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The Essex Vase aftermath - who are the dogs to follow?

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The Racing Post's Jonathan Hobbs reviews the Romford action...

If the Greyhound of the Year award was judged on performances at Romford, then there'd only be one winner.

Eye Onthe Veto was awesome once again around the 575m trip at the Coral track in the final of the Essex Vase on Tuesday, doubling up in that competition and rubber-stamping his name on a roll of honour alongside the likes of Ballyregan Bob and Dolores Rocket.

That he could afford his poorest start of the event in the Sky decider, and still win comfortably, says a lot for John Keefe and Mark Wallis's dog. Look at how he pinged, or rather crashed, the lids in the heats and semis. Extraordinary.

Both he and third-placed Vatican Jinky will be winning again before the year is out, as will Black Taxi, who won the first of Romford's Opens on Tuesday. He took off down the far side and is clearly back to his Golden Sprint-winning form.

Blonde Buster and Eye Onthe Force caught the eye in defeat behind Conker All. The runner-up is coming back to his all-conquering Peterborough form, while the latter will be seen to great effect when he finds himself on a bigger, more galloping track.
Hurdles races can always be difficult to assess, and Stradeen Ouzo might well have 'played' with Newlawn Berts as the line approached, but Snazzy Time definitely caught the eye in behind, especially after taking a bump at the bend.

Barnfield Slippy, winner of what was effectively an Essex Vase 'consolation', is beginning to look a nice type. Trainer Sam Poots has a top-class team of dogs at his disposal, and the return of Ballymac Weeshie is keenly awaited.

Mustang Garcia, a costly failure on the night, must be given another chance, while time will tell whether Westmead Keawn should have picked up Cagey Jeff. The winner could be above average, and certainly cut a dash.

Both Ronaldos Merit and Jimmy Loves Pink are worth keeping an eye on. The winner did not stop in front and could be another Open racer with huge ability for Seamus Cahill, while the second, out of a decent marathon performer, will be stepped up for sure in time.

The Classic Shield was another feather in the cap for Horseshoe Ping as his great 2007 continued. A messy affair after Baran Hawaii led and was clipped from behind at the turn, Milldean Buster also emerged from the race with credit with a good run in defeat.

Professional is the best word to describe Westmead Aoifa's Gold Cup win. Romford Car Two will be seen as some, again, as the villain of the piece as he got up the inside of Vieris Surprise, but Westmead Aoifa was close at hand at that point and a worthy winner.

The same night, her kennelmate Dilemmas Flight qualified for the second round of the Oaks at Wimbledon and all eyes will be on her and the likes of Jazz Hurricane, Blonde Jeannie and fastest heat scorer Meenala Babe on Saturday.

Catch the action on final night live on Sky on Tuesday, December 18. A canine Christmas treat!