Classy competitions kick off at Romford on Friday as New Destiny looks to retain Champion Stakes title

Classy competitions kick off at Romford on Friday as New Destiny looks to retain Champion Stakes title

The £20,000 to the winner Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes over the six bend distance of 575m kicks off at Romford on Friday night with last years winner, New Destiny, looking to regain her title. Running alongside that is the £5,000 to the winner Coral Romford Guys And Dolls which is run over the 400m distance. We take a look at the form and preview each race

The Dolls get the meeting underway where the first two qualify for next week's Semi Final. and it could go the way of LOTTIES BIG WAVE. She had to come from off the pace to score in just her second start last Friday and is open to plenty of improvement. She showed in trials that she has good early pace but, having come from off the pace last week, she showed that she is capable of doing things either way, and could prove too strong in the later stages. There is a chance that the Dave Mullins runner may get led in the early stages by kennelmate Zenith Impact, who would have solid claims of making all the running and looks the one that they all have to reel in

If Lotties Big Wave wins heat one, then that would be a huge boost to the form for BRETONS GIRL, who went close to making all the running last week when just reeled in close home. Nathan Hunt's runner showed cracking early pace on that occasion to burst clear in the early stages, clocking a 3.67 sectional and if she can produce a similar burst of early pace here, then she may just be able to hold on at the finish this time. Queen Sinead, a recent intake to the Dave Lee kennel looks to be an obvious danger having mixed it with some useful two bend sprinters of late. She is another looking to make all the running but hasn't fared well with the draw and may struggle to clear Bretons Girl if she comes away again

Paul Young looks to have a strong hand in heat three with his two runners and they look set to battle things out for the two qualifying positions, but on the draw, preference can be given to YAHOO MAREIKE. She has won her last two starts at Romford over four and six bends when making all the running on both occasions and has been running well at Towcester in recent weeks, reaching the final of the Bet365 Empress Stakes. That is by far the best level of form in this field and from an ideal draw in the red box, will look to be away and gone again. Kennelmate Underground Fizz, a recent finalist in the Coral Romford Puppy Cup, looks the main danger and showed in that competition that she can do things either way, so may not be far away if able to turn in a handy position

Over to the Guys now and a tricky looking contest to kick things off with. Dave Lee's Ontherun Eden is always feared when in the red box at Romford and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him making all the running with one of his better breaks, but, despite looking to have a tricky draw at first glance, it's hard to look past the claims of Kim Billingham-Hine's runner NEWINN SOULY. He was a hugely impressive winner when last seen on September 12th, and although his draw in three looks tricky, he actually took a more middle course in that winning run. The key is his trapping, and if breaking as he did on that occasion, then he could have too much for these at the finish. El Tornillo has been off since June but has bundles of pace and is sure to be staying on well in the later stages with a clear run in the early stages.

Nathan Hunt's KILARA BERB has an awkward draw to work from in this field out in trap three, but that said, he was an impressive winner when last seen out of the white jacket over course and distance, stopping the clock on 23.78 on that occasion. That sort of performance would see him tough to beat in this field, and if he can clear Dave Lee's Grove Patrick, who steps back up to four bends after winning his last two starts over two bends, and Paul Burr's Tally Ho Socks, then he can secure his spot in next week's Semi Finals. Michelle Brown's Pro Parker can be a little hit and miss from the traps, as 3.82 and 3.67 sectionals in his last two starts would suggest, but when he gets it right, he has shown in the past that he is capable of a decent run and could be the main danger here if timing the start right

Nathan Hunt could be on the podium again in the third and final heat with CUNNIGAR YOUSIR, who ran a cracking race in the final of the Arena Racing Company Birmingham Cup at Nottingham when finishing third behind the strong running Chelms Bear. It looked as though he may just hold on at one stage over the 480m trip, but this drop down to 400m looks set to suit him. He showed what he can do over course and distance here on June 13th, showing cracking early pace off a 3.66 sectional to record 23.85, a repeat of which could see him home again. The obvious danger looks set to come out wide from the Dave Mullins trained Brindle Bully, who finished third in the recent Click Communications East Anglian Derby Final behind Romeo Steel and returned to Romford with an impressive seven length victory last Friday, a repeat of which would put him bang in contention

