After weeks of watching 575 races in preparation for the Champion Stakes, it finally starts tonight writes Rob Abrey. With six heats starting from 7.17pm over 575 metres, the category one competition looks to be a cracker. Along with some of the expected entries there are some greyhounds making their six bend debuts.
Regular readers of this column will already be up to speed with several of the entries covered in recent weeks. To add to your enjoyment tonight I have endeavoured to find out more about four running tonight and as an extra treat two puppies preparing for the Puppy Cup next month.
Local handler Maxine Locke knows what it takes to win over six bends at Romford and tonight tries her Slaneyside Sylvy over the trip for the first time. The April ’17 whelp although racing over six bends for the first time has had a recent trial over C&D clocking a good calculated hand time of 35.27. That bodes well going into the opening heat tonight at 7.17pm. The son of Over Limit and Slaneyside Cool has won over 480 and 490 metres at Central Park and Hove. He was incredibly unlucky to be eliminated in the first round of the recent Sussex cup over 515 metres at Hove. He clocked a very good calculated time of 29.87 and finished fourth by only half a length. In that race he showed good staying ability that hinted six bends is an achievable target.
Maxine on him said: “I think he will stay. He runs on really strong to the pick up at Hove and Central Park. He was very unlucky not to qualify from the first round heats of the Sussex cup. He did a sub 30 time and was only half a length from the winner yet he came fourth.
“My only fear is not him staying but if he likes Romford. I’m not sure the track suits him. His graded runs over 400 metres were not spectacular. He has come on a lot though since then and has gained experience. He does though appear to suit a galloping track more so then a tighter one.
“He did a good trial over the trip so thought we would give him a go. You have to go for competitions like the Champion stakes. I don’t have as much confidence in him as I should have after a trial like that. With five other dogs in a race around him it might be different.
“I’m happy with the draw and we will see how he handles the track.”
Sylvia is generally available at 20/1 to take the outright spoils.
The recent winner of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore over 630 metres goes in heat three at 7.49pm. Sheldan trained by Kevin Boon of Yarmouth has been knocking on the door for a big win after reaching the final of the Regency over 695 metres earlier in the year and did it last Saturday. The April ’17 whelp goes straight into the Champion stakes tonight and is in certainly in fine fettle. The daughter of Top Savings and Body Clock has winning form over C&D and will certainly have no trouble getting the trip. The trip tonight may be a tad too short for her but she does have early pace and could keep qualifying.
On his recent category one winner, Kevin said: “She is a great little bitch. She is only an April ’17 whelp and is only 2 1/4 years old. She will get stronger as she gets older. I’ve rested her all week and I’m happy enough to run her again. She is bouncing.
“She shows early but lacks a bit of middle to be far and the trip maybe a bit short but you have to go for a competition like the Champion Stakes which we won with Murrys Act. We will take one step at a time with her. We put her in the Champion Stakes then possibly look at the St Leger.
“She will definitely get 575 metres and could keep qualifying. She has trap two which is good for her. Traps one or two are her boxes. She has early pace and stamina. That is a good mix and we may put her with Shaneboy Freddie further down the line.”
The recent Ladbrokes summer cup victor at Monmore is generally one to make it back to back competition victories.
After only five races on these shores trainer Kevin Hutton is giving Patanjali a try over six bends in heat four at 8.06pm. The May ’17 whelp has won over 480 metres in an open race at Central Park. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Razl in all her five runs over here suggests she needs further. Romford has been chosen as the track to do it and she has been entered straight into the Champion Stakes. Her form in Ireland also suggests she will get the trip with winning form over 686 metres at Shelbourne Park. She has had a recent look at the track with a trial over 400 metres. In that trial she clocked a decent calculated time of 24.34. Everything suggests six bends is what she wants.
Kevin on his six bend debutante said: ” She is a real nice bitch. We bought her from Liam Dowling after seeing her run over 750 yards at Shelbourne in the night of stars night.
“She has had niggle after niggle which has disrupted her racing. She is absolutely perfect and is raring to go.
“She will definitely stay. She stayed 750 yards at Shelbourne. 575 at Romford will be no problem for her. She stays nice and strong to the pick up. We gave her a trial over 400 metres and she did well.
“It is a quality race and we’re hoping she will sneak through. If she gets through she should improve. She needs the blow out and should come on nicely for it. She is a real good bitch. If she stays sound she could be a big player in future competitions and in time could go over further.
