The big guns head back to Owlerton Stadium on Tuesday as the Pinpoint Health And Homecare ‘3 Steps To Victory’ competition reaches the semi-finals stage (all 500m Flat).
The first two from each of the three semi-finals will qualify for what is shaping up to be a compelling final on April 7.
General Manager, David Perry, said: “After a scintillating first round, we get down to the business end of the competition.
“With two qualifying from each semi-final, connections will hope to be in the hat for next week’s final live on Sky.”
He added: “Roxholme Dream cemented her position at the top of the ante-post market with a foot-perfect performance which saw her just miss out on the 480m track record of Candlelight King.
“This year event is already shaping up to provide us with a fantastic final.”
Roxholme Dream for Hayley Keightley was the eye-catcher when winning from trap 2 in Heat 3 in 27.38s to deny Viking Jack (w) by just under two lengths. This time around she gets the red jacket and will again cross swords with last year’s Ladbrokes Gold Cup winner [trap 6] for Jim Hayton in the first semi-final clash (20:14).
Elwick Glory was sent off the 11/10f last Tuesday but was well beaten by Kevin Boon’s Farneys Cookie [27.52s] and here switches to the white jacket. Splitting the pair is Romford raider Opus Sky for David Mullins [27.87s].
Cremartin Lark (m) gets trap 4 for Paul Sallis and Coolboy Blitz (m) – twice turned over by Touch Tackle in recent weeks – completes the line-up in trap 5 for home trainer Russell Warren.
Next up (20:31) is an interesting clash of three previous heat winners, namely Charlie Lister’s Coolavanny Fish [dead-heat], Farneys Cookie (m) and Jimmy Nailed On (w) for Mark Wallis.
The Towcester dog ran 27.97s when beating Cremartin Lark by just under two lengths and keeps the black and white jacket.
Prestige finalist Dinzeo for Owlerton Stadium trainer Harry Crapper switches to trap 1 for this assignment and could not be separated with Coolavanny Fish last Tuesday. Midway Nick gets trap 2 for Midway Kennels and Lowgate Onyx (m) completes the field in trap 4.
Hayton’s Lowgate Jasper (w) (27.65s) and Russanda Brax (m) (27.78s) for Elaine Parker were also heat winners and are certain to generate interest from punters in the third semi-final (20:47), but Geelo Midnight (w) for Carl Perry was beaten only a neck last Tuesday and will not go down without a scrap.
Parker’s other representative here is Droopys Knox in trap 2 and she has run quicker [29.03 A1 January 31, 2015] than her kennel-mate, while Quick Impact led until the fourth bend last Tuesday and again goes in trap 4.
The race card gets underway at 18:39 and sees the return of the brilliant but recently-defeated Walshes Hill [21:17 – trap 3] among some serious contenders for Open class honours.
Perry added: “On the supporting card [18:38 to 19:58 and 21:02 to 22:00] Walshes Hill aims to get back to winning ways after seeing his recent hot streak come to an end – but with national sprinter Geelo Vegas (m) in rivalry for the first time this promises to be a mouth-watering contest.
“Once again free admission tickets are available for next week final live in front of the Sky cameras – please contact main reception for further details.”
