Bombay back to form to round out a Romford treble for Young
There was open class action from Romford last night where Paul Young took the training honours with a treble, as well as three opens at Sunderland.
Romford treble for Paul Young
Paul Young extended his lead at the top of the winners tree last night with a Romford treble, headlined by Coral Golden Sprint winner Bombay Buck returning to form.
He had been beaten in a sprint and then on his return to 400m but luckily for connections he had clearly been rummaging around his kennel and found his trapping boots ahead of last night, producing the best sectional of his career. Off that sort of break, there was no chance that any of his rivals would pick him back up.
Droopys Rhona is only an August 24 whelp but she looked in need of the step up to 750m and having hit the front at the fourth bend, she ran away from her rivals by almost 12 lengths. Out of Blueberry Bullet, it should be no surprise that the longer trip was a help to her.
The Young treble was over three different distances with Hollys Belle producing a 12/1 surprise over 575m. She is another who is still a puppy but was quickly stepped up in trip after just four starts over 400m. She came away in front last night, producing another very smart sectional to land the money.
There was a double on the night for Craig Morris. Nightingale Crew completed a hat-trick of 225m contests, nosing himself to the front after about four strides and from there on, it was all plain sailing at his favourite venue. He equalled his best time of the year with a 13.21, owning four of the top five runs so far in 2026.
March On Millie sported the same white jacket to success, this time over 400m. She hadn't quite got home over 450m at Doncaster on her debut, but the drop down in trip was a successful move to get her head in front. A 23.79 at this stage of her career marks her down as a smart type.
Three other races over 400m on the night saw Always Wrighty produce the pick of the rest of the times for John Mullins. She was yet another to make all the running on the night, a 3.61 split seeing her overcome a wider than ideal draw to move left to the rails.
Dave Lee picked up a winner with Lil Bo Peep. At 16/1, she was the biggest surprise on the night for punters and perhaps a fortunate winner as Siomhas Princess looked to have the race in safe keeping after leading up but something went awry halfway down the back.
There was more drama in the race won by Paul Burr's Bacon Burrger. The reigning Grader of the Year had forced her way up the inside at the opening bend to claim the lead, with trouble in behind. She was oblivious to any of that, with Funky Ryan coming out the pack to run her close.
Michelle Brown had a 575m win from Gothic Abbess who proved well suited to the return to a sharp six bends. She had been deeply impressive when winning on her debut over six at Suffolk Downs, producing the second quickest time of the year. A sub 29-second win over 500m at Sheffield in the meantime showed that to be no one off and she backed it up again.
The first open on the card was a messy affair over six bends with Roanna Sharp eventually coming out on top by a neck for Cornelius Condon. A rock-solid grader at Towcester with wins over two, four and six bends, she picked up her third open race success on a third different track.
Gala impresses again for McLaughlin
Mossend Gala made the semi-final of an unraced stake at Enniscorthy at the end of 2025 but she was not seen for five months after that before making a successful UK debut at Star Pelaw for David McLaughlin. That 25.38 win raised a few eyebrows but she backed it up at Sunderland last night with a smart 27.02.
That is the 12th fastest time of the year so far, with those in front of her including Slingshot Poppy, Derby semi-finalist Sole Focus, Northern Flat winner Naochra and six-time Cat One finalist Unanimous Leon amongst others. She is one to keep an eye on.
The other 450m contest was won by Havana Bret for Tom Heilbron. In his last race with puppy status, he got himself to the front heading into the lead at the opening bend and was always comfortably seeing off his kennelmate Toddys Panther.
A sprint race went to Romantic Tessie who pinged the lids for Shirley Linley. She has been in flying form in 2026, winning five of her seven starts now. the clock was stopped at 15.73 which is the quickest that she has produced in her career.
