The clocks have gone forward to lighten up the nights for longer and with eight open races on at Romford from 7.33pm, they will also lighten our moods.
As ever there are several dogs making their Romford debuts tonight and true to form I’ve endeavoured to find out more about three of them.
Yarmouth trainer Paul Burr is becoming a regular feature on Friday night’s at Romford. The weekly trip to Essex continues tonight with five runners including two in the final of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens at 8.53pm. It is not those two that I’m interested in but Moonveen Romeo. The son of Romeo Recruit and Sunfire City has predominately run at Yarmouth over 462 metres winning ten from forty attempts and finishing second in another eleven. The September ’16 whelp has won a top grade race at Yarmouth and tonight the pacey sort tackles Romford for the first time. He clearly has early pace and the drop to 400 metres in a maidens race at 7.33pm tonight could be ideal for him.
Trainer Paul Burr on Moonveen Romeo said: “He is a dog that has improved a lot. He doesn’t quite get 462 metres at Yarmouth. His trapping sometimes lets him down. He does have lots of early speed after a stride or two. His 5.28 split time at Yarmouth is special; that is quick.
“If he breaks level tonight I expect him to lead, he has phenomenal early. He is as quick as anything to the first bend that I have in my kennels.
“I don’t think trap six will be a problem for him. I like him from six. It is his first time around Romford tonight and that is always difficult but I’m expecting a big run from him tonight.”
On all five of his greyhounds tonight, Burr said: “Crannog in the final of our two probably has the best chance. To run 24.06 first time at the track was very good. Rangefield Barry in the same final is not without chances. He found trouble last week and ran really well to qualify. With a good break he has a chance.”
Moonveen Romeo is best price 6/1 with Skybet to win first time up. Crannog is top price 8/1 with Ladbrokes and Ladbrokes again are top price at 14/1 for Rangefield Barry for the final at 8.53pm over 400 metres.
Crayford trainer Allison Kelly-Pilgrim is at Romford tonight with her charge Deanridge Romeo. The July ’17 whelp is making his Romford debut tonight as well as running the furthest of his career so far to date. The son of Droopys Cain and Droopys Pizazz runs in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 7.49pm. His previous furthest was 540 metres at Crayford where he won in S3 and S2 graded races. Although a maiden stayer he has won an open at Central Park last week over 480 metres. To win against four bend dogs shows he has early pace and to win first time up bodes well as he attempts Romford for the first time tonight.
Trainer Allison Kelly-Pilgrim on Deanridge Romeo said: “He will have no problem getting 575 metres. He will get that. Over 540 metres he is clear at the pick-up. When he was running over 380 metres he was always clear at the pick-up.
“We were very pleased with his run at Central Park last week. To win first time up from running at a tight track to running at a galloping track was very good.
“We have stepped him up but it is not a huge step up. We will look after him. I didn’t particularly want trap one for him tonight but you have to take what you’re given. Last week he ran from five and coped with it.
“We bought him out of the Crayford sales. He has turned out to be a cheap dog that had come on. The more runs he has the more he comes on. He has come on leaps and bounds since we got him.”
Deanridge Romeo is generally 4/1 to shed his maiden stayers tag tonight.
For those who like to follow a dog, jot down the name Deanridge Kain. Trainer Pilgrim-Kelly explains: “Deanridge Kain has just come over from Ireland and is the litter brother of Romeo. He is why we bought him at the sales. Kain had interest from some well-known syndicates but Ray Dean and Paul Surridge got him. We will be aiming him for the Henlow maiden Derby.”
Droopys Cannon, trained by Crayford’s Dean Childs is already making a name for himself. The September ’17 whelp has had four races winning three; an impressive strike rate of 75%. Those wins all came at home track Crayford in A3, A1 and open race level.
The son of Droopys Roddick and Droopys Loner has had a trial over C&D, clocking a good time of 24.24. Tonight he is in a puppies race at 8.06pm and if able to take his Crayford form elsewhere we could be seeing a lot more of him in the coming weeks.
Dean Childs said: “He looks a nice pup and is a nice type. We are in search for puppy races for him and intend to keep him at Romford for the next couple of weeks. There is a little puppy comp for eighteen dogs soon so will aim him for that.
“He has the two fastest times at Crayford so far this year and is only a puppy. He has loads of pace. We will work towards further distances but will keep him to puppy races for the time being.
“He is a real tight railer and will look to take trap one’s room straight away. He wants to be by the rails. He will have to learn being away from trap one as you can’t guarantee it at open level.”
Droopys Cannon is best price 4/5 to win on his Romford debut tonight.
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice little winner last week curtesy of Heathlawn Heidi. Trained by Kevin Boon, the Monmore Puppy Derby finalist duly obliged first time up at Romford winning in a calculated time of 24.02 at an SP return of 11/10.
