Christmas Day may be just over two weeks away but for connections of the Essex Vase finalists it could come early. With £10,000 to the winner, it would be a welcome early present. The showpiece final is at 8.53pm tonight and is supported by thirteen open races for your enjoyment. A reminder of the semi finals
Regular readers of this column will know all about three of the finalists that have been covered by yours truly in recent weeks. Tonight’s focus though is away from the Essex Vase and on some greyhounds that are making their Romford debuts and stepping up in trip for the first time. With a maiden stayers competition starting there are some interesting entries and as ever I’ve endeavoured to find out more about some of them.
Yarmouth trainer Kevin Boon is a regular at Romford these days and knows what it takes to win around the Essex venue. As well as having Headford Maurice in the final of the Essex Vase he is taking a team of six for a night out in Essex. One of them, Bit View Yeats is making his Romford debut at Romford tonight in a puppies only race at 7.17pm over 400 metres. The novice has had just one race and two trials, all of which were at Henlow over 460 metres. The June ’17 whelp appears to be coming along nicely and it shouldn’t be long before the son of Kinloch Brae and Business Asusual claims his first victory.
Trainer Kevin Boon on Bit View Yeats said: “We bought him as a un-raced pup from Ireland and was told he will be decent. I’m holding high hopes for him. He is only a July ’17 pup and only time will tell how good he is. He hasn’t been around Romford before but will see how he goes.
“He did a good second trial time at Henlow and went straight into the puppy cup there but found trouble and went out. I’m hoping for a big run from him.”
Skybet make Bit View Keats a stand out 12/1 shot.
The Essex Vase finalists may have some fresh competition to deal with next month during the Coronation Cup. There are several greyhounds making their six bend debuts tonight in the Romford 500 maiden stayers minor competition that may contend the Coronation Cup next month. They will certainly be worth keeping an eye on for future reference. To help, I’ve covered two from the three heats.
Pink Osteria trained by Paul Young is going for two wins from two but the difference tonight is that she is stepping up tonight to 575 metres from 400 metres in the opening heat of the maiden stayers at 7.33pm. Last week the November ’16 whelp won over four bends in emphatic style and now aims to shed her maiden tag over six bends at the first time of asking. The daughter of Laughill Blake and Broadstrand Xola looks like a natural stayer and the transition to six bends should be seamless.
Mick Musgrove co-owner along with Geoff Bowmer, Peter Abrey and Terry Nichols on Pink Osteria said: “We think she will stay. When we watched her in her qualifying trials she showed plenty of middle and ran on. In her last race she was well clear at the pick up.
“She has trap one tonight but from the 575 traps I would prefer her from three but if she shows her four bend pace she could still lead. If she does she will be hard to pick up.
“When she first came into the kennels she was a bit nervous but has really come out of herself recently. Over the last few weeks she has really blossomed and that has shown in her races.
“She is a tidy bitch and we fancy our chances a bit if she gets away. She ran really well last week and we are hopeful for tonight and we will see how she goes.”
Pink Osteria is 5/2 with Skybet to win first time over six bends tonight.
Piper Yakie in heat two at 7.49pm is making his six bend debut but not his Romford debut. The March ’17 whelp has has had one trial and one race over 400 metres at Romford. The son of Kinloch Brae and Katies Piper failed to win on his Romford debut but showed improvement. The longer trip could benefit the youngster as he has been finding trouble in the early stages against pacey types.
Trainer Boon on Piper Yakie said: “He was only A6 around Yarmouth and we still are yet to find out what we have. I wouldn’t hold high hopes for him. We are stepping him up to see how he goes. He was first to the pick-up last week and will see what happens tonight. Trap four is perfect for him but tonight is trial and error with him.”
Skybet are currently 16/1 for him to win on his six bend debut.
