By Rob Abrey
It’s Friday and that means open racing in Essex. With the Golden Sprint and rearranged Essex Vase starting on the first Friday in March the entries are back up to what we have become accustomed to for a Friday night.
Several greyhounds are making their Romford race debuts tonight with the Golden Sprint and Essex Vase firmly in their sights. As ever, yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about some of them.
Towcester trainer Jean Liles is making a rare trip to Essex to test her charges before the Golden Sprint and Essex Vase start next month. She is braving the Friday traffic to test four from their kennels to see what they can do at Romford over various distances. All four were trialled around Romford on Tuesday and will be expected to improve because of it. True to form yours truly has found out more about all four of them.
First up to fly the flag for the Liles kennels is Union Jack in a standard race over 400 metres at 7.18pm. The October ’15 whelp has predominately run over sprint trips at Towcester over 260 metres winning three in D3 and D2 graded races. His other win also came at Towcester but over four bends in an A6 graded race over 480 metres. The son of Droopys Scolari and Ilikeyou has had three open races at Harlow over 238 metres but to no avail finishing third, fourth and third on those occasions. In Ireland however he did manage to reach the final of the Texacloth Juvenile Derby final at Newbridge over 480 metres but after early trouble came last. He moved well in a recent trial over 225 metres at Romford and the step up to a short four bend trip tonight could be just what he needs.
Assistant trainer Colin Creighton on Union Jack said: “He’s a nice dog. He reached the final of a puppy cup in Ireland and has taken a while to settle in to our kennels.
“He took off at Towcester last time out and won an A6 over 480 metres the other week. He doesn’t quite get 480 metres and is a bit in between distances at the moment. 400 metres at Romford could be ideal for him.
“His trial at Romford was a good trial and he has a fantastic draw Tomorrow [trap one]. I expect him to do well from there.”
Ladbrokes and Coral make Union Jack a 10/3 shot and that should be considered. The Towcester raider is well drawn has early pace and has had a look around Romford. If leading as expected he could be hard to peg back.
Those who follow the sprint open race scene will definitely know who Trapstyle Jet is. Two months before his fourth birthday the May ’14 whelp is back over four bends for the first time in over two years. The sprint star at almost four years is still in fine fettle reaching the final of the National Sprint at Nottingham back in December. The son of Droopys Jet and Cairns Risky showed in a recent trial over 225 metres at Romford he still has his trade mark early pace with a calculated time of 13.50. If able to stay the 400 metres tonight he could take the first heat of the Steve Simmons standard at 7.34pm.
Colin Creighton on Trapstyle Jet said: “He is our very own home bred kennel star. He had a few four bend races early in his career and in one race at Towcester over 480 metres clocked around 28.50 seconds. After that we went sprinting with him ever since.
“I reckon he will get a short bend trip. If he does get it, we have our eye on the Golden Sprint. We have got to give him a chance over four bends as this year will be his final year.
“He did a very good trial on Tuesday clocking 13.50. With his early pace he may string them out early and see how he does after that.”
We all know what Trapstyle Jet can do over sprint trips. If he stays as connections hope, then the 5/2 being offered by Coral and Ladbrokes should be snapped up. As Colin suggests he could string out the field early and have enough lead to see the job through.
Horizon Storm is third up for the Liles kennels in the second heat of the Romford Friday night 500 stayers at 8.38pm over 575 metres. Although making his Romford debut tonight the March ’15 whelp is not making his six bend debut. The son of Taylors Sky and Keen Traveller has won open races at Perry Barr and Towcester over 660 metres and 686 metres. He appears to have early and can clearly stay so if taking to Romford tonight may be a threat to the others.
Colin Creighton on Horizon Storm said: “He came good in the back end of last year. We had a couple of problems with him and they are all sorted now.
“He had a couple of open wins on Sky last year and 575 metres will be ideal for him. He has bundles of early and I think he will come on from this run. If he does well at Romford we are looking at the Essex Vase for him as a target.
“Trap two tomorrow is not a problem for him. He seems to come out of any trap. He is a very versatile dog.”
He is no stranger to six bend trips with wins over longer distances. He tends to want to be near the front early on and can achieve that tonight. Ladbrokes are quoting 11/4 for him and that should be considered.
Some Vision is the last of Jean Liles’ runners to tackle Romford tonight. In a sprint race over 225 metres at 9.26pm, the July ’15 whelp is running well presently winning three sprint races at home track Towcester from his last six races. Those wins came in D3 and D2 graded races. Unlike two of his kennel mates tonight who are being stepped up to 400 metres from running in two bend contests he is staying in sprints. He ran over C&D on Tuesday and although beaten by Trapstyle Jet by 5 1/4 lengths he will be expected to improve for it.
Colin Creighton on Some Vision said: “He’s a fast dog. He has tremendous early and intend to go on the sprint circuit with him this year.
“He doesn’t stay 480 metres at Towcester and is a little bit in between distances.
“He will suit Romford. He ran the bends really well in his trial and can come out of the boxes. I’m happy with his draw in six and in fact I’m happy with all the trap draws tonight.”
When asked the cheeky question who he thinks will go best tonight of his four, Colin Creighton said: “I would say Trapstyle Jet and then Union Jack. Those would be my two. All have chances but those would be my two but I could be proved wrong.”
It’s not all about Jean Liles and her Towcester raiders tonight with Oh Nonono also making his Romford debut for Yarmouth trainer John Mullins. Stepping up over six bends for only the second time tonight in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres, the January ’16 whelp will be looking to shed his maiden stayers tag at the first time of asking at Romford. The son of Iso Octane and Swift Salt has won in top graded company at home track Yarmouth over 462 metres. The step up to 575 metres could be just what he needs as he appears to find the early pace of the four bend dogs a little bit quick in the early exchanges.
Trainer John Mullins on Oh Nonono said: “He is the litter brother of Oh Yesyesyes so is from a good litter. He is a nice little dog and I think he will stay 575 metres. I honestly believe he will stay the trip.
“When he traps he has had a habit of slipping in the boxes but hope we are over that now. Traditionally from trap six he runs straight to the bend and cuts right in. I’m not disappointed he is in trap four as he should not cut in as much.
“If he comes away tomorrow [tonight] I would like to see him do his running. He did a good trial on Tuesday and will see how he gets on.”
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice little winner last week courtesy of La Soldado. Advised at 7/2, the David Pruhs runner duly obliged winning on his debut in a calculated time of 24.20 by 1 ¾ of a length. If the plans remain the same this early paced sort may be worth following when he goes to Monmore for a tilt at the puppy cup, plans that were first covered in your favourite read.
