It is hard to know who would have been the most satisfied at Sheffield at Sunday; Russ Warren picking up the big race, Richard Baker with an open race double so soon after losing his position at Henlow, or Patrick Janssens whose construction of his trainers championship team took a big step forward.

The feature event was won in thrilling fashion by locally trained Swift Marvelette (Vans Escalade-Swift Louis, Apr 15). Russ Warren’s versatile fawn went to boxes with 15 wins in 45 races over the 480m, 500m and the 660m courses.

She was opposed in the betting by the impressive heat winner Huarache Madison but in a race where the lead changed hands on at least three occasions, the game 6-1 chance came from last to first to gain a neck victory from the dead-heating pair.

Richard Baker’s Vigorous Robbie (4-1) caused a stir when turning over Dorotas Woo Hoo in a 500m event and was supported by a forecast in the following 660m event as Bangor Ella went four spots quicker than the big race winner when accounting for Simple As That.

 

However, just 36 hours after securing Category One final places for three of his runners at Romford, it would have been a particularly sweet journey back to Norfolk for Patrick Janssens.

He recently pencilled in *Seaglass Sparky (pups) and Move Over Eliza (bitches) for his forthcoming GAIN Trainers Championship team at Towcester and their pair romped up in some style. Seaglass Spark (Laughil Blake-Gorgeous Gla, Apr 16) produced the fastest 480 of the year – 27.79 (-10) – when destroying the field in a puppy open. Fifteen minutes later Move Over Eliza (Sparta Maestro-Move Over Dora, Jul 15) crossed the line in 27.86.

* On February 19 Patrick stated on this website: “I have Move Over Eliza for the bitch’s race. She is coming back from season and should come on over the next few weeks. There are various puppies including Slick Sphinx who ran very well at Romford on Friday and is being targeted at the Essex Vase. Alternatively Seaglass Caesar and Seaglass Sparky who are two young dogs I expect to see coming on in the next few weeks.”