JONATHAN HOBBS: Good luck to all at Romford tonight as the Essex track opens its doors to a limited number of racegoers, mainly owners, for a top-class and socially distanced night’s racing.
Good luck to all at Romford tonight as the Essex track opens its doors to a limited number of racegoers, mainly owners, for a top-class and socially distanced night’s racing.
And they couldn’t have chosen a better night given not only does the 12-race programme include the semi-finals of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup and Coral Champion Stakes, but the heats of the LadbrokesCoral Guys & Dolls.
This 400m competition, generally hosted by sister track Crayford but switched to Romford this year for scheduling reasons post-lockdown, is unique in that it separates dogs and bitches for the heats – before bringing them together for next week’s final.
That final supports the Romford Puppy Cup and Champion Stakes deciders next week for what should be another excellent evening’s action on the London Road – but before then let’s looks at tonight’s main races.
Romford Friday
6.09: A cracking heat one of the Guys & Dolls with plenty of chances. Melodys Secret gets a narrow vote given his form lately has been superb, plus he’s got a good record over C&D. This can see Spencer Mavrias’s dog get first run on these, although former trackmate Kenton Ten needs holding from lids-rise.
Play: Melodys Secret T5
6.28: Another ‘Guys’ heat and great to see the Jim Reynolds-trained Ballymac Micko back on track after his exploits across the Irish Sea – finishing second in the National Sprint there at Dundalk. He boasts superb early gears and, if not ring-rusty, could go on. Antigua Romeo rates the danger.
Play: Ballymac Micko T5
6.43: The third and final ‘Guys’ heat and the win-rate of Goldies Hoddle (Patrick Janssens) catches the eye in a great match-up with former kennelmate Magical Houdini. The latter is back after a break and will need a flier to get round the blue jacket. Signature Callum is also thrown into the mix. Good race.
Play: Goldies Hoddle T2
6.58: Young Princess and Roxholme Irene are both over-priced in this first ‘Dolls’ heat – both are quick in the clear with decent breaks. However, it’s difficult to get away from the very talented Holdem Lauren. Carol Weatherall’s bitch is well drawn and ran superbly at Monmore recently.
Play: Holdem Lauren
7.18: Another trappy ‘Dolls’ where the value might be Playbook. She’s not quite fired of late but at her best she’s a big player so, while punters are taking a chance on her, Mark Wallis’s bitch is a decent price. Bang On Annie’s flying trial (23.89sec) makes her the biggest danger to all.
Play: Playbook T2
7.36: Give Droopys Peyton a chance as drawn in this final ‘Dolls’ heat. Paul Young’s bitch has a plum draw and, if breaking smartly, looks in good enough form to set the tempo inside. Of course, smash breaks from either Savana Jessica or Burgess Lucia makes it race-on.
Play: Droopys Peyton
7.56: We move on now to the Coral Romford Puppy Cup semi-finals and, such was the manner of Bubbly Magnum’s impressive debut win, Paul Young’s dog is tough to look beyond. A 23.62sec was the fastest heat and he could get first run on well-drawn Our Boy Seamus.
Play: Bubbly Magnum T4
8.17: You Never Forget versus Bubbly Bollinger could be a decent match-up in this second Puppy Cup semi-final – with the vote for Jim Reynolds’ runner given he’s just sharper from lids-rise. Both are open to improvement – and the red jacket will be flying home – but the blue-boxed runner gets first run potentially.
Play: You Never Forget T2
8.38: The third Puppy Cup semi-final and Our Lucky Lee could give the Wallis camp another major run. He won his heat well and, while others might be quicker overall here, might this rare chance from the red jacket prove a winning advantage? Kennelmate Antigua Bruiser is an obvious threat to all.
Play: Our Lucky Lee
8.54: Now for the Champion Stakes semis and Droopys Aoife regained the winning thread last week and, improving out of season and a regular Romford winner, could double up for Ernie Gaskin. Blue Tick George and Desperado Dan are dangers to all, especially the blue jacket should he out-gun Aoife early.
Play: Droopys Aoife T4
9.12: The second Champion Stakes semi and time for the banker to go in again! Smallmead set the standard last week and remains a firm favourite for outright honours – she can make all from a plum red-jacket draw. Go with strong-running Sober Express for a decently priced forecast.
Play: Smallmead T1
9.28: The third Champion Stakes semi and tough to look beyond Perrys Choice. He was back to his rampant best last week and timewise ticks the boxes after a 35.14sec in the heats – so another slick exit lands the double. Throw in Tiffield Maximus to run a good race at a price – he’s well drawn and stays well.
Play: Perrys Choice T3
Good luck all.
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