RPGTV STEEL CITY CUP PREVIEW BY MARK PIERREPONT

The RPGTV Steel City Cup Final takes place at Owlerton Stadium , Sheffield this evening.  The competition was brimming with talent from the outset and it is therefore no surprise that the final itself will go down as one of the best Steel City Cup final line ups ever.

The six finalists will head into the traps at 918pm and all sets of connections will have valid hopes of seeing their greyhound on the podium a short time later with the famous trophy held aloft above their heads.  I spoke to the four trainers involved in the final and they provide some valuable insight into the chances they perceive their greyhounds to hold.

Roxholme Nidge (Trap 1) went unbeaten through this competition last year.  With just one race to his name since then , a one off on Night Of The Stars at Shelbourne.  Hayley Keightley and her team have kept Nidge specifically fresh for a tilt at defending his title here before hopefully embarking on a Derby campaign at Nottingham.  I spoke to Mark Keightley about the chances of Nidge and the kennels other representative Roxholme Jim (Trap 5).  “Both dogs are ready to go.  Nidge has a super draw and with normal luck early looks sure to lead.  He struggled in round 1 with fitness and round 2 the ground was completely against him.  He has no excuse should the ground be good on Saturday and after a lovely weeks weather there is no reason to suggest it won’t be.  However , anything dropping a clear second to him can catch him on current form as the trip , in this company at least , is bang on the limit and more.  But he’s ready !”

Moving onto Roxholme Jim , Mark said “Jim is flying and both the price of him and Droopys Expert , their prices are really an insult and massively underrate both greyhounds respective chances.  That said there’s no denying Jim must break better than he has been , from the second bend though he is as good as any of his rivals.  As with Nidge he’s ready , let’s hope that this is a cleanly run race as quite simply this is the best final at a grade 1 track for years. Fact !”

Angela Harrison’s Alnwick based team are also doubly represented with Droopys Verve (Trap 2) and Droopys Expert (Trap 3).  Assistant trainer Jimmy Wright said: “Both of our runners took their races last week very well.  They’re both fit and ready and with a run I would be hopeful.  I fancy that Roxholme Nidge will lead the race , he looks to have been tiring coming home but there have been some valid reasons for that. He’d obviously have needed the race in the first round and in last weeks semi final there is no doubting that the going on the inside wasn’t favoured.  That said would I settle for turning a clear second with either of our two ?  Of course I would.

“We will be back at Sheffield shortly for the trainers championship , in the meantime I’ll be taking the dogs to Shawfield to see how they handle the track up there ahead of the Scottish Derby.  If they handle the track well then that’s where they will head.  I was pleased to see that the Derby at Nottingham this year will be on a one race a week format.  For me it gives these class dogs every chance to recover , I certainly wouldn’t have been contemplating the Scottish Derby had the tough 3 runs in a week format still been on the cards at Nottingham.  That’s in the future though , the target now is the Steel City Cup Final , it’s a cracking final and one which we’re proud to be represented in.  I’m delighted to have made it through with Verve and Expert , they’ve done particularly well as I don’t believe the turning nature of Sheffield ideally plays to their strengths.”

Lightfoot King (Trap 4) has been in flying form , winning heat and semi final in superb fashion.  Trainer Sean Parker said: “He’s come out of his semi final in great order.  Without doubt he’s in the best ‘four bend’ form of his life.  Breaking consistently has given him the chance to ‘show off’ his all round capabilities and in doing so beating some of the best greyhounds currently in training.  We’re happy with the trap draw and the overall make up of the final.  We’re going into it full of confidence and can’t wait to see what in my opinion is one of the best four bend competition finals within the last 5 years or so”.

Daniel Brabon heads north with Trade Fudge (Trap 6) and is delighted with how he has the dog going into the final.  “The dog is very , very well” Daniel told me , “I’ve got him as well as I can have.  I’m happy with his draw , I can see Jim edging in slightly from his draw in trap 5 , so there should be no excuses.  It’s down to Fudge and how he comes away.  Make no mistake on the bunny this is a very fast dog , but he does have to lead to show anywhere near his best form.  Hopefully he’ll ping and if so we should see the real fudge as we did in last weeks semi final.  It’s one of the best finals I can remember and a privilege to not just be involved but to be going there with a greyhound of the calibre of Fudge and a live chance”.

The team at Owlerton Stadium know how to put on a big night.  They work hard to provide everybody attending their track a venue to be proud of.  After the extremely sad and untimely passing of John Gilburn late in 2018 , long time Sheffield stalwart Dave Perry was promoted to the role of Venue Director.

Dave said “Once again the RPGTV Steel City Cup has brought together the very best in four bend competition standard greyhounds.  The final itself is exceptional.  It is certainly one of the best finals that I can remember and I know from speaking to many purists within the sport that they feel the same.  There has been some amount of excitement about this week ahead of what should be a brilliant night.

The start to 2019 has been relentless , we’ve already seen the RPGTV Juvenile taking place , the Queen Mother Cup due to get underway next week , that will swiftly be followed by the Trainers Championship meeting and the Bresmed Northern Sprint.  With the BGBF Puppy competition to get underway soon also , it’s a busy but extremely rewarding time for all of us at the stadium.  Looking further ahead , we’re already looking at making plans towards the Three Steps To Victory and the BGBF Derby , i’ll hopefully have more news on those competitions soon”.

This looks like being an evenings greyhound racing to remember and Racing Post Greyhound Television have a night to be proud of.  The best place to catch all of the action will be track side , if you can’t make it , then be sure to tune into RPGTV, SKY channel 431 where your evenings entertainment will be hosted by Rachel Casey , ably supported by Jonathan Hobbs and with Errol Blyth reporting live from the track.