By Rob Abrey
It’s Friday and that can only mean one thing; open racing at Romford. With seven opens on including two minor finals there is plenty of action to enjoy. Those that read this column regularly will know that the three David Pruhs greyhounds covered that were in competitions all qualified for tonight’s finals. Davis Pruhs suggested Total Commitment was his best chance to win last week and he was right when he obliged in a calculated time of 24.18 at an SP price of 2/1. For tonight’s finale for maidens over 400 metres he is 4/5 with Coral to take the spoils. Those in the know were on at 2/1 last week where the value was.
With only five additional open races on tonight away from the finals with the majority already experienced around Romford, tonight’s focus is on only one greyhound. That greyhound is Roscoe trained by the experienced Frederick Gilbert of Perry Barr. The August ’15 whelp is a sprinter with all his races in Ireland and on these shores over sprint trips. The son of Superior Product and Braemor Katie has had four sprint graded races at home track Perry Barr over 275 metres winning one in an D3 affair. At this stage the 275 metres distances looks a little too long for the early paced sprinter and the drop down to 225 metres could be ideal and just what he needs.
The grandson of Frederick Gilbert and assistant trainer Ryan Gilbert on Roscoe said: “We bought him to have a bit of fun with him and are over the moon with him. He is very quick out of the boxes and the 275 metres trip at Perry Barr is a little bit stiff for him at the moment.
“We wanted the box and got the box he wants [trap three]. In open racing the draw is a lottery but are delighted he has what we wanted.
“If he traps and leads tomorrow he shouldn’t be beaten over the 225 metres trip. If he traps out and makes the bend he will have a chance. There could be trouble on the outside of him between traps four, five and six that can only help him.
“We intend to move him about and over time hopes he gets better and better. Tonight is my first time at Romford and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Coral and Ladbrokes make Roscoe a 25/1 shot and that feels a little big. He hasn’t had a trial but has his box and with three wide runners in the race the outside three could get tangled up with each other. Roscoe is a natural sprinter and 225 metres looks like exactly what he needs right now.
Congratulations to greyhound of the year King Elvis. Those with sharp memories will know he was first covered here before anywhere else in April last year. Even then before his first ever race Rab McNair said: “These pups are the fastest I’ve ever had at this stage.” He wasn’t wrong.
It goes to show following this column puts you in the know first.
