It’s Friday and that can only mean one thing; open racing at Romford. All twelve races on the card tonight are open races for our enjoyment from 6.27pm. As ever there are greyhounds making their Romford and six bend debuts tonight and true to form I’ve endeavoured to find out more about some of them.
Henlow trainer Pam Dolby knows what it takes to win at Romford and tonight tries Pyewacket in a race around Romford for the first time in a maiden over 400 metres at 6.44pm. The September ’17 whelp has had nine races at Henlow all over 460 metres winning five. The daughter of Kinloch Brae and Mays Bonus started off in A10 company with her last race, a win in an A6 affair. She is coming on leaps and bounds and has had two trials over C7D. Her second trial showed an improvement of fifty four spots to clock a calculated time of 24.38. If continuing to improve she will not be contesting maidens for very long.
Pam Dolby said: “She got to A5 at Henlow after starting in A10 and has won five from nine. She looks promising. Her litter brother is Perrys Choice who has won at Romford twice from three attempts. They look a nice litter. Her mother is Mays Bonus who is also the mother of our Quantum Leap. We are hoping she turns out okay. It is still early days.
“We are hoping for a run from her and the price seems a little big. We hope she gets to the first bend okay. She does have a bit of early.
“We were a little disappointed with her first trial at Romford so took her back and she ran a lot better. She is still a young dog and in her first trial at Romford ran a bit green. Trap one tonight is fine for her. She should get a bit more race room. We will wait and see.”
Skybet are offering 3/1 for Pyewacket to win on her Romford debut.
Yarmouth trainer Erica Samuels travels to Essex tonight with three greyhounds but it is her first two that are covered in your favourite read.
First up for ‘team Samuels’ is Kilpipe Gem in the first heat of the Romford Friday night 500 bitches at 8.21pm over 400 metres. The April ’16 whelp races away from Yarmouth for the first time tonight and at her home track is in tremendous form. The daughter of Paradise Madison and Borna Gem has had thirty four races all over the 462 metres trip winning eight. Interestingly five of those wins have come from her last eight races showing the penny has well and truly dropped. She has had a recent trial over C&D clocking a calculated time of 24.72 and will be expected to improve on that time. She has been given a baptism of fire in her first race around the Essex venue though as she is up against track specialist Chopchop Hope.
Erica said: “She is in very good form. She is a good bitch. She started off in good form then went off the boil a bit but is now back to her best and running really well.
“We thought we would give her a change of scenery. 400 metres at Romford could be ideal for her. She just gets the 462 metres at Yarmouth. If she doesn’t lead there she struggles.
“She has a lot of early pace and Romford could suit her. She has had a look around there so should improve for it.”
Kilpipe Gem is best price 20/1 with Skybet to win first time up at Romford.
Next up for ‘team Samuels’ is Scotch Mist in a maiden stayers affair over 575 metres at 9.08pm. The September ’16 whelp is not only making his Romford race debut but his six bend debut as well. The son of Storm Control and Leezie Lindsay has been running against very good opponents at Yarmouth in A1 graded races and now attempts six bends for the first time. One of the greyhounds he has beat recently is Oh Yesyesyes who will be known to followers of Romford as he has won over both 400 and 575 metres in open races. To pass him at the third bend tells you this greyhound is not to be overlooked. He has had a recent sprint trial over 225 metres clocking a decent time of 14.03. That look around should prove beneficial when making his race debut tonight.
Erica said: “We have not had the dog very long. He has won a lot of races he has been in. He is in the top A1 grade and there was no race this week for him at Yarmouth so thought we would try him at Romford. We can’t have him sitting around the kennel as he wants to run.
“I should think he gets the trip. He runs on strong in his races at Yarmouth and to the pick-up. He has run and beat some very good dogs at Yarmouth.
“We gave him a trial to give him a look around Romford. He likes the rails. Trap two for him on Friday is fine. We went to Nottingham in February and he was drawn in trap four which was no good as he wanted the rails. Trap two tonight is much better for him.”
Trap six in the race, Savana Malibu has been withdrawn off colour leaving a five dog race.
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice little winner last week curtesy of Droopys Cannon. Those who snaffled the early price of 4/5 would have been feeling chuffed with themselves. The Dean Childs puppy duly obliged first time up in an impressive calculated time of 23.97 returning an SP of 1/2.
