By Rob Abrey
The weather again last week decided to throw a spanner in the works with torrential rain that forced the open race card to be abandoned. This week the weather is being a lot kinder and with sun forecast and no rain, we can get back to enjoying the open races we have become accustomed to on a Friday night. As ever there are several greyhounds making their Romford debuts and running in different distances tonight and as ever I’ve endeavoured to find out more.
Crayford trainer Belinda Green entered two runners last week and rather then be deturbed by the abandonment has come back this week with the same two greyhounds plus two more for a tilt around Romford. With a total of four runners for team Green, I’ve found out more about all of them.
First up for team Green is the pacey Pure Placere in a sprint race over 225 metres at 6.27pm. The August ’15 whelp is back racing after being practically sidelined for the whole of the winter. The son of Superior Product and Pure Perception has shown no ill effects from that lay off with a recent win over 285 metres at Hove in an open race. He has been around Romford before over 400 metres but struggled after being badly housed in trap six. Tonight he has trap three and has had several more races since and will be a lot fitter and sharper because of it. He has shown he can win over two bends and the shorter sprint trip tonight appears to be ideal for him right now.
Arun Green, assistant trainer and father to Belinda on Pure Placere said: “He ran at Hove last time out and won. He only just held on but was two lengths up at the first bend.
“It has taken a long time to get him fit after he split his web but has come back really well. He loves to run regularly. We will keep him over sprint trips then look at the Guys and Dolls at Crayford.
“He has been around Romford before in a trial and race over 400 metres as he was coming back from injury. He doesn’t run well in trials and in the race drew trap six and found a lot of trouble. He has trap three on Friday and that is the ideal draw for him.”
The second runner for team Green is Rathcoole Ronnie in a maidens race over 400 metres at 6.47pm. The May ’16 whelp has run around Romford before but on that occasion was badly drawn, found trouble and only managed fifth place. That bad draw has not repeated itself with the son of Scolari Me Daddy and Mohane Patient running from trap two tonight. In a trial before that race he clocked a decent calculated time of 24.47 and if getting a clear run tonight will be expected to improve on that.
Arun Green, Assistant trainer and father to Belinder, on Rathcoole Ronnie said: “He has had one trial and race at Romford before. He had a bad draw from trap five. He came out but couldn’t clear the first bend and found trouble.
“He is still very young and is improving with every run. I think he will be able to win at this level. Trap two is much better for him and hope he holds his own on Friday and gets some confidence.”
Team Greens third runner, Rogue Convict is running at Romford for the first time tonight in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 7.03pm. The June ’16 British bred whelp leaves Crayford for the first time after fifteen races and is attempting six bends for only the second time. That previous six bend attempt was in his sole open race over 540 metres. On that occasion he came third after finding a bit of trouble at the first and sixth bends. The son of Ballymac Eske and Stamford Molly is currently contesting in A2 graded races at Crayford and if able to stay 575 metres could spring a surprise tonight.
Assistant trainer Arun Green on Rogue Convict said: “My daughter home bred him and he is from the second litter out of the bitch. We’re confident he will stay. I would say he can stay up to 600 metres at this stage. Every race he has run in, he is well clear at the pick-up.
“He’s up to A2 at Crayford but has to do it the hard way. At the pick-up he‘s over eight lengths clear.
“We are happy with the draw in six. He definitely wants the outside. He is only a small dog but looks one of those that can run most places well.”
The fourth and final runner tonight for Team Green is the experienced Tinas Paddy in heat two of the Friday night 500 standard over 400 metres at 8.06pm. The August ’13 whelp is no youngster but age is not stopping the Crayford raider. The son of Crash and Sunnyside Tina is in good form winning an A1 graded race at home track Crayford recently. He has had a recent look over C&D when coming second by only four and a quarter lengths behind the ultra impressive Kilmore Lemon. That was without a trial around Romford and goes into tonight’s race without opponent Kilmore Lemon and with track knowledge. A big price win tonight for the perfectly drawn greyhound could not be out of the question.
Arun Green on Tinas Paddy said: “He’s an old fella we have had a long time. He is nearing a hundred runs with eighty nine races so far. He has been a very good servant and is very versatile winning over 380 and 540 metres at Crayford. He has also had races over the hurdles but was not the best hurdler. He was marked awkward back in 2015 but hurdling has straightened him out.
“He is a good dog and we hope he qualifies. He has had one race at Romford and came second to a very good dog. We would expect improvement from that race. He has been drawn in trap one and that is an ideal draw for him.”
Ladbrokes make Tinas Paddy 12/1 and that should be considered for a perfectly drawn greyhound and one that is expected to improve on its last Romford run.
On the four runners tonight, when asked the cheeky question who he thinks could go best, Arun Green said: “In my own opinion I would say Pure Placere in the sprint. He is running well and has an ideal draw. Our home bred dog, Rogue Convict could surprise us though. He has had a week off which could benefit him and he gets the distance.”
Coral make Pure Placere a 7/1 shot and that should be considered. He is perfectly drawn has proven open race form over two bends and has track experience.
On last week Arun Green added: “I would like to thank Romford for last week. They spoke to us on Saturday and apologised although they didn’t need to as it was one of those things. They still paid us the run money and that was much appreciated and made us wanted to go again which we have.”
Away from Belinda Green’s runners sees Woobles make her six bend debut for Henlow trainer Jason Bloomfield in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 9.26pm. The November ’15 whelp is in fine form at Henlow winning her last two races over 550 metres in an open race and an S2 graded race. The daughter of Godsend and Mays Peg has winning form over 460 metres as well which proves she can keep touch with earlier paced sorts. She has been given a recent spin at Romford in a sprint trial over 225 metres and clocked a good time of 13.88. If able to stay 575 metres as expected she will not be contesting maiden stayer races for very long.
Assistant trainer For Jason Bloomfield, Kelly Windebank said: “Hopefully she will go alright. She should get 575 metres. 575 metres should be easier if not equal than the 550 metres at Henlow.
“We started her open racing early in her career when she was a puppy but she didn’t take to it. We took her back to Henlow and waited for her to mature and then start again.
“She has definitely matured, changed her style and has started to stay on. She won a maiden open at Henlow recently over 550 metres and thought we would give her a go at Romford over six bends as it is not much further.
“She done a good trial at Romford and has drawn trap one. The trap we wanted for her. As it is her first six bend race we are hoping the going is good.
“One thing I need to mention is we are not very lucky at Romford and don’t win there too often. We hope that changes on Friday!”
