By Rob Abrey
After a one week hiatus basking in the glorious British sunshine, your favourite column and columnist is back with an eye on tonight’s Romford card.
With two maiden competitions starting over and 400 and 575 metres there are several greyhounds making either their Romford and six bend debuts or in some cases both at the same time. As ever and to make up for last week I have endeavoured to find out more about one greyhound from each of the six heats for your enjoyment.
The first maiden competition tonight at the Essex venue is for maiden stayers over 575 metres and starts with heat one at 7.18pm. Boherna Brave, trained by Central Park’s Jason Ray is not only making his Romford debut but is also making his six bend debut at the same time in the opening heat. The October ’14 whelp although approaching his fourth birthday is lightly raced on these shores and looks like he may well benefit from running in longer trips. The son of Kinloch Brae and Hondo On Air, however is not lightly raced in Ireland with over twenty races to his name. With graded wins at Thurles, Cork and Shelbourne Park over 526 and 480 metres, he is no novice and appears versatile when running at a track first time up which bodes well for tonight.
Ray said: “We got the dog from Ireland and he was bought with staying races in mind. We had a few problems with him but they are all sorted now and now feels the right time to step him up.
“The trip on Friday will be no problem for him at all. He has run over 500 metres in Ireland and was bought for staying. He could be decent over six bends. I think a lot of him.
“We decided to enter him at Romford to step him up gradually, rather than go straight to 642 metres at Central Park. We moved kennels six months ago and now have better facilities and have done a lot of work with him. His trial time at Central Park of 29.36 shows that.
“Hopefully he will stay sound so we can see what he can do going forward. He hasn’t run at Romford before but is a clever and mature dog. I’m happy with trap two as I didn’t want him drawn in trap one at Romford first time up.
Paddy Power make Boherna Brave a 7/1 shot and that is tempting. He has a bit of early and is expected to stay.
Avas Rosita for Crayford trainer Mark Fenwick makes her Romford debut in heat two of the Friday night maidens at 7.34pm. Unlike Boherna Brave in the first heat she has been tested over six bends at home track Crayford. The July ’16 whelp has had two graded races over 540 metres winning once.
The daughter of Zero Ten and Brookville Dash clearly looks more at home over six bends and is where her future career lies. She has won over 380 metres at Crayford in A6 and A5 graded races so has a bit of early that may come in handy when tackling Romford tonight.
Fenwick said: “I think she will get the trip. She has taken her time to see anything of her but she seems to have the bit between the teeth at the moment. It looks like she stays. I can’t see her not staying the trip.
“She is half-sister to Rylane Dash and part of the reason I bought her. Dash can stay and has won marathon open races at Romford over 750 metres for us.
“She has won an S4 and was very unlucky last week in an S2 race. She was held up at the first bend but ran on well. I do think a bit of her and she could be tailor-made for Romford.
“It is a bit of an ask to win first time up but it doesn’t look the hardest race and she does have a chance. She will probably be a nice price as well. I would like to see her off the front.”
Skybet make Avas Rosita 4/1. That feels a bit big. She should stay 575 metres and has experience over six bends at Crayford.
The third heat of the Romford Friday night maiden stayers at 7.51pm sees Swift Anubis for Yarmouth trainer John Mullins make his six bend debut. The July ’16 whelp has got experience at Romford when running in a 400 metres maiden race last week. On that occasion the son of Vans Escalade and Swift Elise could only manage fourth place after finding trouble at the first and third bends. He is back once again but this time over six bends. Since that run last week he went back to home track Yarmouth and contested an A1 graded race over 462 metres where he came third. Like at Romford he found trouble in the early exchanges and if able to stay should benefit from not being surrounded by as much early pace.
Mullins said: “He is still only a pup but I think he will stay. He has run around there before so has track experience. He has early but has lost a little bit of it.
“I’m happy with the trap draw (T6) it is where he wants to be. We will see how he goes on Friday.”
Swift Anubis appears to have divided opinions with the bookmakers. Skybet make him 5/2 while Paddy Power are offering 5/1. Trainer John Mullins is a very good judge of a dog and if he thinks he will stay, he probably will. 5/1 is worth considering.
