JONATHAN HOBBS: ROMFORD stages one of its major nights of the year tonight – the Coral Essex Vase Final – and yours truly will be there to talk to the trainers for RPGTV!
Following on from last night’s Sky Sports Racing-featured Property192 Oaks heats at Swindon, and sandwiched between the Coral Olympic heats at Hove, this is another fantastic period for open-race fans.
Four finals take place at Romford tonight with the Mitch Millward Marathon Final, in particular, a fantastic annual tribute to the late and popular owner. Like the Essex Vase line-up, it’s a cracking field going for gold after last week’s heats.
As ever it’s a strong supporting card, so eyes down for the pick of the Romford action.
Romford Friday
6.43: Droopys Summit will have learned plenty in defeat on debut last week. Paul Young’s runner was nibbled at in the market ahead of a toughish introduction but looks a class apart in this maiden heat. A 23.97sec best trial puts him head and shoulders above these.
Play: Droopys Summit
7.18: An interesting draw for Sober Express here. She was a smash breaker from a midfield pitch in her Essex Vase heat and set the night’s best clock. Mark Wallis’s bitch needs to come away tonight. However, she did run a corker last week and certainly can.
Play: Sober Express
7.36: Goldies Hoddle suffered a rare defeat at Romford last time, but still showed his trademark dash to the bend before being squeezed out. However, this midfield pitch might held see Patrick Janssens’ runner back on track. Note a plum draw for Marinas Recruit.
Play: Goldies Hoddle
7.56: Another strong 400m heat here with Ballymac Micko could be popular. Jim Reynolds’ runner scored a cracking 23.95sec victory when last here and has since moved well in a Hove sprint trial. He’ll look to cut loose towards the outer and might well get away.
Play: Ballymac Micko
8.17: The first of the night’s finals and Mark Wallis’s Antigua Romeo gets a pretty confident vote. He’s a good early pacer and made the most of the red jacket in the heats – racing to a 13.52sec split on his way to making all in a fast time. A repeat does the trick here?
Play: Antigua Romeo
8.38: Another final now and what looks a terrific battle on paper into the bend, with Tiffield Blueboy, Bockos Jon Jo and Droopys Mac all capable – preference is just for the younger blue-jacketed runner whose 23.55sec last week very much set the standard.
Play: Bockos Jon Jo
8.54: Time for the Coral Essex Vase Final now. Sparta Master has to be the vote – he was the outright selection, after all – although it will not be straightforward. Droopys Addition is due a ping-start and could get away, Desperado Dan is never easily beaten at the London Road venue, while Doolin Princess remains a lightly-raced improver for whom the red jacket might actually work for. However, if Sparta Master can pace up behind Kilmessan Puma and turn in front of Swift Tarquin, his pace and power can win the day for Sharon Thompson’s dog. Remember, it was 12 months ago – in the same event – when Sparta Master was a non-arrival after just missing the kennelling cut-off point. Maybe luck will be with him this time? Either way it’s a cracking final.
Play: Sparta Master
9.12: The Mitch Millward Marathon Final now – and a red-hot favourite in Micks Little Gem lies up from stripes. A clear run and she picks these up, but might Piemans Noelle get away? David Mullins’ runner looks a surefire leader inside and could escape the pack, especially should they crowd in behind. She wasn’t disgraced behind Micks Little Gem last week and remains in good heart after a series of decent performances of late.
Play: Piemans Noelle
Good luck all – and I’ll be back with some Coral Olympic thoughts at Hove tomorrow!
