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Friday Night Open Report - Romford and Sunderland

Romford and Sunderland both had open class action on their Friday night cards. We look back at the winners.

Matt Newman

26 Apr 2025

Friday Night Open Report - Romford and Sunderland

Romford treble for Paul Young

There were 13 dogs in Romford sprints during 2024 that went sub 13.50, there have been already 11 in 2025 including Bombay Jupiter last night for Paul Young. It was a third win in his last four starts for the litter brother to Irish Derby semi-finalist and Towcester hopeful Bombay Pat.

Young's other pair of winners on the evening were Boy Danny and Uncle Ed. The former has been progressive, winning his third start on the bounce. The latter was winning his third open race from his last four starts but he was marked for deliberate interference late on.

There were doubles on the card for Michelle Brown and Jane Craske. Pro Parker had his trapping boots on for the former to land one of the two Cat Three finals on the evening. It was an 11th open race win for the son of Magical Bale. Gothic Kitty was Brown's other winner, landing her second 575m success of the year.

Craske's pair came from were the two biggest priced winners on the card, combining for a 194/1 double. Classen Dynamic picked up a 14/1 win before Table Talk followed up at 12s.

Grove Patrick justified heavy market support to produce the quickest time of the night over 400m for Dave Lee. He will have more on his plate in the maiden final next week from a tricky draw in four but he has kept some smart company in his career to this point.

Paul Burr saw his Bacon Roll add another 400m win to her resume, though she had to see off the attentions of a rival who became the second on the night to be marked for deliberate interference. Nathan Hunt scored with Carmac Pete in the quickest 575m time of the night with other six-bend contests going to Mark Wallis' Mad For Stirling and You Two for John Mullins.

Sunnyside Jayden makes it 5/6 at Sunderland

Ted Soppitt's Sunnyside Jayden is quickly becoming a sprint specialist at Sunderland. He is yet to taste defeat over 261m there, adding a fifth win to his record last night. It is only Carl Jackson-trained Lion Heart who has a decision over him so far at the venue and that was over 450m.

Another successful short-priced one on the card was Coolavanny Mercy for Angela Harrison. She made the final of the PGR Classic at Sunderland last November, winning for the first time since the semis of that competition.

The surprise result on the evening was Tom Heilbron's Madabout Peck getting turned over at 4/9. He looked to have done everything right but his kennelmate Glengar Peppa just saw out the 450m a little bit better than he did to force her head in front in the final strides.

Hardwick Mighty has chased home Links Maverick and Madabout Peck in his two prior visits to Sunderland, getting off the mark at the third time of asking for Stephen Caile. He was an All England Cup finalist in December.

Debbie Calvert left with a winner, courtesy of Bombay Fantasy in the opening contest. He has won six of his 12 career starts to this point, including both visits to this track.

The other sprint contest on the card went to Nah Then Keefill for Dean Blackbird while Lightfoot Cleo won the other 450m contest for Graham Strike.