FEARMORE DELBOY set the standard in the heats of the BresBet Steel City Cup at Sheffield on Tuesday as the Kinsley raider posted the fastest time of six heats of the GBGB Category One annual.

Trained by Kevin Seville, a slick start helped the September 2021 son of Skywalker Rafa and Swift Lady to a slick 4.17sec sectional on his way to a five-length victory over Droopys Doughnut (Patrick Janssens) in 28.66sec (+20), with Seaside Champ (Jason Gray) qualifying for Tuesday’s semi-finals in third.

The event kicked off with a 33-1 surprise landed by the Sean Davy-trained Yes Butt No Butt as the Aug 2021 son of Hiya Butt and Geelo Zip overcame a bump from the boxes to lead the charge into the turn and onwards.

However, Rallying Rouge (Graham Rankin) conjured up a storming run and came to challenge close home, failing by a short-head to get to the 29.12sec (+20) winner, with Frankton Sal (John Sharp) making the semis in third.

Jimmy Fenwick sent out a one-two in heat two as Coppice Rocket made all, albeit was pressed for much of the way by Birmingham Cup winner Brookside Richie, a Steel City Cup finalist last year, in what proved a great battle.

An October 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Newinn Mimi, Puppy Classic runner-up Coppice Rocket withstood a challenge on the run-in from his game kennelmate before holding on by a neck from 28.90sec (+20). Marlfield Diaz (Tom Heilbron) finished a close up third in a three-way photo-finish.

Kevin Ferguson’s home-bred Acomb Felix was another narrow winner of his heat as a fast start set up a first-bend advantage before withstanding a challenge from the three-quarter pole from Distant Hugo (Barrie Draper) by a head in 28.80sec for the 500m trip. One Day Tom (Jason Gray) finished third here.

Swift Iconic, from the kennel which sent out last year’s Steel City Cup champion Signet Goofy, struck in heat five as John Mullins’ Yarmouth Derby runner-up showed his trademark early pace to lead into the bend on his way to a length-and-a-quarter win over Wicky Hiker (Phil Barlow) and Acomb Irene (Kevin Ferguson) in 28.83sec (+20).

The sixth and final heat went to Kevin Hutton’s Rioja Joey who came through a muddled race to cross the line a length-and-a-quarter ahead of Coolavanny Shado (Patrick Janssens) in 28.94sec. Brinkleys Magic (Tom Heilbron) was third here.

Sheffield’s director of racing manager Andrew Mascarenhas said: “The BresBet Steel City Cup got under way last night, albeit was delayed due to hare motor issues.

“The evening was full of upsets, no more so than Fearmore Delboy, trained Kevin Seville and attached to Kinsley, who recorded the fastest time of the evening when winning at odds of 12-1. Delboy was originally scheduled to run here in the Steel City Puppy Derby but injury put paid to that.

“There’s a nice mix of seeds which have progressed to the semi-finals and it looks to be a fairly open event and a number of cases can be made for the non-heat winners if getting clearer runs next time.”