ROMFORD GREYHOUNDS - 03/07/2020

It’s great to have Open Race action back and as expected it's an ultra competitive card in the main. I've given my thoughts on each race and most runners with a selection mentioned where I'm looking for a price to back something.

18:09 – 400M – A1

This is a very competitive opener and I wouldn’t be surprised if any trap was to land the spoils here. Traps 1 and 4 can win from off the pace so should things get messy, and they avoid it, they both would have claims. HEADFORD DUKE in 4 would be the more obvious of the pair given he’s a back to back winner who has just lost his puppy status so should have plenty more to come. Those wins did come in lower grades and the last twice he’s raced from the coffin box he’s bumped his way up the run up. OUTSTANDING BILL in 1 will likely be the rag here and would need trouble in front to be competitive but with Trap 2 having raced from 3 on the last 4 occasions and even further out prior there could just be a gap on the inner. He was sent off 11/8 fav in this grade last time out but was beaten 4 lengths after a bit of bumping. BINKSY BRUCE is 3 probably would have happily swapped traps with 2 but this pair hit the bend at about the same time so there’s every chance of some trouble. This either means HEADFORD DUKE is very well drawn with some space potentially to move across into, or he’s going to be on the receiving end.

5 and 6 are the eldest runners in the race and both want to be on the bunny to show their best efforts. Each of them are capable of leading this field so how they fare at trap-rise is going to shape their entire races but KOVAC BAILEY in 5 missed it last time out which I don’t see him doing again. The last time he pinged following a slow start he clocked 24:04 which would take this comfortably. He is the one I’d side with in here as I think he’ll lead at the first which for me would win the race but there are certainly plenty of dangers

Selection – KOVAC BAILEY – Entry Point: 3/1

18:28 – 225M – OR

A sprint now to kick off the Open Race action but we have four railers which has to be taken into account. SILVA HILL has the ‘plum’ draw of those in Trap 1 but his recent form leaves him clearly some way behind his best. This is a very short sprint too, so while I think he’s fast enough to land this I just couldn’t be confident he’ll get their in time and he’s drawn inside of some reliably fast starters. 

Of those Trap 2 GRAMPY BILL would be the most likely leader and his recent sprint time of 13:76 might be good enough to land this standard of open but he’s 0/16 over this course and distance and has just one win to his name from his 20 career sprints. ROB ROY started life off well over on these shores with a hattrick of wins but has not even finished in the first 3 since then and has been beaten odds on favourite 4 times and drawn 5 or 6 in three of those. He also failed to show anything when racing here in his first open sprint back in January. That said, he was having his first look at the track and his recent comeback trials over Yarmouth’s sprint trip are certainly quick enough to be competitive here.

BALLINTEMPLE FLY is 1/4 in sprints round here and that win came in a decent time after a decent start. That’s crucial to his chance here but there’s no doubt hes quick enough, it just depends if he can clear 2 at the bend and avoid 4 moving in on the run up who has never raced wider than Trap 3 where he’s finished in the last three each time.

MILL FRAZER in 6 might have a nice draw in 6 given the trouble that could occur inside but he shouldn’t be good enough to compete in here, and was a one time D3 sprint winner in his prime

18:43 – 400M – OR

Bitches 4 bend open next up and with no recent seasons to note (JESSIES SISTER in 4 the most recent Oct’19) we can treat this solely on form.

PANTONE WHISPER has won twice here in A1’s since lockdown and has clocked career best efforts. She’s been quicker to the first bend that normal and a repeat of either of those runs would be good enough to go very close here. Her chief dangers come in the form of BANG ON ANNIE in 5 and JESSIES SISTER in 4, both of whom have also notched up a win since racing resumed. BANG ON ANNIE in 5 required a serious sectional that day and failed to back it up after. Before that win she was 3 lengths behind the one dog so she has a bit to find on that although she’s quick enough. She’s a middle seed and has never raced this far out before (1/6 out of Trap 4 which came in an Open with a fast start and decent winning time). Something to bear in mind, is that some greyhounds will actually start better from a wider trap. JESSES SISTER in 4 though is very good from lid rise and clocked a sub 24 second trail here back in March so has the all round speed to be involved but was just 1/4 in opens here before that recent spin although that came around the time she reached her season so I think she’s got a real chance.

