We are back on track with a decent open race card at Romford.
The Golden Sprint concluded last week, with Union Jack deservedly taking the spoils. This week the track have put on a minor puppy competition showcasing the next open race stars to take on the Golden Sprint champ plus others in the coming weeks.
With three heats starting from 7.49pm over 400 metres yours truly has found out about one from each heat. While I was at it, I have also found out more about a greyhound in tonight’s maiden marathon race.
Central Park’s Patrick Janssens knows what it takes to win at Romford. He has three entries in the Romford Friday night 500 puppies competition tonight in each heat. It is those three that is the focus of this column.
First up for ‘team Janssens’ is Casablanca Cruz at 7.49pm. The April ’17 whelp is having his first race since 30th December. The son of Ballymac Eske and Mandeville Can has had six trials though this year at Romford, Central Park and Monmore. His trial at Romford in January over C&D showed promise with a calculated time of 24.68. Last year he won an open race at home track Central Park over 480 metres and tonight will be looking to double his open race wins.
Trainer Patrick Janssens on Casablanca Cruz said: “He won a maiden at Central Park at the end of last year and then had a few problems. He had a trial at Romford and done okay. We were going to run him there but he cut his leg. He has had two sprint trials since.
“He is a fair dog. How good he is, I just don’t know. Romford could suit him. I think he will like Romford.
“He is not the best breaker but has early pace and trap four is perfect for him. I think he has a 24.30 in him. We will see how he gets on.”
Coral make Casablanca Cruz a stand out 9/2 shot to win on his Romford race debut.
Regular followers of the Romford open scene and this column will know all about Goldies Hoddle. The April ’17 whelp has won twice from five attempts over C&D and tonight will be looking to make it three from six in heat two at 8.06pm. When covered in in this column back in January, the son of Droopys Sydney and Silver Dollar duly obliged at 5/2 then followed that up a week later with another victory.
His last two attempts have not been so successful finishing 2nd and last. When finishing second by a head recently he clocked his best calculated time of 24.16 which shows he is improving all the time. It may not take long for the Central Park raider to get back to winning ways at Romford.
Trainer Janssens on him said: “I really like this dog. His efforts at Romford are superb. He is only a puppy but has been running against all aged dogs. He is a really good dog.
“His time of 28.48 at Monmore over 480 metres was really good.
“He is a 38 kilo dog but runs Romford really well. His time recently of 24.16 shows he is improving. He is coming along nicely. We have high hopes for him. In the summer he could be a very good dog.
“Trap one for him on Friday is ideal and he has a good chance.”
Skybet are top price of 11/8 for Goldies Hoddle to get back to winning ways at Romford tonight.
Last up for ‘team Janssens’ is Goldies Klinsman in heat three at 8.21pm. The April ’17 whelp and brother of Goldies Hoddle is certainly paying his way with nine wins from twenty starts.
The son of Droopys Sydney and Silver Dollar’s stike rate is quite impressive. Three of those nine wins have come in open opens over 265 metres at home track Central Park. His early pace could come in handy tonight when tackling Romford in a race for the first time tonight. He has had a trial back in January clocking a calculated time of 24.84.
Trainer Janssens of Goldies Klinsmann said: “He is the brother of Hoddle. He started off in an A7 and moved all the way to A1. He has won a few sprints at Central Park but doesn’t really stay that well.
“I haven’t taken him to race at Romford before as he is not a maiden and would be up against the likes of Kilmore Lemon and would have no chance. As Romford have put on a nice little puppy comp I thought I would give him a go.
“He has been running against all aged dogs and always gives 200%, if he leads on Friday he will be tough to pass. Trap two is fine for him, he is a dead railer but two is fine. He has got a 24.40 in him.
“Of the three, I would would probably say he has the least chance but this dog keeps proving me wrong. He has won nine from twenty races.”
On all three Janssens said: “ Goldies Hoddle is the best chance. He loves Romford and has won around there.”
Ladbrokes and Coral make Goldies Klinsmann 11/4 to take the spoils tonight.
Harlow trainer Robert Emery has one runner tonight and that is in the lucky last at 9.56pm in a maiden marathon race over 750 metres. Connections will be hoping Manic Flash will prove the wait was worth it by taking the spoils in her longest ever race attempt.
The February ’16 whelp has run at Crayford and Hove over 714 and 695 metres in the past and tonight tackles 750 metres for the first time. The daughter of Laughill Blake and Manic Fantasy has had race experience at Romford with a run over 575 metres back in October last year. On that occasion she came fourth. Tonight she is back and is aiming to make it second time lucky.
Trainer Robert Emery on Manic Flash said: “75o metres will suit her. She does stay. Whether she is quick enough is another thing but she does stay. She has done a ‘PB’ recently at Harlow over 592 metres and is in good form. She has run at Romford before over 575 metres.
“She did run in a maiden at Hove over 695 metres and led but got picked up. She is a better dog now.
“I’m hopeful for Friday. She has had two weeks off and is fresh and ready. She does have a bit of early when she wants to use it. Trap one is good for her. She is pretty versatile, traps one,two or three are good for her. If she traps she has a chance.
“Mark Wallis’ Avastorm looks the one to beat. I have seen her over 575 metres at Romford and she flies to the pick up. She has impressed me.”
Skybet make Manic Flash 10/1 tonight to take the ‘lucky last’.
