Sheffield Opens – Preview & Full Form

Six good class open races staged over two , four and six bends at Sheffield this evening with the first of which staged over the 660m six bend distance in a ‘Owlerton Stadium Winner Of One’ affair at 636pm.  Ted Soppitt’s SKYWALKER STAN was just picked up over course and distance last week but that was his first run over six bends since a winning effort here last September and was only his second competitive outing over any trip since late December.  Stan should be better off tonight drawn a little off the rail in trap 2 and that should see him gaining first run on his likely main market rival in the shape of Nathan Hunt’s Maglass Brave.  If leading around tonight there should be some considerable improvement on the clock and that should be enough to see him home.

Angela Harrison’s superstar bitch COOLAVANNY AUNTY was picked up on home soil over 640m last week but it might just be that at this early stage in the year she may well be better off over tonight’s testing 500m.  Aunty heads to traps for the Owlerton Stadium Standard over 500m at 651pm and should she clear her fellow North East raider Anynamewilldo by the turn she should be home for all money.  Barrie Draper’s locally trained Distant Prince is a more than capable sort around here and though he might just have to play second fiddle tonight he gives the impression he could develop into a real nice sort as the year progresses.  He’s lightly raced for a October 2020 whelp and in capable hands he could well run up a sequence in similar events over the coming months.

DUBH GASTA was purchased out of the Greyhound Trader sale here at Sheffield last August and at £1500 has proven to be a real shrewd purchase by connections.  Already a five-time open race winner over sprint trips here in the UK from just nine competitive starts he can make it win number six in the Owlerton Stadium Sprint over 280m at 709pm.  He will have Angela Harrison’s talented Coolavanny Galiv to beat once more but he had the measure of that rival over course and distance last time out and can do so once again.

Though Angela Harrison might come off second best in the first 280m event of the evening she can land the second with her MOANTEEN MIKEY fancied to benefit from a return to two bends in a race which seriously lacks any real strength in depth at 758pm.

A competitive Owlerton Stadium Standard over 500m at 812pm which will likely see Barrie Draper’s Chasing Norma going off a short priced favourite but he’s drawn right against the rail in trap 1 tonight and that is far from certain to suit.  Angela Harrison’s DROOPYS BIGGY doesn’t do much in the early stages but this confirmed wide runner can take full advantage of anticipated crowding on the middle to inside of the track to come through late and strong to land the spoils.

The final open of the evening is another ‘Winner Of One’ event over 660m and one of the most interesting races on the card.  Stakes should be kept small with any of the inside trio more than capable of landing this but Tom Heilbron’s dogs are in flying form at present and his FREEDOM ALIBI is selected to end the nights punting on a winner.