Just a few stats before covering this years runners...

10 of the last 20 favs have won the Champion Stakes Final inc five odds on shots.

 
No other place to start when looking at this years contenders then our reigning champ the superb LENSON JOKER. Fourth in 2007 behind one of our all time favs Eye Onthe Veto he went on to land the prize in some style last year. Unbeaten throughout the comp winning his three races by an aggregate distance of 22L including a rapid 34.86 in the first round which still to date is the fastest i've ever seen a dog round here in my time. Last years win was part of a marvellous 12 race winning streak which also included landing the Grand Prix at Sunderland an event he also took in this year where he came runner up. He boasts a 60% SR over CD but he has only finished out of the frame once in his ten starts which was in the 2007 final. He is 21/30 over six bends at all tracks which is phenomenal and rightly heads the market as a best priced 9/2 fav. He has been lightly raced in 2009. Only had 8 runs but warmed up nicely for this turning a heat reversal around by winning last Fridays final in 35.08, looking every part the dog that won this event last year. He is a powerful sort blessed with gears and that all important requisite to do well at Romford - Early pace. It will take a special dog to reel him in if leading and imo to get this fella beat you're gonna have to lead him up...and probably by some way! That said he does have a tricky first round draw in a very hot heat plus he has to overcome the age stat mentioned above to become the first 4-y-o to win this event in the last 20 years.

A dog that has captured my imagination and one I said a few weeks ago that I would definitely be backing for this comp is MELODYS COMET. I like this fella, a versatile sort who has shown in recent weeks he can do it both ways...a quality that will prove vital when it comes to competition racing. Melodys Comet has early pace and stays, has proven form over further but one I believe could be better suited to six rather than eight bends. I think there is improvement in this fella still too. Only a Jan 07 and relatively lightly raced yet has been mixing it in fine company. Runner up to He Went Whoosh in the Cesarwitch when been bobbed on the line after leading he has since added to a brace of 750 wins here with four more wins at London Road including three over CD which he remains unbeaten over. Clocks of 35.59 and 35.60 are that of a smart sort and to add that the faster time was clocked after finding trouble so for me there is definitely improvement to come. I am gutted by the draw he's landed for round one tho. Drawn in with Joker is a big test but I guess he's gonna have to face this rival at some point so why not lay a marker down early. Melodys had a week off last week so arrives here freshened up and the 10/1 best price with a few firms will get a tidy investment from me.

SEL: MELODYS COMET 1.5PTS E/W ANTE POST @ 10/1

Working my way through the ante post list next in are two dogs that have yet to run round Romford so for me they rate risky propositions albeit they are classy sorts. GLENARD SUNRISE and SHANEBOY LUKE are both available at 14/1 but without a look round I can't advise investing on right now. Glenard Sunrise reached the final of this Derby after performing with real credit throughout the most testing of competitions. This however rates a step into the unknown as he steps up in trip. Some may feel that getting home over Hoves 515 is enough to suggest this easy six bends at romford will be well within a dogs range but I like to see stamina proven especially when competing in this sort of class where you can't be a doubtful stayer. The form shown round Monmore, Wimbledon and Hove mark him down as a very smart dog who has a nice turn of early toe and the way he finishes his races suggests he should be suited to this CD but for now i'm taking a watching brief to see how he copes in the first round.

SHANEBOY LUKE's CV is littered with strong runs round the bigger venues of the country, the likes of Sittingbourne, Swindon and Hove and it's often thought that dogs who enjoy a true gallop are not suited to the tight turns of London Road. Shaneboy Luke is another stepping up in trip which offeres another question to be answered alongside him handling Romford for the first time. The bookies are divided about the claims of DROOPYS CARVALHO with him being as short as 6's and as big as 14's in a place. There's no denying the dog is class on his day but I find him a touch inconsistent and more often than not hard to catch right. At his best he's capable of a 35.19 but from what i've found with this dog he really does require conditions to fall in his favour and for me is yet to beat a field of real quality here at London Road. A winner of 7 of his 16 starts including a Coronation Cup win this John Mullins trained black doesn't arrive in top form having been beaten in his last three but any return to something close to his best makes him a chief threat to all especially drawn in the stripes like he is in round one. It is however his draw in the first round that sort of forces me to play a saver on him at the best priced 14/1 available. I think he looks nailed on to come through his heat, more than likely as the winner and there's no way he'll be double figures after that.

SEL: 1PT WIN DROOPYS CARVALHO 14/1 VC BET

CORRIG COUNT 16/1 did not impress me on his first look here but he did when I saw him run on Sky albeit over shorter. I thought he made hard work of it when just winning a maiden contest here against far inferior rivals to what he'll face in this comp. His form over four bends is strong but for me has it prove over the trip in this better class.

