By Rob Abrey
It’s Friday and that can only mean one thing; open racing at Romford. With thirteen races on show from 6.27pm including the semi finals of the Romford Puppy Cup there is plenty to enjoy. Readers of this column last week will know all about four of the semi finalists covered last week. Tonight’s focus however is away from the puppy cup and on four greyhounds making their Romford and six bend debuts.
Peterborough trainer David Pruhs is back at Romford tonight with a team of four but it is Glencroft Tiger in the opening race at 6.27pm that is the focus of this column. In a maiden race over 400 metres the August ’16 whelp is making his Romford debut. The son of Laughill Blake and Lifes A Beauty has had eight races winning two. Those two wins came at home track Peterborough in A3 and A4 graded company. The fast starting sort almost picked up a win at Harlow over 415 metres but was caught on the line. The 400 metres trip tonight could be ideal for him.
David said: “It is all about the starting with him. If he starts he can win. He is very fast to the turn. He is as quick as any to the first bend in our kennels. I’ll be slightly surprised if he leads and gets picked up.
“If he doesn’t lead he won’t win. In his last run at Peterborough he looks a sprinter. At Peterborough on Wednesday Rackethall Rank showed brilliant early and when they ran together last, Tiger beat him away. He can move off at the first bend but should be okay.
“We are more hopeful than expecting.”
Skybet are currently top price 3/1 for him to take the spoils first time up at Romford.
Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr travels to Essex tonight with Swift Bullet to try his charge over six bends for the first time. Entered in the Romford Friday night 500 maiden stayers, the March ’16 whelp looks a stayer in the making. In heat two tonight at 8.06pm over 575 metres the son of Iso Octane and Swift Venom has been showing staying ability in four bend races and tonight attempts six bends for the first time.
He recently came third in the Fengate collar final at Peterborough over 435 metres and will definitely benefit from being up against less pacy sorts. If taking to Romford he should not be contesting six bend maidens for very long.
Paul said: “If you see how he finished at Peterborough you will know why he was entered. He was six lengths clear at the pick up.
“He ran Peterborough really well considering it is a tight track and came third in the Fengate collar. He ran a tighter track better than he did at Yarmouth. Peterborough is not too dissimilar from Romford and he should take to it.
“He will get the trip, no doubt about it. We are expecting a big run from him on Friday. It’s not often I go to a track with just one runner.”
Swift Bullet is currently top price 7/2 with Ladbrokes and Corals to take the second heat of the maiden stayers competition.
Yarmouth trainer Kevin Boon is no stranger to Romford and knows what it takes to win at the Essex venue. Tonight he tackles Romford with four runners but it is Headford Maurice in race twelve at 9.26pm that is the focus of this column. The January ’17 whelp is in a stayers race over 575 metres but although making his Romford race debut has already won over six bends.
The son of Tyrur Big Mike and Headford Maura has won at Yarmouth twice over 695 metres in open races and recently contested in the St Leger at Perry Barr over 710 metres but was eliminated in the first round. He will definitely get 575 metres tonight and with two trials over the 400 metres trip at Romford does have some course experience. If lying handy in the early exchanges he could be a player.
Kevin said: “He is just a young pup but looks like being an out and out stayer. He had a bit of a break as he had a bit of a cough and will need one or two runs to get back to where he was.
“He will get the trip and maybe it might be a bit short for him but we will see. If he runs well I’m looking at entering him for the Essex Vase next week. I love the Essex Vase and would like runners in it.
“He is only a ’17 pup but has bundles of stamina. He ran the track well in his trials and can go pass dogs. Trap four on Friday is okay for him.”
Headford Maurice is 11/2 with track owners Corals to take the spoils in the penultimate race.
On all his runners tonight Kevin said: “All four of mine are good enough and have chances but they are in hard races. Nans Padjoe is in a very hard race but could run well for us. He is improving all the time.”
Nans Padjoe runs in race three at 7.03pm as is 10/1 with several firms.
Readers of this column last week will know of the six Puppy Cup runners covered, four are still in the competition with Queen Beyonce also winning her heat.
