After the abandonment of last week’s meeting the 480m first round heats of the Gain Greyhound Nutrition Three Steps To Victory get underway tonight at Sheffield.  This staple of the greyhound racing calendar is a category one event with a difference being that each of the 3 rounds as the name suggests see a step up in distance.  The first round heats being over 480m , the semi final stage over 500m and the final over the 660m staying trip.  It adds much intrigue to the competition which carries a winners prize of £10,000.
Angela Harrison’s superstar bitch COOLAVANNY AUNTY who mixes it with the best over both 4 and 6 bends will be looking to get her competition off to the best possible start by landing heat 1 at 651pm.  Aunty would appear well drawn to do just that and though her odds are likely to be cramped enough she is difficult to oppose.
Gary Griffith’s GREAT NAME THAT is without doubt better over a tougher test of stamina than the 480m he faces in heat 2 at 709pm but this trip with the shorter run to the turn could well play to his strengths.  He often traps well before lacking a little early into the turn so from his trap 3 berth he’s fancied to come away and secure his preferred rails pitch before they turn the corner.  If he does get his nose in front this strong runner is sure to prove tough to beat.
Ted Soppitt’s SKYWALKER STAN is well proven here at Sheffield with the majority of his races having been at this venue.  He’ll need a little luck in running to the second turn but from that point on he can really open up and come through with his customary strong late run to land the spoils.
Lisa Stephenson’s CAMERA MAN has been off the card competitively since a fall at the back end of May but prior to that he was improving nicely having moved from A3 to A1 in just a matter of weeks.  He’s a real nice sort and has been well prepared and kept fresh for this competition with a number of confidence boosting trials around the track.  From a lovely draw in trap 3 he can get out quickly and onto the bunny.  Though he will no doubt improve for the start this strong runner can have plenty left in the tank on the run for home.
Jimmy Gaskin’s DUGGEE DODO is much better over a trip and will no doubt improve the further he goes in this competition but he’s nicely drawn here on the wide outside and isn’t without a touch of early.  He can put himself into prime position by halfway before swooping around the outside and kicking for home rounding the final two turns.
The sixth and final heat of the night looks there for the taking for Sean Parker’s LIGHTFOOT KRAFTH.  Well proven both in top grade and open class both here and at home track Doncaster he looks a cut above his opposition and with anything like a level break he will lead and quickly put distance between himself and his rivals.  A short but solid end to the opening round of the Three Steps here at Sheffield.