BUBBLY TOTTI 16/1 has only won one race in 2009 but the 2008 St Leger winner is a big player if he rekindles the form he showed when first running here over CD in last years Essex Vase. He made the final of that event on the back of two decent staying on efforts but he never figured in the final when Brickfield Dream caused an all the way upset. As for this year and his current form. He reached the final of the Grand Prix an event which marked his first six bend runs of the year but never really sparkled being turned over as jolly twice prior to finishing fourth in the final. That event may have sharpened him up and a trial spin last week at Henlow used to keep him ticking over ses him come here nice and fresh. If last years form is anything to go by then this is his time of year. He struck a rich vein of vein as we went into September and rattled of a nine timer in the process and that ironically after finishing fourth in that years Grand Prix! He has a best of 35.54 and that's the sort of mark these dogs are going to have to run to to have any chance of winning this competition. He goes in a very competitive heat but there's plenty of early in opposition so he could get a nice toe into the race and finish best to at least qualify for Wednesdays semi's. Such is the quality of this line up those in the 20/1+ bracket are not without chances and quite a few rate interest.

RAITHBY SYRAH the recent Sussex Cup winner has some very eye catching form here. I can remember this dog very well as I am a bit of a sucker for blistering early toe and that is exactly what this fella showed in nine starts over CD. He has good times to boot, arrives in good form and at 25/1 from a heat he could definitely qualify from I think has more than a squeak of going far. In the same first round heat GO BIG HITTER is another dog I really like and one who has impressed me in recent spins here. He has won three from six over CD and done so in contrasting styles winning both from the front end and coming from off the pace. When a dog is labelled as a 'must lead' type it is so refreshing to see them do it the other way as we all know you are not always going to get things your own way in this game. A 35.53 best is a fair mark and I quite fancy him to lead the inner up in his heat from where he and the above mentioned Raithby Syrah can set about a battle royale for the lead. At 33/1 I think he merits a small play.

SEL: 0.5PTS E/W GO BIG HITTER 33/1 ANTE POST BETFRED/STAN JAMES

Of the two Westmead dogs, WESTMEAD TINA and WESTMEAD ACE I prefer Tina even though she probably still carries a squiggle next to her name after a recent disqualification. She's only had two spins over 575m but went well in both and her mix of early pace and the fact she does stay make her a dangerous opponent. That said she's in the heat of death and to qualify alone it's going to take a big effort. I like the fact they gave her two recent 400m spins to familiarise her with surroundings again tho. Not knowing what to expect from a dog is something I'll be honest I hate...especially if they're in against a dog you right fancy.

JOMI STYLE recently clocked the fastest time of the year round Sittingbourne until Lenson Bolt broke the clock there last week and that run is a stark contrast to his Irish card so i'm treating him with a degree of caution. Is that Sittinbourne run his true form or one of those flash in the pan runs that dogs often don't repeat? He's lightly raced, young, hails from a fashionable kennel and falls into the 'could be anything' bracket especially stepping up in trip. His odds vary between 14/1 and 33/1 so the books are not sure either.

SHERRIES BOY seems like an old timer nowadays but to his credit he retains his form really well. He has actually won 4 of his last 7 over CD including a run just a length of his PB. He like Lenson Joker has to overcome the age stat but he goes in a heat I expect him to qualify from and his odds of 33/1 are sure to shorten thereafter. I don't think he'll win it but he is a potential finalist as one who runs so well here. The next dog I can't resist having a few quid on is

NOELLES RAPIDO at a massive 66/1. I put this dog in our notebook a good while ago and he did us quite a few good turns. A winner of 6 of his 9 spins over CD this son of Tyrur Ted is a one of those dogs I genuinely just like. No nonsense, smash the lids and try n run the legs of his opponents is his style although I have seen him come from behind too showing a bit of guts that you need in competition dogs. He is capable of stopping the clock at 35.31 now that's another level to the general top grade opens we get to see every Friday. My concern is his recent form as he looked a shadow of himself in his last two over CD. He's had a short rest to hopefully freshen him up and he has fared extreemly well in the draw imo. A heat he should not just qualify from but could quite easily win if back to his best form and that 66/1 will soon be gone.

SEL: NOELLES RAPIDO 66/1 STAN JAMES/PRIDMORE 0.5 PTS E/W ANTE POST

My one local hope that I think can ruffle a few feathers here is the Peter Payne trained MURLENS FANTASY. A dog I feel is improving and one with a style of running and similar in profile to dogs like your Brickfield Dream, Apache Spirit and Dainty Prince of recent times. Dogs all not considered as top top class but ones that won regularly here and consistently when at their best thanks to their straight forward styles. It is a repetitive reference I know but front running tactics at Romford win the day more often than any other and this dog has that early pace that can string out a field and give him every chance of nicking races as many before him have. I think his first round heat is there to be won, i can't guarantee he'll break as well drawn five but there's not a great deal of threat to him leading and if he does get out in front I expect a dog that can stop the clock at 35.53 to stay there. I saw his run against Melodys Comet a few weeks back, I don't think that defeat is no disgrace and for me he looks a dog that wants a faster surface than it was that night. Well its been hot all week, the track has been quick all week so conditions look certain to be in his favour come the first round and at 50/1 i'm happy to have a small play riding on him.

SEL: MURLENS FANTASY 0.5PTS E/W 50/1 ANTE POST GENERAL

Good Luck ,

I will have some more thoughts on the heats when they are priced up by the layers. So check back when the prices are up for the heats.

Waking Ned