John Mullins has three other runners tonight and was asked the cheeky question of who he thinks could go best he said: “Romeo Desperado. He is running well without winning.
Romeo Desperado is currently 4/1 with Corals and Ladbrokes.
As soon as the maiden stayers competition finishes the Romford Friday night 500 maidens competition starts over 400 metres with heat one at 8.06pm. In the opening heat Cuddly Clodagh for trainer Alison Kelly-Pilgrim is making her Romford debut after only one race at Crayford on these shores.
The September ’15 whelp prior to her open race at Crayford over 380 metres has had three trials, all at Crayford over the standard trip of 380 metres. During those trials she showed lots of early pace with some very good and consistent split times which bodes well going into tonight’s race. The daughter of Zero Ten and Savings Book was put straight into an open race after those trials but came last after finding trouble early on and at the fourth bend. She does have race experience in Ireland so is no novice with graded wins at Longford over 302 and 480 metres.
Trainer Alison Kelly-Pilgrim said: “She has got good early. We bought her for her early pace. She did some nice times at Crayford in her qualifying trials. She will get 400 metres no problems.
“We already have her brother, Billis Tyson in the kennels and we all know what he can do. She has a very similar style to Tyson. If she can do what he can do we will be happy.
“Were happy with her draw in trap one. Hopefully she will be out and gone and keep on the rails. She took to Crayford in her first trial so hopefully will take to Romford first time as well.”
Skybet make Cuddly Clodagh 7/2. That should be taken. She has bundles of early and is very well drawn.
Central Park’s Jason Ray is giving Fernisky Darkie his first ever race on these shores in heat two over 400 metres at 8.23pm. The July ’15 whelp has had four qualifying trials, all at home track Central Park over 285 and 480 metres.
The son of Zero Ten and Jumbos Lulu is no novice though with proven form in Ireland. He won his last race at Drumbo Park in an A1 graded race over 480 metres. He looks like he has early pace and the 400 metres trip at Romford could be ideal for him.
Ray said: “He is one of our new dogs. He took two months to settle in but is there now. He did a good time at Central Park in his last trial. He would probably have gone straight into an A1 graded race so thought I would step him up to open level.
“He looks like he is going to be a decent dog. We just need to get a few races in him. Trap four on Friday is not a problem for him. He has early pace. His split times at Drumbo Park were very good. It wouldn’t surprise me if he hit the lids and leads on Friday.
“It is only his first race though and will see how he gets on. I’m planning to come back in the coming weeks and intend to bring him back if he doesn’t qualify.”
Fernisky Darkie could be anything and for those who like to take risk, Paddy Power are offering 6/1.
Rashers Diva has been going through the grades nicely at Crayford for trainer Alison Kelly-Pilgrim and tonight tackles Romford for the first time in heat three at 8.38pm. The April ’16 whelp has won three from five at home track Crayford winning in A5, A4 and A3 graded races.
The daughter of Vulturi and Coyote Queen recently ran in an open race but could only manage fourth after finding trouble between the first two bends. She has experience in Ireland and has won at Tralee over 480 metres.
The drop to shorter four bend trips seems to be the way forward for her and is already relishing being at Crayford with three form five. 400 metres at Romford should not be problem for her and if utilising her early pace could spring a surprise tonight.
Trainer Alison Kelly-Pilgrim said: “She has won three from five. She has good early, the same as Cuddly Clodagh. She was actually bought from the Crayford sales and has pretty much paid for herself already.
“Her litter sister is Deanridge Boffin who won a first round heat of the greyhound derby at Towcester this year.
“She has nice splits at Crayford, especially her 3.48 last month. She can stay 400 metres without any problems. She needs a good break but can come from behind. She is a middle seed but being in trap five on Friday may benefit her.”
Rashers Diva is available at 9/2 with Skybet and that should be considered. She has taken to Crayford and has a lot of early pace. If pinging the lids she will be a threat to the others.
For those who watch Racing Post TV, I’m making my second appearance on there on Tuesday. All being well I intend to do a one off ‘Rob’s Sheffield Round Up’ for your enjoyment. Keep an eye out for it.
