HEADFORD RANGER franked the form of the Juvenile, in which he finished third to Ice On Fire and Waikiki Lad, when posting the fastest time in the heats of the RPGTV Steel City Cup at Sheffield on Saturday.

Trained by Kevin Hutton, the strong-running October 2017 whelp broke smartly and was soon a threat to favourite Look Like Power (Jimmy Fenwick). Railing into the lead off the second bend, he went clear to win by eight lengths from that rival in 28.85sec (-10).

Winning trainer Hutton said afterwards: “It was a really good run, but one which didn’t surprise us. He’s so strong, so when he hit the front off the second bend you knew he’d go on. He loves the rails and the 500m trip at this stage of the season is perfect.”

Of kennelmate Calzaghe Sonic, who finished second in his heat behind Rockforest Hugo (Barrie Draper), Hutton said: “He came to us from Ted’s kennel (Soppitt) in great shape. He’d been put up for sale and George and Mike Burton purchased him.

“They’ve bought a nice dog. He’s settled in really well and has become something of a kennel favourite already, a really nice happy dog. He trialled well for us at Swindon and then won his first race for us well enough here last week to earn his entry.”

Rockforest Hugo landed a deserved 14-1 local success in this heat as the son of former kennel champion Ballymac Eske won for the Drapers, leading at the fourth bend before crossing the line a length clear of Calzaghe Sonic in 29.17sec (-10).

Heat three also saw local success for the Kirsty Grayson-trained Nah Then Bella, for whom a fast start enabled her to tack across to the rails from the midfield slot before holding trackmate Coney Kuoni (Dean O’Brien) by a head in 29.17sec (-10).

“She desperately needs the rails so had to get a decent start to get to the fence, but we’re delighted. I really just hoped she’d qualified, let alone win. That’s great for all of us, especially her owners the SOS Club. It’s been a good weekend!”

Sunday saw kennel star Coolavanny Dylan named Sheffield’s Greyhound of the Year at the Owlerton Greyhound Owners Association (OGOA) annual awards at the track. Last year’s BresMed Northern Sprint champion is due back on the track soon.

The remaining RPGTV Steel City Cup heats were won by Alex Hopkins’ Kilara Lion (28.91sec -10), Dean O’Brien’s Coney Boom Boom (29.11sec -10) and Mark Wallis’s Antigua Romeo (28.89sec -10) who came through a good battle with Lenson Whelan (Patrick Janssens).

Trap draw and form for Saturday’s semi-finals: www.bagsracing.com/assets/14-march—sheffield-adv.pdf