After two rounds of the Coronation cup we are down to the last six vying to be crowned champion. Regular readers of this column will know all about finalist Roman Empire who was covered in your favourite read before making his six-bend debut last month. Away from the £5,000 to the winner showpiece final there are fifteen open races on show from 6.27pm for our enjoyment. Tonight, there are several greyhounds making their Romford and six bend debuts and in some cases both in the Romford Friday night 500 maiden stayers competition. As ever yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about two from the three heats plus another debutante over 400 metres.
Former Romford handler Ernie Gaskin knows what it takes to win around Romford. Tonight he has two greyhounds contesting in the final of the Coronation cup to try to add to the Essex Vase, Droopys Aoife won early last month. It is not those two however that are getting the ‘round up’ treatment but his Droopys Proven. The novice May ’18 whelp is having his first ever race tonight in heat two of the Romford Friday night 500 maidens over 400 metres at 6.44pm. The daughter of Droopys Jet and Droopys Hilda has had six trials, four of which were around Romford. Two of those four were over C&D where she showed consistency. In her first trial over C&D she clocked a good calculated time of 24.28 and followed that up a week later with 24.25. Her split times of 3.89 and 3.84 show she is also improving from the traps which bodes going into her first race tonight.
Ernie on her said: “She’s a nice little bitch. She is the sister to Droopys Addition and half sister to Roman Empire and Droopys Aoife. She had a bit of sickness before Christmas so we thought we would give her a nice rest.
“We are still learning about her but like what we have seen. In her trials she has shown nice early and will hopefully turn out okay. I think she will be alright first time in a race at Romford. She has a nice draw and could have a nice little run on the inside.
“Monmore is a possibility for her but we are not going to run before you can walk. She is in a maiden competition and will she how she shapes up.”
Ladbrokes and Coral are 13/8 for her to win on her race debut tonight.
Zascandil is not only making his race debut on these shores but also his six bend one as well for Yarmouth trainer Kevin Boon. The April ’18 whelp has only had two qualifying trials on these shores at Yarmouth over 462 metres. After those two trials Kevin has put the son of Vulturi and Scissors straight over six bends at Romford. Tonight he contests in heat one of the Romford Friday night 500 maiden stayers over 575 metres at 7.03pm. He does however have race experience in Ireland and has won two races at Limerick over 480 metres where he appeared to want further.
Kevin on him said: “I’m trying him over six bends to start with as the whole litter are staying on. I’m going on the breeding and what the others in the litter have done. He was bought as a stayer and wanted further in Ireland. He is the brother of Southfield Code who won at Central Park last Sunday over 642 metres for Kevin Hutton. Another one of the litter, Nice Dream has been running at Yarmouth over 462 metres and has been running on well.
“He has had a couple of trials at Yarmouth and has done times in the 28.60’s and was definitely staying on. We have put him straight over six bends and if he doesn’t stay we haven’t lost anything. If you don’t try you don’t find out. Everything suggests he will though.
“Trap five for him is okay. He is a nice middle dog. It would be nice if he got in front as it would be a good test to see how he gets on.”
There is a conflict of opinion with the bookmakers over Zascandil. Skybet are stand out 8/1 while Ladbrokes and Coral are 4/1 and 7/2 for him to win first time up over six bends at Romford tonight.
After twenty three races on these shores Pantone Whisper is making her six bend debut for trainer David Mullins and connections. In heat two at 7.17pm, the December ’17 whelp has won over 480 metres at Central Park recently, her furthest distance to date. The daughter of Mileheight Alba and Alice My Angel has also won six times at home track Romford over 400 metres in graded and open affairs. To win over 400 and 480 metres shows she has early pace and if able to stay may not be a maiden stayer for very long.
David on him said: “She will definitely get 500 metres. I think off the front she will get 575 metres. She will ideally need to lead. She gave the impression over 400 metres she gets it. We gave her a couple of races over 480 metres as the next step and she got that trip well. Unless you try you won’t find out.
“She has good early and middle pace. We are hopeful and will see how she goes. We wouldn’t want an out and out stayer turning handy behind her though.
“Trap three is okay for her but would prefer her closer to the fence. That said she does have enough about her to clear the inside two.”
Ladbrokes are top price 10/3 for her win over six bends at the first time of asking.
Regular readers of this column may have had two winners last week curtesy of Druids Brazona trained by Jason Bloomfield and Leave This Town trained by Mark Fenwick. Last week Kelli Windebank, assistant trainer to Jason on Druids Brazona said “….On Friday, hopefully she can beat the draw. If she does she has chances.” She certainly did and won her race by 1 ¼ lengths at an SP return of 2/1. Leave This Town won first time up over six bends by a neck at a lovely SP return of 4/1.