Heat one of the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes over the 575m trip and all eyes immediately get drawn to Fabulous Sonique in trap two, who finally landed a big race competition when landing the Coral Coronation Cup Final over course and distance at the start of July, and Mark Wallis's runner, who has such a fantastic record round the Essex circuit, will be fancied by many, not only for this contest, but for outright success. However, Roy Peckham's TIFFIELD TARQUIN is an interesting recruit to the six bend ranks and has shown a good level of form over the four bends, so if able to repeat his useful looking trial last week, then he could cause a bit of an upset. Teddie chased home Fabulous Sonique in that Coronation Cup Final back in July and is sure to be staying on well in the later stages for Belinda Green.  She just needs some luck in running at the bends and is more than capable of featuring if able to gain some in her first start since early August

GARY THE ARB has been in good form over course and distance in recent weeks for Belinda Green,  winning his last three starts coming from off the pace, but he can also produce a fantastic burst of early pace when timing the start right, and if he can clear John Mullins's Wrighty in the early stages, then he can prove too strong for this field in the later stages and add to his recent record of seven victories from his last ten starts at the Essex track. His last defeat was at the paws of the Seamus Cahill trained Missile One, who lines up against him again here. Missile One cracked out and made all the running and a repeat of those tactics could see him reversing the form of their last two meetings, while the previously mentioned Wrighty has pieces of good form round Romford and has a good looking draw in the red box, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him getting involved at the finish

NEW DESTINY turned the final into a procession last year. Sent off as the 10/11F, Mark Wallis's runner trapped well and  having led round the first bend, built up a winning lead and was never in any danger, crossing the line five and three quarter lengths clear in 34.63, remaining unbeaten throughout the competition, as she did when landing the Coral Coronation Cup earlier in the year. This is her first race for nearly a month, but she had been in good form in the weeks and months before that when finishing runner up behind Vhagar in the final of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic Final at Monmore, and if able to turn the opening bends unscathed here, then she can book her spot in next week's semi finals.  Aero Pepinillo has been running well for Richie Taberner in recent weeks and has a good looking draw on the rails to work from so looks to be the main danger while Izzys Tenpin made the recent Produce Stakes final at Swindon, and the Dave Mullins runner is sure to appreciate being back over six bends, despite a tricky looking draw

Heat four is probably the most open heat of the six, where none of the six can either be strongly fancied or strongly dismissed. Droopys Alldeway has been in good form since stepping up to six bends, winning two of his last three starts for Paul Young, while Irene Barnard's Strathrannoch was a good winner in his first look round the track over course and distance last Friday and looks open to improvement on that run. However, despite being off since late August, this heat could go the way of TAX EVADER. Roy Peckham's runner has been running well enough prior to injury and a six bend win at Perry Barr hinted at his potential over six bends. He could improve on a recent Towcester trial, and from a good draw, is capable of making all the running

It could get a little cosy on the rails rounding the opening bends with Nathan Hunt's Untold Paanga, Seamus Cahill's Droopys Invent and Mark Wallis's Kilmore Dancer all capable of showing good early pace but ultimately all wanting the same ground, If Kilmore Dancer can emerge with an early lead, or at least in a handy position, then he could take a great deal of stopping, but for those reasons, it could to take a chance on MOVING FORCE. He has won his last two starts, the latest seeing saw him recording an impressive seven length victory in 35.47 over course and distance and looked strong in the later stages. He could take advantage of any crowding on the inside which may occur, and may prove to be a spot of value with the bookies. Kennelmate Droopys Invent can stay on in the later stages and if he can avoid any trouble in the early stages, he is more than capable of being involved at the finish having finished runner up in his last three starts, finding trouble in running in doing so

The final heat of the first round will depend on the break that KEVINS ROCKET can produce. If it's a repeat of the 13.57 sectional that he produced when running out an impressive five and a half length winner here last week, then the Seamus Cahill trained runner could be away and gone on the rails, but he can sometimes produce a poor break, and if that's the case, it could play into the paws of Newinn Cloud. He can combine early pace with stamina as he has shown in his last couple of starts at Yarmouth, and Mark Wallis's runner is sure to be staying on well in the later stages, so if within sight of the leaders, will look to pounce round the final bends. Too Wright made the final of the Click Competitions East Anglian Derby and is a runner who is capable of doing things either way. She has a tough looking draw, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see John Mullins's runner getting through to next week's semi finals