“The draw [trap six] is perfect for her. In Ireland she ran rails to middle but over her she is definitely a wide seed.”
There is 66/1 available for her win outright.
Central Park trainer Patrick Janssens has already won a competition over 575 metres at Romford this year. That was with Desperado Dan in the Coronation cup. ‘Dan’ is trying to add the Champion stakes to his Coronation cup win but it is Seaglass Celine that is the focus of your favourite column tonight. In heat five at 8.21pm the three steps to victory finalist at Sheffield will be looking to emulate her kennel mate. The December ’16 whelp reached the aforementioned final unbeaten before finishing third in the final over 660 metres. The daughter of Tullymurry Act and Galloping Maeve in three attempts over 575 metres is yet to win. She does however have winning form over 642 metres at Central Park. She had her third race over 575 metres last week and will be expected to come on for it.
Patrick on her said: ” I think she stays 575 metres. She has been running over 630 metres and has won over 642 metres at Central Park. That is probably too far for her. I’ll be very pleased if she qualifies. It is a very tough heat. She does have early though and does pop out the traps every now and then. If she leads I’ll be amazed if she gets picked up.
“She has won every 500 metres race she has been in at Central Park. She is a game bitch. She clocked 29.90 first time at Hove in a trial and will probably go for the Brighton Belle.
“She has done well all year but if I’m honest is not quite in the same class as Desperado Dan and Distant Lucy. She is a good consistent bitch and has reached the final of the three steps comp the semi finals of the St George Leger at Yarmouth and summer stayers at Monmore.
“She can run loads of tracks and if she gets luck in the draws she is good enough to make the final. Trap three is a very good draw for her. She was seeded middle but is more rails these days.”
Celine is available at 28/1 with Betfair to win her first category one competition.
Newcastle trainer Angela Harrison is braving the Friday traffic from her Northumberland base to race two of her charges around Essex for the first time. With the Coral puppy cup over 400 metres starting on Friday 13th September for puppies whelped in October ’17 or younger both are making their debuts tonight for a potential tilt at it.
First up is Droopys Carat in a puppies race over 400 metres at 6.44pm. The October ’17 whelp just qualifies for the puppy cup next month and the drop to 400 metres could be ideal for him. The son of Azza Azza and Droopys Dorothy has won four races from eleven all at open level over 480 and 500 metres. He has been holding his own against good dogs and if that form translates to Romford he could get off to a winning start tonight.
Angela on the first of her two runners tonight said: “We thought we would take him to Romford along with Droopys Reel. We will keep him for Romford with the puppy cup in mind. He doesn’t stay 500 metres too well and 480 metres stretches him.
“He came second to Trickys Dumbo in the puppy trophy at Nottingham on Derby night. He is currently in the second round of the Irish Derby.
“When he hits the lids he has plenty of early and a short four bend trip should be ideal for him. I’m happy with him from three. Three or four is his box.”
Ladbrokes make him a 10/11 shot to win first up at Romford tonight.
Next up for Angela Harrison is Droopys Reel in the following race, also a puppy race over 400 metres at 7.03pm. The October ’17 whelp is already making a name for herself with four wins from five attempts. The litter sister of Droopys Carat from Azza Azza and Droopys Dorothy lost her one race at Sheffield over 500 metres which doesn’t appear to be her distance. Her four wins have come in sprint trips and 450 metres at Sunderland. The distance of 400 metres tonight looks ideal for the early paced sort and if taking to Romford could be a major player for the puppy cup next month.
Angela on her said: “She is our main one and the reason we are going to Romford. She is very good out of the boxes. She won at Monmore last Saturday over 264 metres and beat Coolavanny Dylan who is a good dog. 15.09 is a great time over the trip. We had Magna Buddy who was a very accomplished sprinter and he never did that time at Monmore.
“She is running at Romford for the first time. When at Sunderland first time she ran really well and won.
“She has only been beaten once from five races and that was at Sheffield over 500 metres. She doesn’t stay that trip.
“We are aiming her for the puppy cup next month. She should be ideal for Romford. She is very good from the boxes. Trap two is good for her.”
Corals are offering 10/11 for her to win tonight.
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice little 3/1 winner last week courtesy of Front Edge. The greyhound derby quarter finalist stayed as trainer Kevin Proctor called and could be a player in the Champion stakes tonight. He is around 20/1 to take it outright.
