BARRIE DRAPER proved the trainer to follow as the BresBet Gymcrack kicked off at Sheffield on Sunday.

The event, moved this year from Kinsley to the Owlerton venue, saw six heats staged over 500m and local handler Draper was on the mark in three of them as Ballymac Wylder, Headford Tadgh and Ellanne Run all won their heats.

First up in heat two was Ballymac Wylder as the June 2022 son of Ballymac Wild and Ballymac Petula dominated off the second bend on his way to a two and three-quarter lengths win over kennelmate Ballymac Lawless in 29.23sec (normal).

Next came Headford Tadgh who produced a strong-running effort to claim gold in heat three as the August 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Annaghdown Sky led down the back for an impressive near-five lengths win over Miss Syd (Ricky Holloway).

The winning time for Headford Tadgh was an identical 29.23sec (normal), while the Draper hat-trick was completed in heat four by Ellanne Run.

The July 2022 daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Bull Run Banter finished best to score by one and a quarter lengths over Not So Slow (Patrick Janssens) in 29.02sec (normal).Fastest time of the session was set by the latter’s kennelmate in heat six as the Janssens-trained Droopys Supply took the scalp of favourite Wicky Ned (Jimmy Fenwick).

The winner, an August 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Fia, took up the running off the second bend before going on to score by two and a half lengths from the staying-on Newcastle raider, who was crowded early, in 28.87sec (normal).

The competition began with victory for the Heather Dimmock-trained Droopys Extragud in heat one as the September 2022 son of King Sheeran and Droopys Meteor powered down the back-straight to catch Aikins Gift (Ilijan Zivkovic) before crossing the line three and a quarter lengths clear of Tom Heilbron’s Toddys Thunder in 29.10sec (normal).

The latter’s kennel were later on the mark in heat five with Greenwell Coe as the hot favourite led early on his way to a 28.92sec success over No Better Feelin (Chris Fereday) in 28.92sec (normal).

Sheffield’s director of racing Andrew Mascarenhas said he was delighted to be staging the Gymcrack, which has effectively replaced the Steel City Puppy Derby at the Owlerton Stadium.

He said: “Most of the main market leaders successfully navigated the heats, with the exception of Lisa Stephenson’s Sandwood Woody who suffered a gracillis tear but will hopefully return to the track after his operation and rehab.

“The biggest shock was future star Wicky Ned suffering defeat after slightly stumbling at the boxes and having to play catch-up to qualify.

“Barrie Draper had a very successful day with his runners using local track knowledge to secure four places in Sunday’s semi-finals, albeit we did have three heat winners from visiting trainers Tom Heilbron, Heather Dimmock and Patrick Janssens.

“I’d like to thank the connections of all the runners for supporting this year’s competition and we’re looking forward to Sunday’s semi-finals.”