2026 BetGoodwin Steel City Cup final

Steel City Cup finalists 

There is £12,500 up for grabs for winning the BetGoodwin Steel City Cup final at Sheffield on Sunday afternoon, with a decent field making it though to the decider, half of them representing the kennel of Richie Taberner. 

The top four-bend performer is also in the final in the shape of Woltemade. He has enjoyed an exceptional first full year on the track having only made his debut last December. It promises to be an excellent final, with plenty of early pace to try and grab that all-important first bend lead.  

1 - Grouchos Cossie - Diane Henry - Mr J Head - 6/1

A big runner for the sponsors here, making their own final. He had been a bit of a woodwork dog at the top level prior to this, making the semis of the Time 3 Steps to Victory at this track, the Time Northern Flat at Newcastle and the Arc Birmingham Cup at Dunstall Park.

He has done more than enough to make the decider here, winning both his heat and semi. He has also won both of his prior starts at Owlerton when he has sported the red jacket, though he has a bit more to do against this level of opposition. Stays the trip strongly and will be looking to punish any mistakes up front. 

2 - Adelinesfirstdog - Richie Taberner - Mr K Moores - 16/1

Was electric from the boxes in his semi-final effort, clocking a very slick 4.16 split on his way to the lead at the opening bend. He was not able to quite get far enough clear of his kennelmate Monanteen Hatton but he kept digging in once he had been headed to only go under by three-quarters of a length come the line. 

He took until the seventh time of asking to get off the mark for the kennel, scoring in a Monmore A3 on July 13, following that up five days later with an open win over Kent Derby finalist Scooby Mustang. Has plenty to find on the clock (hence his price) but is a smart performer in his own right.

3 - Moanteen Hatton - Richie Taberner - Mr R Wheeler - 7/1

Only just out of puppy status, he has improved rapidly of late to notch up a four-timer, with a win each at Monmore and Dunstall Park before his heat and semi successes here. Got his head in front from both traps five and six when in Ireland but three of his four wins since arriving in England have come from the red jacket and the other from blue.

He is one of two to make it into the final unbeaten, and with very few miles on the clock, there could be a little more to come. This is a contest with plenty of early pace surrounding him, and is without a doubt his toughest assignment yet, but that doesn't mean that he won't be able to get the job done again. 

4 - Magical Keith - Gary Griffiths - Mr S Harvey - 11/4

A very smart performer, he has taken a real liking to this venue, winning on three of his five visits and fishing runner-up in the other pair. He is blessed with plenty of early pace, but the 500m around here is as far as he wants to go which means that he is going to have to lead to win. With so much early across the field, that is going to be a tough task. 

That said, he has the ability to bustle them up, his finish times right up there with the best of them in the contest, and if he were to smash out of the boxes and sneak around in front, then it is very much game on and catch me if you can!

5 - Woltemade - Jimmy Fenwick - Mr J Fenwick & Mrs M Fenwick - 5/4

Greyhound of the Year elect, he already has four Category One victories this year from five finals. Of course, the one that he didn't win was the Gymcrack over this track and trip, and with a defeat in the opening round here, there is a suspicion. that other venues suit him just a little better.

He is a superstar though and with his blistering speed, he is still very much the one that they all have to beat here, showing everyone just what a classy performer he is with his semi-final win, which came off a 4.12 split. That win was three lengths quicker than any of his other forms at this track, but if he repeats it, he will be very hard to beat. 

6 - Holding Blaze - Richie Taberner - Mr G Shepherd & Mr R Taberner - 8/1

Got the better of Woltemade in the heats, before finishing second to him in the semis last week, beaten just a length. Has been in outstanding form for months now, holding that level well, with plenty of all around pace at his disposal. 

He ran Strike It Skye to a head on Centenary Celebration night at Dunstall Park, clocking 28.04 around there, with a best of 28.66 here in the heats. Should be able to find a clear enough path around in the opening stages and just looks massively overpriced as an each way alternative to the market leader. 

Conclusion 

There is still something nagging at the back of my mind that this really isn't Woltemade's track. That makes it even more remarkable then that he has made the final of both the Gymcrack and the Steel City Cup at this venue, and from his favourite starting slot in five, is very much the one that they all have to beat. 

I put up Holding Blaze against him in the semis as he looked too big given his defeat of the favourite in the heats. He is the main danger again with a perfect launchpad out wide which can see him throw down a huge challenge at what is still a very tempting each way price of 8/1 at the time of writing. It would be no surprise to see him a few points shorter come Sunday.

Magical Keith must lead to win and in a race where there are others who are more than capable of turning on the gas in the early stages, it might be that Grouchos Cossie is too strong for him in the latter stages once more and is the one to fill out the frame.

5-6-1