ANDREW MASCARENHAS, director of racing at Sheffield, is looking forward to Sunday’s semi-finals of the Bet St George Gymcrack and believes the event remains wide open.

“I thought the competition started off really well with no major shocks with all but Ballymac Buddy of the fancied runners making the semi-finals, albeit to be fair to Ted’s (Soppitt) dog he was in the most competitive heat.

“Copney Queen was impressive, clocking the fastest time of the six heat winners, which given it was her first look here at Owlerton Stadium was even more impressive.

“We’ve had a good spread of seeds make the semi-finals, which should make for another good day’s racing on Sunday, and it looks a very open competition.”

Mascarenhas has reminded trainers that a full quota of open races will support the semis this coming Sunday and the afternoon of the £17,500 final of this major puppy competition on Sunday, April 26.

Last year’s Gymcrack winner was Elusivenomore for Jimmy Fenwick and another Newcastle runner Copney Queen set the standard in the heats on Sunday.

Lining up in heat four of the Category One event, John Flaherty’s Arc Northern Puppy Derby semi-finalist was soon clear and on her way to a five-length victory over Droopys Bucks (Patrick Janssens) in 28.51sec (+20) for the 500m trip.

Training honours on the day went to Romford’s Maxine Locke.

First her Ladbrokes Puppy Derby runner-up Droopys Script struck in 29.03sec (+10) in heat one before kennelmate Droopys Vicar raced to victory in heat two in 29.06sec (+10).

Sean Parker’s local Annadown Shadow impressed in heat three as he struck on debut, soon handy, and then powering away for a near five-length success over Arc Northern Puppy winner Woltemade (Jimmy Fenwick) in 28.62sec (+20).

The other heats were won by the Mark Wallis-trained Forgottotellya in 28.98sec (+20), improving his UK career record to two from two in heat five, and Richie Taberner’s Holding Aero in 29.23sec (+20), the latter repeating his heat win in the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby at Monmore in heat six, and heading into Sunday’s semi-finals in the process.