It’s good to be back on more familiar turf on a Friday evening, with Romford back racing after the storm last week.
There are some very strong contests on the card, potentially giving clues for the upcoming Category 1 Golden Sprint.
Wallis to land the feature contest
The return to the red jacket was a big plus for Antigua Socks last time out, winning his heat of this competition. He sports that same coat again tonight for Mark Wallis in the 20.54 and should produce an identical end result.
He has plenty of size about him which he can use to his benefit at the opening turn to make some room for himself and push his opponents wide. Once on the bunny, there should be no coming back.
Mullins to enjoy a Slapup feast
It was a below-par effort from Ballymac Slapup on his last visit to Romford, not running the bends anything like as well as he has in the past. That reminder of the track will not be lost on him tonight at 21.28.
The John Mullins-trained hound has only had two starts back from a break so is entitled to come on for that run in any case, while a repeat of his 23.87 best from his October win here would see him hard to beat.
Rocco to add another for Mullins
Mullins can also win the race before Ballymac Slapup runs with Icaals Rocco. The 21.12 is a 400m contest full of early boot so his draw right on the very inside can play a big part in the final result.
He is a 37kg lad so has huge size about him, producing a flying exit from the traps the last time that he was at Romford and drawn in trap 1. His early gears are ideally suited to this track and he can go in again.
Power to enjoy the return to the red jacket
Hopefully the track is running on the inside tonight as Carol Weatherall’s Fight The Power is another who holds strong claims from the innermost draw, this time over 575m at 19.36.
He is 3/6 at this track in the past when drawn here, including when producing his best time of 35.11. This looks a good opportunity to get on the bunny from the off and that is when he is seen at his best.
Wallis to take the right fork in the road
The closing contest at 21.42 can see Wallis on the board again courtesy of Right Fork. She has got very limited miles on the clock so far but has already won a pair of Monmore open races over 630m.
That trip looks as far as she wants to go for now, trialling better than her time suggests over this 575m last time when stumbling. Her main danger has a draw he isn’t fond of in 1 so she can get first run on him.