Romford rolls out the red carpet tonight for some of the fastest youngsters in training with the final of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup, live on the Premier Greyhound Racing service - plus there's a treat for match race fans.
On a superb 12-race all-open card, the £10,000-to-the-winner Puppy Cup final takes centre-stage but a match race - the GB Skip Hire Invitational Trophy - between Links Maverick and Not So Slow also spices the card, as does a chance to remember a hugely popular owner and supporter of this great sport with the Mitch Millward Marathon.
Starting with the main event and Fire And Ice (9.11) can make his rivals see red from a plum trap draw draw to claim Puppy Cup gold.
Matt Dartnall's dog was reeled in by a brilliant strong-running performance from Untold Rufiyaa last week but this looks a better draw for Fire And Ice who might slip unassailably clear, especially if Ritz To Rubble comes away to make things tough for Untold Rufiyaa. If not, Tom Heilbron's dog becomes a major player.
The meeting kicks off with a 400m contest where Cunnigar Yousir (6.37) makes appeal. Nathan Hunt's runner cuts a dash early doors and a 23.63sec C&D best catches the eye, especially after some decent efforts at Perry Barr recently.
Annadown Panther (6.53) could make the journey south from his north east base more than worthwhile for Newcastle's Savva Roberts. Trials at home have been decent and his all-round pace could edge the serious challenge of Hove's Beaming Panther, with the latter stepping up in trip for this 575m maiden.
That race is effectively a trial stakes for the upcoming Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes - and Mad For Sterling (7.11) catches the eye in an official trial stakes for the Category One competition next month. Mark Wallis's fast-finishing runner made up huge ground at Yarmouth latest after crowding and will be tough to hold.
On The Banks (7.27) looks well pitched in the Coral Romford Puppy Cup Consolation. He won his Puppy Cup heat in great style and ran well in defeat in the semis - the switch to the red jacket could aid the cause of Nathan Hunt's youngster.
Silverhill Adam (7.44) is tough to look beyond in another PGR Champion Stakes Trial Stakes. Mark Wallis's dog is unbeaten in four starts in the UK and made a real spash over C&D in 34.84sec seven days ago and gets the vote over Littlers Nuke, one of the stars of last week's EA Greyhound Derby final at Yarmouth.
Other fancies on the card are Maxine Locke's sprinter Tullymurry Dylan (8.19) who deserves a slice of luck after solid runs in defeat here and at Towcester, and David Lewis's Alright Gordy (8.36) who is fancied to repeat last week's 750m success in the Mitch Millward Marathon, staged once again in memory of the former leading owner.
As for the GB Skip Hire Invitational Trophy between Links Maverick (9.46) and Not So Slow, preference is for the former who has not enjoyed much luck lately but retains all his pace and might have too much for his only rival.
Well done, incidentally, to all concerned for putting this match race on and good luck to connections of both runners and their trainers Tom Heilbron (Links Maverick) and Patrick Janssens (Not So Slow).
*Romford will host the second Gone To The Dogs - Live! broadcast on Friday, October 18, the night of the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes Final.
The near four-hour programme, hosted by regular Gone To The Dogs podcast presenter Dani Jackson, follows a successful first venture at Yarmouth for last week's East Anglian Greyhound Derby Final night
Jackson said: "We had a fantastic time and night at Yarmouth. The atmosphere trackside really came across and we promise the same at Romford on one of their biggest race nights of the year for the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes Final.
"Friday nights there are special, as racegoers will find out again tonight for the (Coral) Puppy Cup final and the Gone To The Dogs - Live! team are all really looking forward to working closely with Karen McMillan, Romford's brilliant's stadium manager."