The Coronation Cup continues tonight +with the semi-finals of the category two competition from 8.21pm tonight. The eighteen greyhounds left are vying to be crowned champion for 2020 after qualifying from the opening heats last week.
Away from the showpiece competition, Romford have put on thirteen additional open races for our enjoyment. Several greyhounds are making their Romford and six bend debuts and in some cases both. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about six of them.
Batteredbroccoli may sound like something you can get North of the border but dahn sarf she is a greyhound going through the grades at Yarmouth. Those with sharp memories may remember reading about her late last year courtesy of Floyd Amphlett (browny points for me). She is owned and trained by Glen Hockings who along with his family train her from their family home.
Batteredbroccolli hoping to reach Romford in time for kenneling.
She is their first ever racing greyhound and she is doing them proud. The May ’17 whelp has had seven runs at Yarmouth winning four in A7, A6, A5 and A4 graded races over 462 metres. Tonight the daughter of Swift Hoffman and Fast Fit Tina races at Romford for the very first time in a maidens race over 400 metres at 7.03pm. She has had a trial at Romford over C&D back in August so does have experience around the Essex venue.
Glen on her said: “We have had her from eleven weeks old. She has had a family upbringing and gets the best of everything. Friday is her first race on Romford soil and we don’t mind if she loses but will be over the moon if she wins. Just able to race her at Romford is amazing and we are all looking forward to it.
“She has nice early pace and you need that at Romford. I’ve no idea on her chances but she does have nice early which gives her a chance to lead.
“We did have some injury issues with her but she came back well and has won three from four since returning.
“We are very excited for Friday and will very nervous. This is a new thing for us and are proud of her. If she enjoys Romford we will be back next week.”
Several firms are offering 8/1 for ‘broccoli’ to win at Romford at the first time of asking.
Henlow trainer Jason Bloomfield has three runners tonight at Romford with two of them making their race debuts at the Essex circuit. It is those two who get the ‘round up’ treatment.
First up of the two race debutantes is Druids Brazona. The March ’18 whelp has only had one race on these shores after arriving from Ireland. That race was in a D2 sprint race at home track Henlow over 277 metres where she finished second by half a length. Tonight the daughter of Droopys Roddick and Daring Rose goes into a maiden puppies race over 400 metres at 7.17pm. She showed her potential in a recent trial over C&D when clocking an impressive calculated time of 24.05. To do that on her first look around shows she may not be a maiden for very long. Over in Ireland she won over 480 metres at Youghal in an A2 graded affair which shows getting 400 metres will not be a problem.
Kelli Windebank assistant trainer to Jason on her said: “She’s a very nice puppy. She trialled in very well at Romford. We were very pleased with that.
“We trialled her at Henlow and put in a sprint race. She was put in against very experienced sprinters and came second. We thought after that we would try her at Romford.
“Trap four though could be a problem unless she traps. She is a bang railer and tends to hug the rails. She needs to get around the first bend in front ideally.
“We have high hopes for her once she gets more experience. On Friday, hopefully she can beat the draw. If she does she has chances.”
Skybet are 13/8 for her to take the spoils at Romford tonight.
The second of Jason’s to make their Romford race debut is Pennys Dragon. In heat three of the Romford Friday night 500 standard over 400 metres at 8.06pm, the October ’17 whelp will be looking to make it two from two wins for team Bloomfield. The daughter of Deanridge Viking and So Said Sarah was previously with fellow Henlow trainer Ian Bartley before moving to Jason in December. While with Bartley he won an open at Henlow over 428 metres. The drop down to 400 metres tonight could reignite the spark after failing to win at Henlow over 460 metres in A3 graded races in six attempts. In a recent spin over C&D he clocked a calculated time of 24.74. He will be expected to better that after a look around.
Kelli on him said: “We don’t have much expectations. We are going for a change. We were disappointed with his trial. He is well capable of going faster but is not doing it at the moment.
“He has been checked over and is absolutely fine and is well in himself but just isn’t doing it. It’s a bit of a head scratcher.
“We are going for a change and try and work him out.
“He appeared to do his best running in the summer and he doesn’t appear to like slow going. Hopefully at Romford he shows us what he can do.”
Pennys Dragon is generally available at 16/1 to upset the odds and claim gold.
Central Park’s Mark Fenwick is stepping up two of his charges over six bends tonight for the first time. Yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about them.
First up for Mark is Leave This Town in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 9.08pm. The June ’17 whelp has had ten races, nine over four bends and one over two bends winning three. Those three wins were over 480 metres and 265 metres at Central Park. Two wins were over 480 metres at open race level and the other was over 265 metres in a D1 graded race. The daughter of Sidaz Jack and Brookville Dash certainly has early pace and if able to stay may not be a maiden stayer for very long. She has had a trial around Romford over 400 metres last month clocking a calculated time of 24.41.
Mark said: “She is bred to stay. Her half-sisters are Avas Rosita and Rylane Dash who have both won over extended distances. She has the breeding. Looking at her last race she definitely stays. She ran very well against two McNair dogs.
“She is three races back from injury and hopeful she will improve. I rate her very highly and she will hopefully take to the track. It’s all on the break. That is her game. She is a very good trapper.
“She has been around the track before over 400 metres in a trial. It was a nice trial. She seems to run small and big tracks well so will hopefully take to Romford.
“Trap three is perfect for her. I’m not sure she knows where she wants to be and seems to run well from anywhere.”
Ladbrokes and Coral are 10/3 for Leave This Town to win over six bends at the first time of asking tonight.
Roxholme Diamond goes in the following race for team Fenwick. Like her kennel mate she is also contesting in a maiden stayers race over 575 metres at 9.26pm. The February ’17 whelp has won three from sixteen races. Those wins have come all in open affairs. Two were at Central Park over 480 metres and one was at Doncaster over 483 metres. Like her kennel mate she may not be a maiden stayer for long if able to stay. The daughter of Over Limit and Lughill Sandra appears to want further and tonight’s distance could be ideal for her.
Mark on her said: “I’m hopeful she will get the distance. I think she will stay off the front. She needs to lead. I think she will get the distance and she has been around Romford before over 400 metres. She has the ability.
“Ideally she needs trap six. I think she needs the six box. She likes to run out wide and keep herself to herself.”
Skybet are 15/8 for her to win on her six bend debut tonight.
