REMY TIME IN THREE STEPS

Sheffield stage the Time Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory Final tonight, a unique event in the racing calendar with a final over 660 metres – with nine supporting opens.

Before looking at the final in detail, here is a reminder of how the 500 metre semi finals were resolved

The withdrawal of Distant Emma’s kennelmate Black Racket has added a further angle to an already intriguing contest.

The bookies are in broad agreement about the favourite, the locally trained Distant Emma. At best, she is trading at 11-8, though some layers have her as short as even money. She is, of course, well known to the locals having qualified in 28.93 (+20) at just 19 months old. Considering her age, she is very lightly raced but nevertheless has a CV showing a third place in the Oaks and a fourth in the Eclipse.

Emma is just coming up to 16 weeks out of season, generally considered to be the optimal return period. Her last race before nature took its course, gives us her only line of form over this distance, a 13 length open race win in 39.30. For terms of reference, Darbys Delight’s FOY is 38.42, though it has to be said, Emma must be considered many many lengths better than that line of form.

As she showed in the semi finals, she is a natural railer with terrific trackcraft and the heart of a lion.

Her biggest danger, according to the layers, is the comparatively recent arrival at Imperial Kennels, Crossfield Cora who is a best priced 2-1. She was a beaten favourite in the Maiden Derby at Towcester but has never raced beyond 515 metres and there must be question marks over her stamina.

There is still some 4-1 about Clairekeith Remy who is arguably the best value bet in the line-up. Carl Gardiner’s black is arguably the strongest stayer of the quintet and followed the favourite through the field in the semi and only missed out on a last stride mugging by a head. He finished a place in front to the Draper bitch in the Eclipse and recently ran fourth in the Kent Plate, a head and the same between second and third Hopes Paddington and Cochise. Last year he ran up to Arkady in the Kent Derby.

Swift Regina and Skywalker Stan are trading at around the 25-1 mark. Ted Soppitt’s runner was a decent pup but hasn’t progressed to a point of looking a Cat One winner. His stamina is also suspect and he would probably need trouble for the three principles to nick this. A1 regular Regina has done well to make a Cat One final, but it is hard to make a serious case for her.

Sel: 1-3-5

Sel: 6-2-1