By Rob Abrey
The greyhound derby third round heats are on the horizon and to fill the gap between now and tomorrow night there are thirteen open races at Romford from 6.27pm. The all open card at the Essex venue comprises of maiden and standard races over the three main trips. With maidens over both 400 and 575 metres and a minor competition starting over 400 metres there are several greyhounds making their Romford debuts tonight. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about some of them.
Towcester trainer Jonathan Blencowe is making a rare trip to Romford with two of his charges. With Towcester on Racing Post TV he is switching the Racing Post cameras for the SIS cameras. Both of his greyhounds have been entered in 400 metres races with one in a maiden and the other in a minor competition.
First up for team Blencowe is Holdem Pele in a maiden over 400 metres at 6.47pm. The January ’16 whelp has been predominately running in sprint graded races at home track Towcester winning a D3 recently. The son of Crash and Commaddy has won over 480 metres at Towcester but looks a little bit in between distances at the moment. The drop to, or increase to 400 metres, whichever way you look at it could be ideal for the black dog.
Trainer Jonathan Blencowe on Holdem Pele said: “He is the litter brother of Holdem Zidane who has won some nice open races for Carol Weatherall.
“480 metres at Towcester stretches him a bit and 260 metres is a bit short. He has got some sharp early but is not an out and out sprinter.
“Over 480 metres he would lead and have to hang on. He has been running well over sprints but is a bit in between distances.
“We are not taking him to Romford on a whim and think Romford is somewhere he may start showing his true colours. Trap five on Friday is a good draw for him.”
Next up for team Blencowe is Kildallon Turbo in heat two of the Romford Friday night 500 at 7.51pm over 400 metres.. Those who follow the open scene may have come across the November ’14 whelp. The son of Barefoot Bolt and Kildallon Lee has won seven open races from Twenty one, a very good strike rate of 33.33%. He has won at Hall Green over 480 metres, Hove and Nottingham over the sprint trips of 285 and 305 metres. He has also notched up wins at Harlow and Peterborough over 415 and 435 metres. The most important fact going into tonight’s race without a trial is that when winning at Nottingham and Harlow he did so first time up without a previous look around. That bodes well for the early paced sort tonight.
Trainer Blencowe on his kennel star Kildallon Turbo said: “He’s the full brother of Kildallon Bolt who is a serious dog. He has been phenomenal for us. He has won seven open races.
“He is just coming back from injury. He has pretty much been off since November. He did a trial at Peterborough and ran really well. We gave him a race at Nottingham over 480 metres but that stretched him a bit. He is not short of fitness but 400 metres could be ideal for him right now. I’ve always wanted to take him to Romford as I’ve always thought to would run well there.
“I’m adamant he will win sooner or later. His form for us has been unbelievable and has gone under the radar a bit. He has won quite a few races and has come second a lot as well.
“He is a serious dog and a brilliant trapper. He breaks more times than he doesn’t. He has a good trap draw and if he shows enough we will take him again.”
It is a very tough race tonight against some experienced Romford raiders but the 10/1 being offered by Ladbrokes does feel a bit big and should be considered. He has won several open races and has bundles of early. If braking like he can with a trap one draw he could spring a surprise.
John Mullins is becoming a regular fixture at Romford on a Friday and again has five runners tonight. Of the ‘famous five’ the main focus is on Swift Dixon in a maiden stayers race at 7.03pm. The March ’16 whelp is doing the double whammy at Romford tonight; making his Romford and six bend debut at the same time. The son of Storm Control and Zaras Princess has had the majority of his thirty races at Yarmouth with all his nine wins at the Norfolk venue over 462 metres. He has switched the Norfolk coast recently for the Sussex coast with five races at Hove. Unfortunately he failed to notch a win in those five attempts. Those races were over 475 and 515 metres and six bends tonight could be where he breaks his maiden tag.
Trainer John Mullins on Swift Dixon said: “He has been running around Hove to no avail. Romford will definitely suit him better as it is a tighter track. A nice tight track will benefit him.
“I don’t know for sure but I’m confident he will get 575 metres. He won at Yarmouth on Monday in a A1 and clocked a time of 28.04 which is good. He has a bit of early at Yarmouth but that is against graders. We will see how he goes on Friday.
“He does not have a great draw [trap five] but he might come away and lead. You never know.”
Swift Dixon is a 5/1 shot with Skybet and that should be considered. He has a bit of early, is running well as his A1 victory on Monday showed and Mullins is confident he stays.
On all his five runners tonight as is becoming a weekly feature John was asked who he thinks could go best tonight. To that he replied: “Swift Tarquin. He has got trap one which is good for him. He should come on a bit from his last two races and expect to see a lot more of him tonight.”
Swift Tarquin is in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 8.54pm. Skybet make him a stand out 10/1 to take the spoils tonight.
Blackstone Fabia was covered in your favourite read back in April before he made his Romford debut over 575 metres. Tonight the March ’16 whelp is back and making his eight bend debut over 750 metres at 7.34pm for trainer Kevin Boon. The daughter of Paradise Madison and Lemon Fabia has had three recent races at Romford over six bends and failed to win any of them. He looks more suited to longer trips and eight bends could be where his future lies. He has won over 680 metres at Nottingham which bodes well going into tonight’s race.
Trainer Kevin Boon on Blackstone Fabia said: “I’ve been watching him slowly improve. He has won a 680 metres race at Nottingham and is capable of staying 750 metres. He will tell me whether he does or not on Friday. I’m hoping he does.
“He was unlucky in running last week at Romford and should of finished second. I’m hopeful he will run well and he finishes like a train. Trap three is okay for him. We will have a go and see how he gets on.”
