Romford Friday July 11th

A fair week last week with the main fancies obliging for us but it wasn’t a night to retire on so we’re back for another stab at copping the lot as I look at another all Open race card down at London Road. Tonights feature is the Coral TV Stayers Final over 575m which boasts a classy line up and worth the entry fee alone…GL All…click read more for this weeks thoughts

7.30 400M MAIDENS

A very competitive and closely matched opener to kick us off with the vote going to a dog in form and nicely drawn to get first run on his rivals to make all. T4 AIRCRAFT clocked a PB of 24.44 l.t.o to continue a fine run of recent form. Only out of the first three once in his last eight over CD this Peter Payne trained black has found some consistency of late to be doing more than just knocking on the door. A winner in top grade l.t.o Aircraft is all about early speed and when dominating is a useful sort. Looking at the make up of tonights race I fancy him to lead a slow up T3 Garryglass Tyson while T2 Pinewood King hasn’t been round. T1 Transalliance showed good early last Friday but was still headed into the bend so leading the inside looks a strong possibility. There is however plenty of pace to his right in the shape of T5 Killeacle Mentor who has sub 3.70 sectionals on his card and T6 Verdun Charlie who lead to near the line last week after a fast start. Killeacle Mentor is only 3 from 23 over the trip drawn five so I think it’s a plus we’re drawn inside him but Verdun Charlie is a definite threat based on last weeks run alone. If he can run the bends better (especially the final) this evening he’ll shave points of his 24.69 clocked that night which would bring him right in line with Aircrafts best and considering that was Verduns first look you can expect improvement. I’m chancing we’ll get a flyer tho and courtesy of the Aircraft.

Neds Tissue: 6, 5, 4, 5/2, 7/2, 7/2 Sel: T4 AIRCRAFT 0.5PTS WIN

7.45 575M MAIDENS

Might only be a maiden but I saw enough in T2 DAWNCOURT LADY’s run last week to suggest she can land a race of this nature. A 36.19 in defeat was a fair effort for a first look at the track and she was beat by a very smart animal Form Of Love. She was always in the winners slipstream last Friday and although she never looked like threatening at any stage she kept on gamely and saw the trip out well enough. Tonight with majors of leading she can do to this field what Form Of Love did to theirs last week and pile it on from bend three once asserting courtesy of a smart break. She has the early, has decent levels of form most notably round Sittingbourne(29.33 480m) and will show the benefits of last weeks look round by dominating here. Threat looks like T6 Alpinto who finished just behind the selection last week. Alpinto will need to run the bends better than last week but his finishing kick was well noted and I wouldn’t want him turning too handy. T1 Droopys Kirbee was beaten by a smart Harlow Lad on his only try at the trip but will need to find improvement while T4 and T5 both look opposable on their level of form and the negative of a lack of a look round. T3 Blonde Bliss is the fly in the ointment. Well beaten over 400 last Friday but it was notable that she was in front at the pick up after staying on past the line. It could be that she wants this trip or a trip in general and her ‘could be anything’ factor sees me hold back on having a decent sized wager on two here.

Neds Tissue: 4, 9/4, 5, 6, 8, 7/2 Sel: T2 DAWNCOURT LADY 2PTS WIN

8.01 400M MAIDENS

This was a tricky race to solve but I will confess to preferring early pace dogs so I’ve sided with T4 BABY BUCKET to maintain her fine recent form with one of her slick breaks. The only dog with sub 3.70 sectionals on their card and the most likely leader here because of them. Baby Bucket has found improvement in her last six races, finding five lengths on the clock in the process not to mention winning her last four. Her 24.53 PB isn’t setting the track alight and I think she’ll have to get near that but probably better it to repel the fast closing sorts she faces tonight. Her form from four reads three wins from eight starts which isn’t too sad so we know she can win from here but we’ll need her to trap or we win nothing. The dangers? I can make a case for the field really guys. T1 Confident Ian ran Pittsburgh Blitz to a length last Friday a race I believe he lost down the back where he looked to get down for pace slightly. He did stay every yard tho as he looked to come again on the run in but needs to find a couple of lengths improvement here. T2 Ballymac Paula has disappointed here in two starts. On her Reading form she looked useful and probably is but she needs to find those trapping boots to give her every chance of winning a race here. T3 Plough On is well regarded and looks to have potential. Not out of the first two in four completed starts here this strong finisher will be a huge threat if looming off the last. T5 Blacknotblue has the fastest time over CD in the line up and like Plough On is a finisher. His record from five is poor and that’s enough for me to pass on him. T6 Kimfresh Babel looks to have a nice make up as the sole wide. With the early pace to negotiate a run round the first Kimfresh looks set to get a run at the leader and I make him the main danger as drawn.

Neds Tissue: 5, 5, 7/2, 5/2, 9/2, 7/2 Sel: T4 BABY BUCKET 0.5PTS WIN

8.17 575M MAIDENS

She may be 0 from 5 over the trip but T4 MILLWARDS NICOLA is a winner waiting to happen and tonight she gain her just rewards at the sixth attempt. Beaten last week when she caught a tartare in the shape of Cagey Max but even in defeat she stopped the clock at 35.60! Ok so we’ve added the going allowance on since but that run was full of promise and she looks a strong favourite to lead from trap rise which can see her get on the bunny. The opposition boast a Westmead dog probably respected more on breeding rather than form at present. T1 Westmead Debbie shares the same bloodlines as The Lord and Prince but with a strike rate of 2 in 25 she sadly hasn’t inherited their level of form. Debbie like the early Westmead stars lacks for a yard of early but has managed to clock a smart 28.89 round the Stow. This will be only her second six bend race - she clocked a slow time round Belle Vue in her other. She is only young tho and perhaps staying trips will see her come to herself. I can’t have her tonight especially without a run here prior. T2 Capel Tom Dooley is another potential red herring from John Mullins. A smart winner over four bends here recently but stepping into unknown territory as far as trip is concerned tonight. He’s not bred to stay – his dad only got 518m so you’re playing guesswork as to whether he’ll last out this easy six at Romford. T3 Regal King is a confirmed stayer. A 640 merchant from the Stow with a best of 39.97 he certainly needs a trip as he could only muster A6 over the standard there but another without a look round which could cost him. T5 Gunnys Diamond is the danger imo. A best of 36.32 will need improving on but Gunnys stays well and his Yarmouth form reads well. T6 Carden Java for me has just one good run on his CV and has to deal with an alien berth in six tonight. He’s also never been round and could actually hamper the five dog if cutting in like I think he will.

Neds Tissue: 5, 4, 9/2, 2, 7/2, 6 Sel: T4 MILLWARDS NICOLA 1PT WIN