It’s here. The final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes concludes tonight at 8.54pm. After weeks of trial stakes and heats, we are down to the final six all vying to get their names etched on the famous trophy. Regular readers of this column know all about one of finalists covered recently in the shape of Aero Squeak.
Away from the showpiece final, the category two Coral Standard Trophy worth £5,000 to the winner also concludes along with two category three competitions each worth £1,000 to the victor. We are in for a real treat.
As four competitions come to their end, two category three events start. Each one has two heats over 225 and 575 metres and yours truly has endeavoured to find out more about three of them.
Heat one of the Romford Friday Night 500 Sprint over 225 metres gets the great night’s racing underway at 6.09pm. Sirius Magic trained by Yarmouth’s Paul Burr is making his Romford debut and will be looking to take the spoils first time up. The October ’20 whelp runs away from home track Yarmouth for the first time after thirteen races in graded company over 462 and 277 metres. The daughter of Magical Bale and Sirius Fantasy won three of those in A6, A5 and A4 graded affairs. She has bundles of early and two bends at Romford may suit her.
Paul on her said: “She has a lot of early but is not quite getting the 462 metres trip at Yarmouth at the moment. She will get 400 metres but is more of a sprinter so thought we would take her to Romford.
“We have been eyeing up a sprint comp for her. We would have liked to trial her but have been helping Yarmouth with runners. She should suit Romford better than Yarmouth.
“We will see how she gets on. Hopefully she traps out and qualifies.
“She has trap five and that should be fine for her. She is a true middle runner. At Yarmouth I don’t think she has been led up.
“She is in good order and will see what happens.”
Corals and Ladbrokes make the early paced sort 10/1 to win at Romford at the first time of asking.
Coolanga Blizard for Crayford trainer Allison Kelly-Pilgrim goes in heat two at 6.28pm. The January ’20 whelp has only had three races on these shores and is yet to get off the mark. Those races were at Towcester, Swindon and Oxford over 500, 262 and 253 metres all in open affairs. The son of Droopys Sydney and Shes A Hurricane does have winning form in Ireland with victory at Shelbourne Park over 480 metres in an A5 race. Connections will be hoping the penny drops at Romford and he gets off the mark at Romford at the first attempt.
Allison on her said: “We purchased him from a Greyhound Trader sales to compete at the Puppy Derby. Things went too quick for him and he wasn’t ready. He is a big dog and needed time to mature and grow into himself. He’s our dog so thought we would leave him be and take our time.
“We started him in sprints to start with to bring him on and think he will take to Romford and handle it well. With his power to the first bend hopefully he will qualify without a look.
“It’s good he has trap four as that is where he wants to be. He will keep a nice straight line to the bend and won’t veer off.”
Corals and Ladbrokes are offering 14/1 for him to win at his fourth attempt on the road.
Droopys Stairway for Romford trainer Gemma Evans after eleven races around the Essex track attempts six bends for the first time in heat two at 6.58pm. The son of Burgess Bucks and Droopys Talia over 400 metres has won once in an A3 graded affair. The October ’20 whelp has been running in top graded races but appears to struggle against the natural four bend sorts. If able to stay six bends it could be where his future lies.
Gemma on him said: “We are giving it a go and see what he does. I just think he is wasted over 400 metres. He doesn’t have a great deal of early but has good track craft.
“We tried him at Perry Barr over 480 metres and he came out of that well. He was beaten by our Glengar Jenny by just over four lengths and she reached the semi-finals of the Oaks.
“Over 400 metres he was generally last at the first bend but with the winner at the pick-up. He has plenty of experience at the track. He has given us some indications that he gets it. We are treating it as a trial and go from there depending on what he does.
“He has trap four and we are quite happy with that. We will have our fingers crossed.”
On her other runners Gemma said: “Chopchop Rainbow in the sprint competition loves Romford like her mum Chopchop Hope. She has already won a category three sprint competition at the track. Her Mum was referred to as the queen of Romford and we see Rainbow as the Princess Of Romford!”
Ladbrokes are 9/2 for Droopys Stairway to win over six bends at the first time of asking while Chopchop Rainbow in the 6.28pm is 11/8 with some companies.
Regular readers of this column may have had a nice 7/2 winner last week courtesy of Peejays Forever. In the ‘lucky last’ it certainly proved to be that when getting up by a neck to take the spoils. Trainer Jason Gornall said last week “…She shapes up as if she will stay” when attempting six bends for the first time and he was proved right.
It pays to follow this column.
