GREYHOUND PREVIEW: Six opening round heats of the Coral Golden Sprint headline a fine card at Romford on Friday night. At Hove on Saturday some of the sports biggest stars return to action including Puppy Derby winner and 2024 English Derby favourite King Memphis. BARRY CAUL previews the action.
Golden Sprint Heats at Romford
Last weekend the stayers took center stage at Crayford for the Golden Jacket final but this weekend at Romford sees the opening round of the Golden Sprint for the speedsters. A strong line up includes last years Irish Oaks Champion Crafty Shivoo, Druids Say Go, Droopys Eddie and the interesting Romeo Cypher. Let’s preview the best of the action.
Romford Golden Sprint
Live on GTV this Friday night the first of six opening round heats get underway at 19:14 and features last years Irish Oaks winner Crafty Shivoo. Now under the care of Mark Wallis Shivoo ended last year by winning the valuable Empress Stakes at Towcester and in doing so brought her UK race record to seven wins from eight outings. This Romford trip is probably a little on the sharp side for her, but the long run up will help, and she’s expected to improve on her recent comeback trial. She won’t have things her own way on Friday with Bombout Bullet and Yahoo Megan on her inside. On this occasion it may just pay to side with Bombout Bullet, but Shivoo will come forward as the competition progresses.
March On Mini will be popular with some in the second heat but the fact she was brought down in two of her last four starts around here is a worry for me. Those runs may have left a mental scar on the talented daughter of Brownstown Tango, and I’ll side with the inform Bombay Zero to take heat two from trap two.
Whitewood Lenny is an interesting runner in heat three. The only wide runner in the field Lenny can rocket to the turn and has posted a slick 23:71 around here in the past. He was withdrawn lame from an intended engagement around here on Feb 9th but moved well in his latest trial here on Thursday. Sir Oreo is another of interest. The Oxford raider can fly from traps and should be getting to grips with the track after a couple of recent runs at the venue. Droopys Eddie and Aero Convey meet for the second time in seven days. Eddie just got the better of Convey this week and there is little to separate the pair again this Friday night. For me a chance is taken on Cunnigar Yousir in blue. An impressive winner over course and distance two runs ago Yousir can fly to the corner and if he can reproduce that run from a couple of weeks back its hard to see any of the other match him.
The penultimate heat of the night is due off at 20:26 and sees ante-post favorite Druids Say Go runs from the inside box for trainer Patrick Janssens. The daughter of Droopys Sydney has won all for starts around the track this year including when posting a rapid 23:66. She is perfectly drawn in red, and it would come as a big surprise if she were to be turned over here. Brinkleys Ginger has flew around here in the past and may be the best forecast option.
The last heat looks a real minefield with all six runners well capable on their day. Supa Nova is shifting on in years but is still well able to put in a huge performance while its hard to get away from the inform Cooliogold in three. Romeo Cypher just gets the nod for me. He broke the track record around Oxford late last month when winning the BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup for trainer Dave Mullins and moved well in a recent trial around here last weekend.
Hove – Saturday
There is a high-quality card at Hove on Saturday evening. King Memphis returns to action. The Puppy Derby and Olympic winner is set for a massive 2024 and it would be great to see him get this year off to a winning start. He should have too much for Whyaye Man and Swift Iconic in the 19:03 at Hove on Saturday evening.
Northamptonshire sprint winner Broadway Murty will face his old rival Quarteira in the sprint on the card. Quarteira was a short-priced favorite for that final at Towcester and may just be a little more suited to this track. I fancy his to get revenge on Murty in the sprint contest at 19:21.
The talented but frustrating Ballymac John may be worth another chance in the 19:37 from a perfect draw, and Droopys Clue should see of some decent rivals in the 20:32 and hopefully make it four for us on the night.
