Patrick Janssens kennel update
Romeo Tomcat, Slick Sentinel, Romeo Empire and Breton Molly all set for Hove on Saturday evening as they feature in ultra-competitive semi-finals of the Category One Coral Sussex Cup and Premier Greyhound Racing Regency.
Patrick Janssens kennel update
Romeo Tomcat, Slick Sentinel, Romeo Empire and Breton Molly all set for Hove on Saturday evening as they feature in ultra-competitive semi-finals of the Category One Coral Sussex Cup and Premier Greyhound Racing Regency.
Speaking to Star Sports / TRC English Greyhound Derby winning trainer Patrick Janssens this morning he had this to say about his runners heading to the south coast: “Romeo Tomcat is very well-drawn in the first Sussex Cup semi-final. For me, he’s the best drawn greyhound on the card with No Better Feelin in T5 going rails. Last week, in the heats, he did a lot of running to get there and was only beaten in a photo finish. If Proper Heiress goes bingo from T2 he will be hard to beat, it’s all about qualification. Tomcat has proven he can do the times and is more than capable of taking this.''
“Slick Sentinel looks very well-drawn in the third semi-final of the Sussex Cup out in T6. He can come away quicker than he did in the heats, and he will have to in this semi-final. This is a good race. Missile One (T1) is a good Hove dog, Gary The Arb (T3) is a class act and Ballymac Axel (T5) from the Maxine Locke kennel ran well on his return to action last week.’’
Attention then moved onto the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency semi-finals with the Janssens-trained pair Breton Molly and Romeo Empire going head-to-head in the second semi-final at 7.16 over the six-bend 695-metre trip at the Nevill Road venue, Hove. Janssens said: “Molly has had a little dip in form. She’s not quite running at the top of her game, but she qualified and that’s the name of the game. It’s not ideal to have them in the same heat, but it is what it is.
"Romeo Empire has won all his races over six-bends and is in top form. This looks like a tough race. Tuono Bella (T1) is a good dog and then Molly is in T2, Vhagar is in T5 and Alright Gordy in T6 is more than capable. Romeo Empire will need to be lively at the boxes; we don’t want to turn mid-pack and have to back run them. Qualification is the target, then we go into next week's final with a live chance.’’
Speaking about Romeo Steel winning seven on the bounce around Towcester, Patrick Janssens said: “We will aim him at the Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore and then the Click Competitions East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth.
He hasn’t won at Monmore in the past but the 480-metre trip should suit him better now, and he should see it out. He was aimed at the Winter Derby around there early in the year but blew upcoming home, but I think he will get it comfortably now and could dip below 28 seconds.
He’s got the sprint clock around Nottingham (17.32) but he’s not really a sprinter; he paces up well into the corner, so this 480m distance at Monmore should be ideal.
Speaking about the upcoming Gold Cup at Monmore, Janssens added: “Droopys Trade will trial at Monmore and will be aimed at the competition.’’
The Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic kicks off at Monmore in the coming weeks and Patrick has a couple lined up for that competition and had this to say: “Fabulous Heka will head there and hopefully so will Romeo Empire after the Regency. The 630 metres at Monmore should be ideal for Romeo Empire with his middle gears.’’
Attention then turned to last Sunday and the one-two-three in the JR Racing Juvenile Classic at Towcester for the kennel. Patrick said: “They (Romeo Alliance, Romeo Ability and Not So Steady) have all come out of the race well. They will all head to the Category One Puppy Classic at Nottingham.
“Romeo Alliance looks like a proper Derby dog and is getting better and better. Not So Steady is a lovely prospect. He’s middle to wide and reminds me of Slick Sentinel. He will come on loads when he learns to drive the bends better. Romeo Ability is very pacey and an ideal competition type.''
Last but not least, Droopys Plunge was the topic of conversation and Patrick said: “The Select Stakes at Nottingham is the aim, and he will trial there. The Kent Derby is another possibility over the coming months. He will not be going to Shelbourne for the 2025 Irish Greyhound Derby. He would turn nearer last than first around there, and it's often won by a different type of dog to Plunge. It's more about early pace and who is quickest to the third bend.''