ANTIGUA SANDS looks to have a nice draw as the sole wide seed and while she’s better known over further she has won at this trip and is certainly quick enough in this company

18:58 – 400M – OR

Another bitches Open Race and again no recent seasons to emphasise but this looks even more competitive. All 6 runners can hit the line first time up in around 3.75 seconds but it is SEAGLASS SHADOW in 5 who might just be able lead into the bend and would prove very hard to catch if doing so. She beat Trap 2 PLAYBOOK when they last met in March with PLAYBOOK sent off 5/6f. 

All bar Trap 1 won last time out and it might just be that the 2 dog has improved since with a decent time at Henlow recently. PINK OSTERIA in 3 is the fastest recent winner in the field but you’d think she’ll be led into the bend which could create some drama. SWABYS LUCIEJANE in 4 stays very well  but can’t be assured a clear run while NEWINN LIZ in 6 is the youngest in the field and produced a scorching trial time which makes her of real interest. Very competitive heat

19:18 – 400M – OR

A puppies Open Race now so there’s plenty more to come from them all but as it stands Trap 2’s ADAGEO BLUE has clocked a very good 24:10 last time out and looks to be getting better with each start. He’s left his trapping boots on the last three starts and with Trap 1 PIEMANS TOM usually hitting the bend around the same time there could be trouble. The 1 dog has the fastest recorded time of this field but seems to be finding more than his share of traffic. PANTONE QUEST in 5 was a winner in an A2 the last day and if he can come away a bit better could produce a bold show. 6, SLIPPY ROSE, has just trialled here but with normal progression she can feature but she’s drawn in 6 and that trial came from Trap 2.

It looks to me that whatever leads will take this but it also looks like there will be trouble early on with 3 railers and 3 middle runners. GOLDIES LINEKAR is yet to be mentioned but he’s already an Open Race winner around here and looks to have the potential to lead this field. 1 and 2 look likely to be the main threats but while both are capable of trapping well they’ve recently been missing the kick. 3, however, has been running local sprints, and has the fastest recorded sectionals of this field so I think he’ll take all the beating, with 6 likely to trap well but move inwards on the run up. A clear run for Trap 2 rates him as the biggest threat

Selection – GOLDIES LINEKAR – Entry Point:  3/1

19:38 – 400M – OR

The first standard Open Race here and it’s a decent standard. TEABOY RUSSET in 3 is still a puppy but didn’t enjoy the best of runs when favourite last time out. The same fate could be true here with 4, TIFFIELD BLUEBOY, a known railer who possesses plenty of early toe but he’s certainly the least exposed but already capable of taking this. That said about TIFFIELD BLUEBOY, he’s 2 from 2 in the coffin box including a sub 24 second win in February backed up by a sub 24 second recent trial. 

SWIFT COPE in 5 would prefer to be drawn in 3 or 4 but should have the room to move in and he’s just out of puppy status and is another who has recorded sub 24 seconds. SIGNATURE CALLUM in 6 is also part of that club and could easily turn handy. He’s finished in the top 2 in half of his starts at this trip but despite being well drawn might just find one too good if it’s a clear round for all.

DOWER PRODUCT in 2 recently trialled with a 23.97 and was eye-catching in defeat the last day. With BUBBLY YOLO inside he might just have some trouble clearing the first bend but if he traps ton the best of his ability then he’d be the one to beat. The last time the pair met, BUBBLY YOLO beat him by 3 lengths with suffering trouble but the 2 dog missed the kick and that put paid to his chance.

19:58 – 400M – OR

Second Standard Open Race here and we have 4 railers. Of those I’m very excited to see JONNO YOU GO make his debut after moving very well in is last couple of trials. DROOPYS MAC in 4 might move in if trapping well but if 3 comes away I think he’ll have a chance to lead and in doing so prove very hard to beat. That might not be the last he sees of the 4 dog though as with a clear run he’ll be hunting him down late on.

