Back-to-form Eske to step up again at Sheffield

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By Jonathan Kay
 

BALLYMAC ESKE definitely has a stiffer task than on his ­stunning comeback a week ago but Barrie Draper’s superstar can still come through with flying colours in the second semi-final of the Coors Light Three Steps To Victory over 500m at Sheffield tonight (7.58, live on SIS).

 

His runway eight lengths heat success in the 480m first round of this tri-distance event was a real joy and he looked every bit the dog that wowed racegoers in the early part of his career before a number of niggling setbacks robbed him of nearly a year of racing.

 

There is always the danger that a second run back will prove tough with a greyhound having put so much into a return outing but Ballymac Eske was reported to have taken last week’s run brilliantly. A bigger concern is a draw between fellow heat winners Gotoon Mandy and Whiterock.

 

That in-form duo were also all-the-way winners like Ballymac Eske so he does not have much margin for error at the start, but it will still be ­disappointing if he does not prove up to this and, should he get in the clear early, we could be set for another sensational performance.

 

This is a hot race all-round with a fourth heat winner also in the line-up in the shape of Caseys Wonder, while neither Biddys Fire or Castlelyons Cofi are makeweights, but Ballymac Eske can make class tell to book his place in next week’s 660m final in some style.

 

Popular Ronnoco may be capable of getting first run on Droopys Dave and the rest in the opening semi-final at 7.42 and Darryl Fradgley’s dog gets the vote as a result.

 

An open winner from the ­useful Teena Marina over the course and distance on April 22 bodes well as does last week’s 480m heat success with both sectional and overall time ­suggesting he might just have the edge on Droopys Dave ­especially with the benefit of being drawn inside that rival. Wont Fall Behind can claim the third qualifying position.

 

Both of the victories of Black Francis to date have come over longer distances than the 660m he tackles in the first open on the card at 7.11 but Mark Wallis’s dog can come out on top all the same.

 

There are question marks about a couple of his chief rivals and a 28.53sec (+20) trial over 480m at Wimbledon last month confirms he is not devoid of pace to he can stay close enough to the action before making stamina tell on the final circuit.

 

United Leeds is always there or thereabouts over the course and distance and Barrie Draper’s dog should come out on top in the 7.26 over 280m. He was pipped by a bang-in-form Young Tyrur last week but that dog franked the form with another win at Romford on Friday and a similar level of performance should be more than good enough.

 

Three heats of the Total Recycling Services Maiden over 480m can go to Simon Cull’s Farran Taylor (8.43), Barrie Draper’s Liosgarbh Tom (8.58) and Elaine Parker’s Big Thrill (9.14), while other fancies on the card are Jamie Hurst’s Knockbawn Raven (8.13) plus David Pruhs’ Late Starter (8.28) and, non-SIS, Jim Hayton’s Lowgate Towpaz (9.31) and Charlie Lister’s Hather George (9.46).

 

Open Check nap

Black Francis 7.11 Sheffield