nicky Skiggs is not the only trainer to bring a team to tackle Romford tonight. Hove trainer Doreen Walsh has assembled her team of three to take on Romford over various distances.

First up for Doreen Walsh is Totus Tommy in the second heat of the maiden stayers at 7.46pm over 575 metres. The lightly raced May ’15 whelp has only had six races on these shores but has managed to win three of them. All his races were at home track Hove over 515 metres in graded affairs winning an A4 and two A3 graded races. The son of Premier Fantasy and Speed Dial in his last race back in September came second by a neck in an open race after coming from behind. The step up to 575 metres could be ideal for the Hove raider and with a nice little recent 515 metres trial time of 30.19 could be ready to impose himself tonight.

Trainer Doreen Walsh said: “We had entered two of our runners for trials but unfortunately the trial meeting was cancelled.

“We are entering into the unknown with him tonight and really don’t know if he stays. We are taking a chance but it is not the hardest stayers race.

“He posted a very good trial time at Hove recently and he would be in A1 races now. He stays on strong over 515 metres and hope he stays and fingers crossed for tomorrow night.”

Totus Tommy has shown in recent trials all is well and between the two Hove raiders certainly offers the better value at 6/1 with Paddy Power. If taking to Romford he could be a player.

Moving Breeze is next up for Doreen Walsh in heat three of the Friday night 500 standard at 8.53pm over 400 metres. The June ’15 whelp is relativity well travelled with open races at Nottingham and Harlow. On those occasions the daughter of Superior Product and Roskeen Glory failed to win. She has however managed to win a sprint open race over 285 metres at home track Hove which bodes well going into tonight’s race. Her other three wins have been in graded races over 515 metres.

Trainer Doreen Walsh on Moving Breeze said: “It is his first look around but I know he can handle tracks first time around. He does not have a great deal of early and is not known as a breaker but he does have great middle pace.

“He has shown that 515 metres at Hove maybe slightly too far for him and tonight depends on whether he can handle Romford or not.

“I’m happy with his draw in trap five, he will be okay from trap five.”

Windy Santos is last up for Doreen Walsh in a stayers race at 9.44pm over 575 metres and will be looking to blow his rivals away. The May ’14 whelp is no spring chicken and with eighty eight races to his name is the most experienced in tonight’s lineup. The son of Windy Millar and Blissful Daisy is making his Romford race debut but is not attempting six bends for the first time. The experienced greyhound has had several races over six bend trips at many different tracks and won an open at Nottingham over 680 metres back in September last year. He has had a look around Romford in a 575 metres trial back in July. On that occasion he clocked 35.93 with a 14.10 sectional.
Trainer Doreen Walsh on Windy Santos said: “He had a trial in July and was due to have one again but that didn’t happen.
“He is running well at the moment and has sprung a couple of surprises on us by winning his last two. He has won an open at Nottingham over six bends so can stay.
“We thought we would take a chance tonight but he’s in a hard race tonight especially against Cluades [Gardiner] dog [Parkwest Sally] but in opens you can be up against all different levels of greyhounds.
“The Essex Vase is an option if he does well tonight.”

Peterborough trainer Richard Devenish is back to Romford and this time is giving Ballymac Oreilly his Romford race debut. The August ’15 whelp is tackling Romford tonight on the back of good form at home track Peterborough and will be looking to win at the first time of asking. In heat two of the Friday night 500 standard at 8.37pm the son of Ballymac Best and Smell A Rat has won two top graded affairs at home track Peterborough recently, showing the necessary early pace required to win at Romford. He has been caught on the line over 435 metres at Peterborough so the drop to 400 metres could be ideal for him.

Trainer Richard Devenish said: “He was entered for a race for a winner of one open race but that didn’t fill so utilised him for the 400 metres comp instead.

“If he breaks he should run well as he reads a track pretty well first time up. He has the draw and has to take advantage of it.

“He has early pace; that is his game. I’m hopeful for tonight and fingers crossed he breaks from the traps. If he does he will be knocking on the door.”

Ballymac Oreilly is 6/1 with Betfred and that should be snapped up. He is perfectly drawn and has early pace. If he steals the lead at the all-important first bend he could be very difficult to get past.

Regular readers of this column would have had a nice little winner last week courtesy of All About Class. The Raymond Pleasants trained raider won at 9/4 at the first time of asking around Romford.