Whilst the humans continue to disappoint in the pawball our attention turns this evening to Sheffield and the final of the unique tournament that is the 3 Steps to Victory. The finalists have already qualified over 480m and 500m and now make the daunting step up to a full 6 bend trip of 660m, which many of them haven’t gone over before! This includes the odds-on favourite Ballymac Eske who has always shown tremendous speed in his career (once antepost favourite for the 2013 Derby) but coming back from serious injury after over a year, will he stay? We’ll come to my thoughts on that later but first, I’ve found some value as ever for the Lolly Faithful on the rest of the card:

19:34 – Puppy Sprint

The young tykes have a go here over the optimum distance and as ever over this trip, it will all be about the break. Sidarian Seanie has yet to get it right at the boxes under race conditions for his powerful connections and with that in mind, he is worth opposing. The well-drawn youngster Blue Bees Bolt has an army of followers judging by his starting prices and if he can time his break to ping like me, he can put this race to his doggie bed. Romeo Concorde was looking to rail in the Gymcrack and with him in trap 4, he can pave the way for the son of one of my favourite bitches of all time: Blue Bee.

19:49 – British Bred

The British Bred dogs look to restore some pride in our nation here and there are not many better dogs around Owlerton Stadium than Candlelight King. His Derby campaign was disappointing (as it was for many of the Sheffield raiders) but after a lay-off and back at his home circuit, he can account for the pacey Take The Crown. Whilst Crown is an exceptionally fast colleague of mine on the bunny, his efforts when he does not lead leave a lot to be desired and there are not many dogs that lead King round here. Craster Kipper is a dangerous Newcastle dog if he can get a run but I think that King will be long gone.

20:04 – Sprint

Another of everyone’s favourite race here sees some useful sprinters line up. Young Tyrur and Wacka are hit-and-miss types who are well up to winning this but with the draw, the value is to side with United Leeds. He has a tendency to run off at the first bend which may prove useful to him as drawn as he can shuffle his rivals to the side before powering on himself. Caz Rage is respected as he is on a 3-timer here but he steps up in class again.

20:19 – Puppy

The young tykes have a go here over the standard trip and the interesting newcomer La Maqina looks on the short side for his debut. Final Hawk is progressing slowly but surely and whilst he has been no match for the very useful youngster Millwards Teddy when they have opposed recently, he can account for these. Supreme Turbo is an honest sort but likes to get on the bunny and will find that hard from such a wide berth for his railing style. It is hard to make a case for the others but as ever with these puppy races, anything could happen!

20:34 – Stayers

Droopys Hawaii made an impressive debut over 6 bends at Hove last time out and it is hard to oppose him now he is on home soil. He has decent early over this trip and he is well drawn next to the slow-starting marathon dog Black Francis. Gotoon Mandy has got her head in front more often than not of late and can exploit any chinks in the armour of the unexposed favourite; it is hard to see where those are though, in this instance. Worsboro Phantom is a perennial trier but all-too-often finds at least one too good.

20:49 – Maiden Final

In this all-railer field there could be a bit of trouble and with that in mind, Liosgarbh Tom can use his decent early pace and skip clear round the outside. Big Thrill is clearly the danger but he is not guaranteed a smooth passage as drawn and so Tom can make-all on this front runners circuit.

21:04 – Standard

Due to the strength in depth of the local runners here (2013 BAGS Track Champions) there is always a local runner who springs out of nowhere to beat the more established names when the Sky cameras descend on Sheffield. With the draw as it is, I think it could be in this race with Ballybrazil Fly looking to wing his way to the front. Any Dak just simply isn’t the force of old but he will be moving high, wide and not-so-handsome as me to give the Fly a clear run to the bend. He has shown in his A1 success recently that he can clock a useful time on the bunny and whilst Farloe Striker is faster on his day, he is eminently opposable at short odds due to his frustrating efforts at times. Couple that with the inclination of Some Turbo to rail and that should pave the way for the Fly to make-all.

21:19: – 3 Steps To Victory Final

Whilst this could turn into an absolute procession, Ballymac Eske is too short on his staying bow here being drawn in trap 4 and after a year out with serious injury. Yes, he is rapid on his day. Yes, he has destroyed the field in his 2 starts to date in this tournament. Yes, he can ping out. Yet, he has the pinger that is Whiterock on his inside and whilst he is by no means certain to stay either, it is hard to make a case for any of these being true stayers of the future. Anything like trouble in behind and Whiterock could be away-and-gone and clinging on for dear life as his legs become tired round the final 2 bends. Brazen Knight has won over the trip and so there is a case for him being a lively outsider, but he and Droopys Dave will have Eske constantly trying to get past them on the rails. Whiterock is the value for me.

Here are the recommendations

21:19 – Whiterock – 1 breast of chicken @ 7/1

So there are my thoughts on the proceedings! As ever, please tweet me if you have any comments and I promise to bark at you with as much vigour as when I saw a squirrel on my walk earlier. Sadly, I lost it and then I was barking up the wrong tree but let’s hope I’m not doing the same tonight by taking Ballymac Eske on!

Enjoy the racing,

Jimmy