RIOJA JOEY was comfortably fastest in Tuesday’s semi-finals of the BresBet Steel City Cup at Sheffield but is unlikely to take his place in next week’s GBGB Category One final after pulling up with an injury.

Kevin Hutton’s dog had set the standard on the night with a brilliant victory, but delight following an impressive effort from the May 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Nice Mystery soon turned to disappointment as a muscle strain looks set to cost the two-year-old the chance of a major victory he looked possibly to achieve.

Hutton told the Racing Post: “You wouldn’t believe it. The race went perfect, everything went perfect but then this morning he was lame. He’s going up to the vet’s and we’ll know a lot more about it in the afternoon/evening, but as far as I’m concerned he’s a million to run.

“It’s disappointing for the owner (Paul Woodburn) more than anything, and Joey probably sums up the year for us. So near yet so far.”

Lining up in the second semi-final, Rioja Joey raced to a rapid-fire 4.16sec split to lead main rival Coolavanny Shado (Patrick Janssens) and hold the favourite’s back-straight challenge before coming home two lengths clear in a fast 28.42sec (+10). However, there was to be a sting in the tail for his supporters and connections.

Acomb Felix followed up his heat victory with another gutsy display for his owner, breeder and trainer Kevin Ferguson to take the opening semi-final, albeit only after the

March 2021 son Hiya Butt and Acomb Ruby came through a battle with Yarmouth Derby runner-up Swift Iconic (John Mullins).

The latter started just the better but Acomb Felix showed a cracking burst of early pace to turning the first bend in front, riding a bump in the process before going on. However, Swift Iconic never gave up and challenge throughout, going down by a head in 29.11sec (+10).

Marlfield Diaz struck for Tom Heilbron in the third semi-final as the lightly raced May 2021 son of Broadstrand Bono and Marlfield Alice led on the run to the first bend and always held sway, coming home a length clear of One Day Tom (Jason Gray) – the pair qualifying for Tuesday’s 500m decider, won last year by John Mullins’ Signet Goofy.

Sheffield’s director of racing Andrew Mascarenhas once again oversees the final of the Owlerton venue’s biggest race of the year, albeit has the added pressure of taking part in a human race on the night which will raise money for Sheffield’s retired greyhounds.

The @Sheffield Retired Human Handicap will be over 500m and sees commentator Rob Crawford (receives 280m), broadcaster Dani Jackson (rec 220m), fund-raiser and RPGTV pundit Billy Brennan (rec 180m), trainer’s son Connor Davy (rec 80m), Sheffield’s venue director Matt Hamilton (rec 20m) and Mascarenhas himself (scratch) do battle.

Anyone wishing to donate can do via https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-sheffield-retired-greyhounds-rcn-1204143