Romford host their last open card before Christmas arrives and hopefully for some a few winners will be a lovely early present. With twelve open races on show from 6.27pm there is plenty to enjoy and as ever I endeavoured to find out more about four greyhounds running tonight for your enjoyment.
Central Park’s Patrick Janssens is the trainer to follow at Romford if going by last week. He had three runners and all three obliged. One made his Romford debut and one was stepped up in trip to six bends which made the treble all the more impressive. Tonight he brings Distant Voice to Romford for the first time. The novice June ’17 whelp has hit the ground running early into her career by winning first time up at Central Park in an A2 graded race over 480 metres.
The daughter of Droopys Jet and Badminton Maid went well in trials at home track Central Park and duly obliged first time in a graded race. She tackles Romford tonight for the first time in heat one of the Friday night 500 maidens over 400 metres at 6.44pm.
Trainer Patrick Janssens on Distant Voice said: “She is a very nice little bitch. She won an A2 at Central Park and ran very well. She is only a June ’17 bitch and showed good early and done some good times at Central Park. Her 3.17 split time in one trial is absolutely flying.
“We thought we would try her at Romford. I think she will take to the track. She is improving and has nice early. She didn’t break particularly well in her race but paced up really well. In time she could be a very nice bitch. Trap five on Friday is fine for her. She runs middle to wide.”
Skybet make Distant Voice a 9/2 shot to win on his debut.
In heat two of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens at 7.03pm sees Adamant Faith trained by Harlow’s Tommy Batchelor make her Romford debut. The August ’16 whelp has had twenty nine races, all at Harlow winning seven of them. All those wins came in graded affairs. Tonight sees the daughter of Paradise Madison and Adamant Gem run away from Harlow for the first time. She is in fine fettle winning last time out in an A5 graded race showing lots of early pace which bodes well going into tonight’s race.
Trainer Tommy Batchelor on Adamant Faith said: “It is her first time away from Harlow. She is a bitch that is improving, improving, improving. I was going to wait for a trial but she wouldn’t have raced until next year so thought we would try her. She has tons of early. If she puts everything in on Friday she could give a good account of herself and qualify.
“No trial could go against her but she definitely has bundles of early and has run against good dogs at Harlow.”
Skybet are offering 11/2 for Adamant Faith to claim the spoils on his Romford debut.
Romford regulars will definitely know Miss Boley. Trained by Phil Simmonds, the October ’15 whelp has won nine opens and races around the Essex venue including an appearance in last years puppy cup final. All those races were over 400 metres. Tonight the daughter of Premier Fantasy and Boley Lass makes her six bend debut in heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 maiden stayers at 7.17pm over 575 metres. She is in fine form over 400 metres when winning her last race in an A1 graded affair in a calculated time of 24.10. If able to get the trip she may be shedding her maiden stayers tag soon.
Trainer Phil Simmonds on Miss Boley said: “If she’s going to win over 575 metres it will be on Friday. She has been running on lately and is in good form. She’ll get the trip but it depends if there is a strong runner behind her but she will get it. She has trap one and that is where she wants to be. Being in trap one is ideal for her.”
Asked who he thinks could go best tonight from all of his twelve runners his answer was the same as last week. “Grays Cup Winner. He ran really well last week and is really well in himself. I really rate him.”
Sky bet make Miss Boley 6/4 to shed her maiden stayers tag and 11/4 for Grays Cup Winner to take the Romford Friday night 500 standard final at 8.38pm
Rahyvira Flash for trainer Paul Crowson is making his Romford return tonight in heat three of the maiden stayers at 7.49pm over 575 metres this time and not over 400 metres as before. On that occasion the son of Kinloch Brae and Rahyvira Smurf came fourth after finding trouble during the run up and at the first bend. The August ’16 whelp has had seven runs all in open races but is yet to open his account. He has run over 550 metres at Henlow and 592 metres at Harlow. He has been unlucky in his races and with a trouble free race could get on the score sheet for the first time.
Trainer Paul Crowson on Rahyvira Flash said: “I’m hoping he can get get the trip. He has been running really well at Henlow over 550 metres. We haven’t got to the bottom of him and are trying him over different distances to see what suits him. I would love to see him win.
“He was unlucky at Henlow both times. He is a good dog but has not been getting the luck in running. He could take to Romford over the distance but you don’t know until you try. He has been around the track before and the distance feels about right for him and he could have a shout. He has been knocking on the door.”
Skybet make Rahyvira Flash a 3/1 shot to break his duck at the eighth time of asking.
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice few winners last week courtesy of Seaglass Tiger and Desperado Dan. Both trained by Central Park’s Patrick Janssens they both duly obliged at SP returns of 5/4 and Evens. With The Coronation cup starting early next month, you may well see more of Desperado Dan who showed a lot of promise over six bends when landing his maiden race last week.
Local handler Phil Simmonds also said from all his runners, his Romford Puppy Cup winner Grays Cup Winner was his best chance and he wasn’t wrong when he took his race by 2 ¾ lengths at an SP return of 2/1.
