Friday night trebles for Locke, Mullins and Foot

Locke and Mullins take half the Romford card between them

Trebles for Maxine Locke and David Mullins dominated the Romford card. Headford Sarah got back to winning ways for the former, riding a fair bump from the traps but getting herself on the inside heading into the opening bend before opening up a wide margin down the back straight.

Jacktavern Don picked up a 400m win to supplement his one from a week back. Given he was awkward from the traps, it was impressive to see him produce a 3.78 split, swooping around his rivals on the opening two bends before grabbing the outright lead at the third turn.

Locke's opening winner on the night was Bonville Paddy who was getting off the mark at the first time of asking at this venue. The change came after taking a tumble in a top grade contest at Central Park and hopefully this will have given the pup plenty of confidence.

David Mullins's top performer of the night was just Brindle Bully. He had looked to have a nice draw to work from but that was irrelevant after he bolted to a 3.71 split to put daylight into his rivals before the opening bend. This was his last run before hitting veteran status on Tuesday but he is still going strong.

Over six bends, there was a smart success from Izzys Tenpin. It was his first run since making the final of the Coral Coronation Stakes back in July. He had three-quarters of a length to spare over Rossa Vita as they crossed the line for the first time and that same distance when they came back around. 

On July 11, Zenith Zaza was in A6 at this track on a losing run of 14, fast forward seven weeks and she has landed five of her last 10 starts, including breaking her open duck with a sub 24-second clocking. Her early pace is winning her races, producing a 3.66 sectional on her way to victory.

Quickest of the night over four bends was to the found in the opening race on the card, with Lincoln Impact scoring for Michelle Brown. Producing the best split and being widest of all were to his advantage, missing all of the carnage behind him at the opening bend as he went on to score by a little over nine lengths.

Over six bends, it was Mark Wallis who had the fastest winner. Coonough Laura has scuffled a little bit for form since she made a winning debut at Monmore back in June, but this track really looked to suit her, scampering clear early after pacing into the lead at the first bend. She was being closed on late but never looked like getting picked up.

There was a decent time to end the card as Dave Lee's Bushpark Cathal just did enough early in the day to hold off Goldcash Warrior who came close to giving Brown a top and tail double on the night. He did plenty of winning in a group, so now that he has got his head back in front, he might be worth following. 

The sprint contest on the card produced a surprise as Always Wrighty picked up the win for John Mullins. Nightingale Crew was sent off the 1/3 favourite but for the second race running, he was a short-priced disappointment since joining the Gemma Evans team. The winner got herself up the inside early on to take the win. 

Nathan Hunt got on the win sheet with Fun Time Frankie over 400m. It was only his third start for the kennel but he had plenty of winning form when he was trained in Ireland, with six wins in 13 combined starts, so he is more than capable of getting his head in front.

The other open on the card went to Distant Hiker for Dean Childs. He was another on the card who was quickly into stride and on the front end which saw him produce a smart run to see off a decent winner from last week. 

Foot take three at Sunderland 

Glenn Foot was the man to follow at Sunderland, taking three of their six opens. Foulkscourt Bono put himself into the top 10 times of the year over the sprint trip, justifying his short odds in the process. He has been an exceptional addition to the kennels, winning 11 of his 19 races for them, quickly in control of proceedings with a smart burst of speed to the bend.

There was a sub 27-second time from Droopys Orator, making it 2/2 since he joined the Foot range. He too was fast to put his stamp on the contest, showing by far the best pace on his way to the first bend and having things well under control from an early stage. He would look a likely type for the Classic in November at this track given just two runs here. 

The Foot treble was kicked off by Quivers View who produced a flying 4.89 split on her way to victory. This brought up a hat-trick of successes for her after wins over two and four bends at Star Pelaw, and slightly unfortunate not to have five in a row, with her only defeat in that time coming when third, beaten a pair of short heads.

Another to dip under 27 seconds on the card was Mark Bulmer's Hollyhill King. He was another to produce a lightning sectional on the card with a 4.87 effort that saw him burn his way into the lead at the opening bend. The 'right' dog chased him home in the shape of Brickhill Tamika who has been flying of late.

Stuart Tighe missed out there but he had kicked off the open races with a winner from Good Teddy. As was the case for the night as a whole, he was the quickest to get to the opening bend and that was enough to see him bolt clear, coming home six and a half lengths to the good.

A second sprint on the card went the way of Tom Heilbron's Shalefield Cunha. Just a November 24 pup, she has not learnt to trap yet on just her third career start, but she showed plenty of pace to sweep her way to the lead halfway around the bends. Her sole start in Ireland saw her win at Shelbourne, beating subsequent Kilkenny stakes winner Glengar Robin. She saw off Slaneyside Jayden last night and looks one to keep on the right side of.