HAVE A BRANDY in 1 is no stranger to winning round here and has a nice draw so might probably should be sent off favourite but I do fear the improvement yet to come from 3. Also 1 is just 1 from 4 out of the red jacket. LONG LINCOLN will be happy in 5 until the traps rise and 6 starts to move in. Both of the outside runners could be in the mix but I fear they will mix on the run up and ruin each other’s chance

Selection – JONNO YOU GO – Entry Point: 4/1

20:17 – 400M – OR

Heat 3 of the Standard Open Races and we could have had a serious look race if the draw had been a bit different. 4 would prefer to be on the rails while both 2 and 3 would be happy in the middle. 5 and 6 are both middle seeds but would have been better suited drawn the other way round. Still we are where we are and this makes the race a bit harder to work out. BUBBLY CAIN would have taken all the beating on my revised draw but the saving grace is he is 1/1 from the black jacket so he’s still capable of taking this. NEWINN JACKO in 6 makes his first start away from Monmore and lit up the track on his first look round. This newly turned 2yo will improve from that and should be able to lead GENTLE JET in 5. If BUBBLY CAIN in 4 did move to rails and cause trouble then he might just get round. That said, 5 was quick away the last day and managed to clock and impressive 23:85 but he can’t be sure to trap with such conviction again. 6 does want the middle though and his three of his four defeats came from traps 5 and 6 with the other coming from 4.

Selection – BUBBLY CAIN – Entry Point: 2/1

20:38 – 575M – OR

The first of three stayers races before the marathon finale and it’s a tight one to call. 2,5,6 are more than capable but all operate at about 25% SR over this track and trip whereas OUR LUCKY FOOL ups that to 33% after a recent S1 victory last time out. DRIVE ON HUNTER in 4 is a railer who traps and shows early so there could easily be trouble which makes this tricky to figure out. ALIEN SEA in 5 trialled very well over 4 bends here recently and if he can come away level or in front of the 6 dog I think he’s the one to beat. 6 won and S1 also last time out and there’s not much between this pair. 

Looks to be fraught with danger from a betting perspective and I think whichever dog gets on the bunny won’t be caught but 3 is the quickest and has speed at both ends so deserves to be favourite. This brings in Trap 1 despite him having something to find on the clock but he’s young enough and lightly raced enough to have more to come and he’s 2/2 over course and distance so might end up the value line of this race but has never raced from Trap 1 although I’m not concerned

Selection – YUKAN BRIDGE – Entry Point: 6/1

20:54 – 575M – OR

Not only are 5 and 6 drawn well enough with 4 railers inside they are the best two dogs in here for me. It’s not easy to split the pair but if track record holder SPARTA MASTER traps well he’ll be very hard to peg back. The 6 dog did get the better of him when they last met and that came on just his third start round here so there’s possibly more to come. The pair recently faced each other in a 500m Invitation race at Towcester with SPARTA MASTER finishing 10 lengths clear so he’ll be hard to beat but will be priced accordingly

21:12 – 575M – OR

Bitches only here but ROXHOLME SOCKS would be competitive in any of the 575m races. She’s lightly raced but will transpire as a serious stayer I just hope she’s seeing out her races now which I expect she will be. Don’t think we’ll get any sort of price on her. The bookends do rate as dangers if she’ wasn’t to lead but she wins for me although AERO AMELIA in 5 is very interesting over this trip for the first time. Watching brief

21:28 – 750M – OR

Marathons here typically appear quite obvious but this doesn’t quite feel the same. If 4 pings he’s the main player but he’s 2/10 at this trip and both BUBBLY ANGEL & BALLYHOE BREEZE on the inside look very interesting. The former might end up favourite and has already clocked a fair time over this trip back in February. She’s be better now but I’m curious to see how the first couple of bends playout. If 2 can get in front early (nothing to split the pair over 2 or 4 bends) I want to see how long it takes BUBBLY ANGEL to get by her. Another watching brief and I just hope the inside pair don’t ruin each other so we’ve got something to work with going forward.