JONATHAN HOBBS: It’s the Coral Golden Sprint heats at Romford tonight – with some of the best short four-bend performers in training going for gold in a three-run event worth £10,000 to the winner.


Romford knowledge and success is key and a host of prolific winners at the track take their chance – so expect some fast and furious action across the next three Fridays. And, as ever, the supporting card at the London Road venue is spot-on.

Two finals also feature on tonight’s card, but it’s the Coral Golden Sprint heats which will command most attention – with the Patrick Janssens-trained Goldies Hoddle the defending champion in the 400m event.

He’s once again to the fore in the ante-post market and is always difficult to beat over C&D, although a future clash with the likes of Geelo Gold Dust (Carl Perry) and kennelmate Bockos Jon Jo (Janssens) could be intriguing.

All the action is on SportyStuff TV (Channel 437) – so eyes down for another cracking Friday night card at Romford tonight.

Romford Friday

6.43: The first Golden Sprint heat and Innfield Kaci rates the value. The white jacket draw could prove a positive and a ping-start from Mark Wallis’s bitch puts these under pressure, although getting round Droopys Manor is a must. She’s an improving sort.

Play: Innfield Kaci

6.58: Heat two now and Bockos Jon Jo showed his well being with a fast Towcester trial having missed an engagement here last week. Some red-hot times last year included two 23.50sec-odd runs and that would be good enough here for Patrick Janssens’ speedster.

Play: Bockos Jon Jo

7.18: Geelo Gold Dust ran amok in a trial stakes last week and a repeat effort would do the trick. Carl Perry’s Sheffield raider made the National Sprint decider at Notts last year and, if anything, can improve on last week’s effort given a recent spell off – if trapping.

Play: Geelo Gold Dust

7.36: A trappy affair now where a chance can be given to most. Yarmouth raider Adamant Taurus caught the eye last week, but a smash break from the John Mullins-trained Malton Manor could see this youngster back on track. He’s quick in the clear as recent wins show.

Play: Malton Manor

7.56: Sprinter of the Year Shrewd Call will command support – and rightly so. A ping-start makes him tough to beat, although keeping tabs from lids-rise with Paul Young’s Bubbly Magnum is key. The latter has good all-round speed if holding his position early. Feather Breeze is a top sprinter at best.

Play: Bubbly Magnum

8.17: The final Golden Sprint heat and tough to oppose Goldies Hoddle. He remains one of the best round 400m at Romford and, if nailing the start, should always be bossing proceedings with Swift Cope drifting off next door given the Janssens runner space.

Play: Goldies Hoddle

8.54: Bubbly Bollinger might just be one of the bets of the night. Paul Young’s dog was beaten by Slippy Mick in the heats but a sharper start in tonight’s 575m decider could just put these under pressure – with improvement still likely from this lightly raced sort.

Play: Bubbly Bollinger

9.28: The appearance of Sparta Master at Romford always spices the card and the track record holder could again sparkle. However, at the odds Droopys Addition actually makes more appeal. Gemma Evans’s dog is another regular winner over C&D.

Play: Droopys Addition

Good luck all.

@Hobbsy67