Burr, Hunt and Young all claim Friday night doubles

Doubles galore at Romford

Don Rocco confirmed himself to be an excellent recruit for Paul Burr, seeing off another nice pup in the making in Underground Gold in the final of a Maiden Category Three. The winner had things in safe keeping off a flying 3.66 split, with the Coral Golden Sprint in March looking a more than viable early year target for the July 24 youngster on this display.

Burr had got his double started in the previous race, picking up a maiden contest with Obi Kenoby. Again, this looks a race that is going to prove to be strong form when looking back later on in the year with the runner-up Droopys Sometime a nice-looking recruit along with the winner who was fourth last week in the final of the Coral Silver Maiden.

Nathan Hunt picked up a double with Mad For Cash and Droopys Highfive. The first of those was making her six-bend debut, showing serious early gears to land an impressive success. She is a three-quarter sister to Mad For Stirling and could well become another Romford specialist like him.

Droopys Highfive was the biggest priced winner on the night at 14/1 but he produced a 3.72 sectional and was always well in control of his field. His only prior open win came in a sprint at Hove last summer in a sprint contest, also picking up graded races at Monmore over both two and four bends. 

The third trainer to pick up a double on the card was Paul Young. Underground Fizz was an impressive winner of the final contest on the night, tracking Fabulous Sonique through the race and pouncing late to take the victory. 

Young's double was kicked off by Miami Nan who produced a come from behind win herself over 575m. She has progressed up the grades over the six-bend distance, winning S5, S3 and S2 on her way to breaking her open race duck.

Nightingale Crew was a hugely impressive sprint winner for Craig Morris, stopping the clock in 13.22, just five spots off the track record. His 13.23 win in November was tied for the quickest of last year and this win is going to be a tough one to knock off the top spot in 2026. Now 3/6 for Morris, he is a serious contender for the new series of Cat One sprints this year.

There was also a hugely impressive winner over six bends with Brunch Pal for Dave Lee getting the job done in 35.09. He caught the eye when a stylish winner at Central Park last weekend, easily making the step up to a sharp six bends at very short odds. 

A fourth win in a row for Piemans Goalie kicked off the open races. We mentioned last Saturday morning in this column that he won four in a row last January, repeating that feat this time around. He reaches veteran stage this summer, so we might not get a chance to see him try for a January hat-trick of four-timers in 2027 but we can but hope.

Maxine Locke got her name on the scoresheet with Droopys Will. Twice a winner over 450m at Oxford in December, he found the front when Pavillion Team cramped at the fourth bend but take nothing away form the winner who put himself in a position to take advantage of the opportunity when it presented itself. 

Sprite impresses at Sunderland again

Parkview Sprite made it three Sunderland wins on the bounce for Tom Heilbron, stopping the clock in 27.37. He got out and away form them once more, making it 4/6 since arriving at Trimdon. A February whelp, (so he is about to turn three) he is clearly in the form of his life. 

Another who that comment applies to is Debbie Calvert's Sole Focus. He won his heat of a 450m Cat Three last week and found his way to the front off the second bend last night to make it five wins from his last six starts in the final. The quality of the field that was behind him makes this his best run since coming over from Ireland and he shapes as if there could be still more in the tank.

The third and final open on the card went to Ballyregan Cash. Paul Miller's charge was the biggest priced of the three open winners, seeing off what would've been an even bigger surprise in Dean Blackbird's Dromana Kranky who was a head behind him at 33/1.