Druids Say Go consolidated his position as the ante-post favourite for the event with a fluent fastest-of-the-night success in heat five of the Coral Golden Sprint at Romford on Friday.
The Patrick Janssens-trained September 2021 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Druids Diana, sent off a prohibitive 1-4 chance to make it four wins on the spin in her heat, was quickly away and always in command before crossing the line six lengths clear of Hellofavalentine (Tony Collett) and La Gitana, a kennelmate of Druids Say Go.
The winning time for Druids Say Go was an ultra-slick 23.73 seconds (-10).
Bombout Bullet, who made the nominations for the 2023 GBGB Sprinter of the Year at Sunday’s GBGB Awards gala, stepped up in trip successfully in the opening heat as the Hove raider scored a battling success.
Belinda Green’s sprinter showed real pace to join issue with Shirleys Boy (Paul Young) at the bend, and the pair had a real head-to-head down the back-straight before Bombout Bullet challenged and passed the local hope at the third bend, going on for a two and a half lengths win over Shirleys Boy.
Crafty Shivoo (Mark Wallis) qualified in third here, while the winning time for Bombout Bullet, an April 2021 son of Ballymac Best and Carmac Luna, was 24.30 seconds (-10).
Heat two saw the Mark Wallis-trained Rapido Lady edge out her rivals in a contest where the lead changed hands a few times before the August 2021 daughter of Sparta Maestro and Perfecto Rosie scored by a head from Bombay Zero (Paul Young) and March On Mini (Nathan Hunt) in 24.64 seconds (-10).
David Mullins landed a heat double with a pair of littermates in Romeo Crusade and Romeo Cypher – first and third respectively in last year’s Coral Romford Puppy Cup.
First up was Romeo Crusade in heat three as the February 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Fabulous Skylar was soon in charge inside on his way to a two and a quarter lengths success over Front Alice (Kevin Proctor) and Seomra Paws (Katie O’Flaherty) in 23.98 seconds for the 400m trip.
Romeo Cypher then matched his litter brother’s effort in winning, albeit went even quicker. Racing to a fastest-of-the-night 3.66 seconds sectional, the recent British Bred Puppy Cup champion at Oxford stretched away for a two and a half lengths win from Supa Nova (Paul Burr) and Lila Detail (Richard Rees) in 23.95 seconds (-10).
Roadsea Gun, an October 2021 son of Ballymac Eske and Wolfofallstreets, landed the spoils for Patrick Browne in heat four in 24.50 seconds (-10) from Aero Convey (Paul Young) and Cunnigar Yousir (Nathan Hunt), albeit the thoughts of winning connections were with those of Droopys Eddie after Maxine Locke’s star suffered a career-ending injury.
Romford racing manager Mark Wallis said: “Certainly the injury to Droopys Eddie was the sad part of the night and our best wishes go to Maxine and connections. We know Eddie’s in great hands and we wish him a speedy recovery.
“That apart, it was a good night with the usual mix of shocks and surprises in the heats, although some contests went very much to script. Druids Say Go lived up to his ante-post billing with a speedy run and looks a huge player outright still, of course.
“However, there were definitely a few runners who will improve for the heats come the semi-finals this Friday, and on paper, we have another great competition for this year’s Coral Golden Sprint and we’re looking forward to the semi-finals already.”