ANNADOWN SHADOW heads into Sunday’s semi-finals of the  BetGoodwin Steel City Cup as the fastest heat winner after a superb afternoon’s action at Owlerton Stadium for the heats.

Andrew Mascarenhas, director of racing at the South Yorkshire venue, summed up the general positive feeling after a top-class entry for the £12,500-to-the-winner Category One produced some great performances for the famous event’s new sponsors – including BetGoodwin boss Julian Head.

Mascarenhas said of the venue’s biggest event of the year: “The 2026 running of the Steel City Cup has a new sponsor with BetGoodwin stepping in and they’ll be thrilled, especially seeing three of Julian’s runners making the semi-finals for Diane Henry.

“I actually think this year’s competition is closer than the ante-post market suggests, although fully understand why Woltemade heads the market given his exploits this year for Jimmy Fenwick. He will improve for his third in the heats am sure with a better run.

“Of the others I thought Magical Keith took to track well and would be my pick heading into the semis for Gary Griffiths, although clearly Richie Tabener has a strong team and Moanteen Hatton, very much one of the younger stars in the field, looks to have an exciting career ahead of him.
“Also, the competition is full of Gymcrack runners, so it’s nice to see how what were talented pups already have progressed in a short space of time, including Annadown Shadow, of course.”
Sean Parker’s Nottingham Puppy Classic and Gymcrack finalist set the standard in the heats with a four-length win over BetGoodwin Tutts (Diane Henry) in 28.78sec (-20).
However, training honours of the afternoon went to Richie Taberner who struck with littermates Holding Blaze (28.86sec -20) and Holding Aero (29.31sec -20), plus Moanteen Hatton (29.01sec -20).
The other BetGoodwin Steel City Cup heats went to Diane Henry’s Grouchos Cossie (29.10sec -20) and Gary Griffiths’ Magical Keith (28.87sec -20).