By Rob Abrey
The Golden Sprint starts tonight. The category one competition over 400 metres at the Essex venue is wide open and any of the first fifteen on the ante post betting can win it. The four bend competition is so wide open that it wouldn’t be a massive shock if a big price ante post winner were to claim the £10,000 winners cheque on Friday 17th March.
Many of the entrants have been regular vistors to Romford in recent weeks but there are several greyhounds running tonight that are making their Romford race debuts and as ever I have found out more.
Ginas Blue trained by Towcester’s Heather Dimmock in the first heat at 7.29pm for me is the ante post value of the competition. Readily available at 25/1 with most firms the price is way too big and should be snapped up. The son of Droopys Scolari and Dundrum Lemon has had two previous races around Romford over C&D and won both in the same calculated time of 24.20. The August ’14 whelp has the necessary early pace and can come from behind as he showed last week when storming past Rising Rascal. Ginas Blue is seeded as a wide runner and is pretty much guaranteed good draws if qualifying which is an added consideration for ante post betting.
Trainer Heather Dimmock on Ginas Blue said: “He has taken really well to Romford, winning both his races. He is running out of trap five for the first time which is a little bit of a concern but he has run well out of five at Towcester so it shouldn’t be a problem.
“He is a nice little dog and should run well. He doesn’t quite stay 480 metres but over the 400 metre trip can pick up dogs if not too far behind as he showed last week.”
Black Alder in the second heat is definitely a surprise entry. Trained by Liz McNair, the September ’13 whelp is no spring chicken but certainly has the tools to make some waves. The son of Zero Ten and Allen Harbour has only had eight races on these shores but has made a name for himself in Ireland. He has won the Comeford cakes open at Shelbourne Park worth 15,000 euros and made the final of the Juvenile derby final. Without a trial around the Essex venue the 12/1 being offered by Bet365 feels a bit short but the 25/1 offered by Ladbrokes is tempting and at that price could be worth a shot.
Assistant trainer Rab McNair on Black Alder said: “He was knocked over at Central Park and for that race I seeded him rails and with the short run to the bend I should have seeded him middle. He is fine now but needs a run. If he wins on Friday I will say I planned it all!
“He hasn’t been to Romford before so I’ve taken a chance with him. I’m not expecting a big run but will be delighted if he qualifies. He won a sprint at Hove last year and runs on really strong.
“I’m not going to traps for the sake of going and feel he does have a chance. I have three nice bitches coming through which will be going to Romford soon so should be at Romford a lot in the coming weeks.”
Precisely in the third heat is another being given a baptism of fire at Romford tonight. The Debbie Calvert trained July ’14 whelp makes his Romford debut tonight and without a doubt has the early pace as he is predominately seen as a sprinter. All eleven races on these shores have been over sprint trips winning open races at Sunderland, Newcastle and Nottingham. For his first ever run at Romford he is well drawn in trap one and could cause problems for Toolmaker Rambo situated in trap two. Precisely is available ante post at 20/1 and with Betfred 4/1 for the heat which for me is more appealing due to the trap draw.
Trainer Debbie Calvert on him said: “We have taken a chance on him without trialling him due to the travelling involved to get to Romford.
“I’m happy with his draw and he should be okay over the four bends as he runs on really well in his sprint races. He is running brilliantly at the moment and absolutely flies out of the traps.”
Nothing To Hide in heat four is definitely a surprise entry. Trained by Newcastle’s Steven Anderson the son of Makeshift and Mild And Dry has only had three races on these shores and is yet to open his account. He has had two trials at Romford and has shown improvement. In his second trial he knocked off sixteen spots from his first trial clocking a calculated time of 24.20 and more importantly improved his sectional by seven spots from 3.83 to 3.76.
He is improving at Romford with each trial and with his early pace could be a wild card pick at 33/1 with most firms. The 7/1 with Paddy Power to win his heat feels a bit big and at that price is well worth a dabble.
Trainer Steven Anderson on Nothing To Hide said: “When we first got him we gave him a sprint trial at Newcastle and he clocked 16.92 and thought wow we have something good here. We then put him in a sprint open at Nottingham where he got a minor fracture on his elbow after going to the traps as 5/4 favourite.
“He has been off quite a while and has had a couple of run outs at Newcastle. He has had two trials at Romford and has improved his times as well as his sectionals. He does stay the 400 metre trip and runs middle to wide.
“It is a tough heat and if you look at the ante post betting any of the first ten can win it. We are looking at getting him through and taking it from there.”
Broadway Bruce in heat six is another greyhound making his Romford race debut tonight. Trained by Henlow’s Jason Ray the December ’13 whelp has been recently running in Ireland before being bought and brought over to these shores. He was originally trained by Pat Buckley and won an open at Wimbledon last year over 480 metres in a time of 28.91. He also had runs at Hove and Harlow, trained by Sean White before going back over to Ireland.
In a recent trial at Romford over 400 metres the son of Droopys Scolari and Airfield Mistake clocked a calculated time of 24.14 which is impressive for a first look around. Being that he is a December ’13 whelp the Friday, Friday, Friday format could be a massive help for the veteran runner. He is available with most firms at 16/1 and that feels a bit too big for the seasoned campaigner and must be considered.
Trainer Jason Ray on Broadway Bruce said: “He has just come into our kennels. He has been with us for just over ten days. We saw him on the internet for sale and bought him straightaway within fifteen minutes of him being on there.
“He was the fastest dog on the trial session and has settled in really well in the kennels. If you see him you would think he has been here for years.
“I have been told if he gets the red jacket he is a serious dog but he has also won out of trap five so can do it from anywhere.
“He is a bit of an age so we will look after him and target him for certain races.
“We will be happy to get through to the draw on Friday and if he gets to the final anything can happen.”
