Janssens team in good form as he seeks success on four fronts
Patrick Janssens is racking up the miles at the moment as he looks to land competitions at Yarmouth, Doncaster, Swindon and Nottingham, while eyeing up further success at Central Park in October
Janssens team in good form as he seeks success on four fronts
Patrick Janssens is racking up the miles at the moment as he looks to land competitions at Yarmouth, Doncaster, Swindon and Nottingham, while eyeing up further success at Central Park in October
Following a sensational run in the semi-finals of The Click Competitions 79th East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth last Wednesday when setting new figures for the 462m trip, Romeo Steel (below) is as short as 2/7F to win the £15,000 prize tomorrow night.
Producing another trademark break from the traps he was soon in control of his semi-final, drawing clear of the field to win by four lengths in 27.04, breaking the previous record set by Fear Zafonic of 27.17, and Janssens couldn’t be happier with the way Romeo Steel has been running at Yarmouth.
“He’s come out of that race fine, he’s very good in himself” said Janssens
“He couldn’t have ran any better, but it’s a final and there are five other good dogs in the race as well. I know he has got some time in hand on the clock, but he only has to miss the break and then that time in hand means nothing, but he’s fit, he’s well, and hopefully he can come way well tomorrow night”
Another well fancied runner representing Janssens in a final is Romeo Ability, who is as short as 1/4F to land the £10,000 to the winner final of The BGBF 79th Two Year Old Produce Stakes at Swindon on Saturday.
Unbeaten in all three starts at the track, Romeo Ability booked his spot in the final with another faultless performance, making all the running to beat Angie Kibble’s Eagles Respect by a length in a time of 28.01, but Janssens issued a warning to those thinking that his runner is a good thing in the final
“I think he has a terrible draw if I’m honest with the runner in one (Berties Decision) on his inside” he said
“If he doesn’t do everything right, he’s definitely not a 1/4 shot because it’s not a great draw. If the race was at Towcester, you’d be all in on him but round Swindon, it’s more of an out and gone type of track”
Romeo Alliance was a surprise casualty when only managing to finish fifth behind his kennelmate in that semi-final, but Janssens wasn’t too concerned with his performances at the track
“Swindon is like Romford in my opinion. There’s nothing wrong with the track, but it can make a good dog look very average, and he just never took to it at all”
Saturday will prove to be a busy day at the Janssens kennel as Romeo Tomcat and Slick Sentinel (below) head to Doncaster for the Semi-Finals of the £8,000 to the winner Category Two Yorkshire Derby. Both runners won their heats on Saturday, with Romeo Tomcat recording the fastest of the four heats by some way, defeating Keefill Goose by five and a half lengths in 29.01 and Janssens so hoping for more of the same on Saturday
“I really like Doncaster as a track” he said
“That type of track suits my dogs along with Central Park, Towcester, Nottingham, Hove.”
“Tomcat is an absolute machine. He can still break better than he did on Saturday, but off the second bend he’s got a change of gear. It’s a strong Category Two competition and he and Slick Sentinel would have every chance.”
“Slick Sentinel is only just coming back and is a bit on the easy list really. He ran in the Select Stakes and did nothing until a trial at Doncaster so he should come forward for that run on Saturday”
Another greyhound who made a winning return to action on Saturday was Romeo Empire(below), who had been off the track since finishing third behind Clona Ice in the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Semi Final at Monmore in August. He won over the 483m trip in 29.37 by four and half lengths and will feature in the BGBF British Bred St Leger over 661m on finals day on Saturday 27th September. That race, worth £3,000 to the winner will now be a one-off race for six runners as the competition failed to attract enough runners initially.
On paper, Fabulous Heka looks to be the runner from the Janssens kennel who has the toughest task next Monday when lining up in the final of the £20,000 to the winner Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger at Nottingham. Not only does she have a tricky draw out in trap five, but she has to take on the likes of Mongys Wild and Droopys Flare, but she does have a verdict over Mongys Wild and Janssens is hopeful that history can repeat itself
“You never know, if she can smash out of the traps and cut across to the rails early and go from the front, it’s her only real chance in my opinion. At the end of the day, she’s a 44.00 dead runner, some of the others are quicker, but you never know. She won the Select Stayers race with those tactics and hopefully she can do so again”
Next on the agenda for Janssens will be the £20,000 to the winner Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby which starts on Saturday 4th October, with StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby winner Droopys Plunge (below) looking to add the Kent version to his cv.
“I’ll be looking to book some trials at Central Park in a couple of week’s time. I will be looking to take Droopys Plunge, Romeo Tomcat, Slick Sentinel and Droopys Trade. As I said earlier, it’s the type of track my dogs will like so all being well, that’s where they will go next”
