Col is quickest in the 3 Steps while Warrior leads at Towcester

Wilton-trained Col leads the way at Sheffield

Kelly Wilton has not had the trainer's licence long after the passing of Colin late last year but she already has a Category One finalist in the shape of Fortanach Col. He was the quickest of the three semi-final winners in the Time Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory at Sheffield on Sunday afternoon. 

He was a first round casualty in the Derby when still in the care of Liam Dowling, winning for the second time in three starts for Wilton. He proved too strong from the three-quarters mark for Jimmy Fenwick's Brunssum Bubble who had taken the lead early on. 

Second quickest of the semi winners was Rose Draper's Cooladerrydancer. She got first run on Nathan Hunt's Goldcash Warrior who had led the way in the heats, but he could never find a way past the front-running bitch. She had a pair of wins in May over 661m at Doncaster, so she was always going to be tricky to pick up again.

The other semi was won by Easy Tizzy for Carl Gardiner. She had won three of her last four starts before heading up to Sheffield. A consistent trapper, that has been a huge asset for her and she got to the front and bravely fought off Pat Curtin's Timmys Hunter who headed her briefly as they turned for home, but she battled back to get to the front again.

Three trainers picked up a double on the undercard, Diane Henry, Tom Heilbron and David Fradgley. Savanaregimental has been a flag bearer for Henry for a good while now, putting in a typical power-packed display. He was still a fair way adrift of the leader halfway down the back but he powered to the front turning for home and quickly put three and a half lengths into his rivals. 

Betgoodwin Tutts had picked up the first winner for Henry, another who had fallen at the first hurdle in the Derby, this time for Pat Buckley. He was hugely impressive after finding trouble early on, hitting the front on the turn into the straight and quickly putting almost five lengths into the field. The dog formerly known as Grouchos Jack is clearly an excellent recruit.

Heilbron's double was started by Unanimous Leo who slipped around the inside at the opening bend to kick away from his rivals down the back. In keeping with the theme of the day, he was a first round Derby casualty who had joined a new kennel in the UK, another from Pat Buckley. 

Links Jester sprung a 16/1 shock for Heilbron to close out the card. He had come back to form last week at this track when just getting run down in the last few strides but this time he was a little more streetwise, picking up the running later on himself in a race where just a length and a half covered the first three home. 

One who left it even later was Fradgley's Tiermana Rocky who chinned Aero Pattika in the shadow of the post. He hadn't got his head in front since the end of March but he has been a smart sort in his time, enjoying a very smart five-week spell at the end of 2025 into 2026 when he picked up four wins at this venue.

It was Knotmor Ace who picked up the double for Fradgley, scoring in a similar style, picking up the lead on the run-in to land a sprint contest. He had broken his open race duck in early-May at Doncaster, doubling his tally at this level. 

There were plenty of come from behind winners during the afternoon, another being Zenith Pasha for Jimmy Fenwick. Things didn't go right for him in the heats of the 3 Steps a week ago, but things opened up well on the inside around the initial couple of bends before challenging around the outside late on to pick up the money.

The opening race on the card went to Richie Taberner's Droopys Maximus. He had done all of his winning at Monmore prior to this, with victories over both four and six bends. It was almost a great day for Taberner but the kennel hit the crossbar with four runners-up later on the afternoon.  

Heather Dimmock picked up the other winner on the card with Jazzy Ace. It was his fourth win in eight starts since joining Dimmock from Kevin Hutton, though this was his first success at this level after a trio of A2 victories. 

Warrior leads the way in the Juvenile Classic

There were just four heats in the opening round of the Orchestrate Juvenile Classic but there were some smart performances form the pups, including a pair of winning litter brothers. 

Annadown Warrior produced the quickest of the heat times for Maxine Locke, smashing down the lids and pulling more than eight lengths clear of his rivals. He has won five of his last six starts, his only defeat coming at the paws of his litter brother Annadown Chip on Derby final night. That form took another boost with the winners success at Sunderland on Friday night.

Another in the litter is Annadown Shadow who took a heat for Sean Parker. Sent off favourite for the final of the Gymcrack at Sheffield back in the spring, he went just two lengths slower than his litter brother. The pair are going to be big players in competitions for a good while to come. 

Second fastest of the heat winners was Bowmers Buddy for Paul Young. It was his kennelmate Gav Nificent who was sent off favourite but a sharper break from Bowmers Buddy saw him take control on the run to the opening bend. For a pup with 28.92 already on his card, that was curtains for his rivals, clocking a very smart 28.81.

Young also had the other heat winner in Underground Matt. He was a single spot different in his winning time to his win from last week, though that level will need another step up in seven days time. He had already progressed from A6 to an A3 winner at Romford in short order and as with all the pups in this competition, there should still be more to come. 

There was also a double on the afternoon for Locke who landed the second half with Droopys Pioneer. An Arc Puppy Trophy semi-finalist at Sunderland recently, he was getting himself off the mark for his career at the fourth time of asking. The longest trip he has tried to this point was helpful, having been noted doing his best work late on at Sunderland,

Patrick Janssens picked up a pair of winners at short prices. Fabulous Aria blew her rivals away from the front over 500m, her 28.59 leading all times over 500m on the afternoon. A BGBF Truframe Champion Stakes finalist on Derby night, she made the decider in the Oaks last autumn at Dunstall Park but this is arguably the top run, on the clock at least, of her career.

Fabulous Heka was also a Category One finalist for Janssens last autumn, making the St Leger final at Nottingham. She has shown only glimpses of that form to the halfway point of 2026, but she has often gone well at this track in the past and justified her 1/3 odds in style, powering clear once she had hit the front. 

Another trainer to pick up a double was Pat Doocey who topped and tailed the card. Longacres Shotta kicked things off in the opening contest. He was steadily away, only fifth early but forced his way up the inside into the first bend to grab third and set off in pursuit of the leader down the back. Eventually he ran out a four and three-quarters of a length winner, with a step up to six bends looking a viable option in time.

It was Longacres Diddy who closed out the card with a win for Doocey. Perhaps having a different track has sparked him back to life as he had been a little below his best at Monmore of late. He had gone from A8 to A2 in the first six months of his career but had slipped back a couple of levels recently. It will be interesting to see if he can carry this form back with him.

The one sprint on the card went to Scooby Matilda for Carol Weatherall. She's enjoyed an excellent month, adding to wins at Nottingham and Sheffield, holding off Yahoo Megan who is a strong yardstick for the level. From an outstanding litter than includes Cat One winners Scooby The Lady and Scooby Diamond, she is a smart performer in her own right. 

Pain Barrier has not been seen a lot so far this year but he reminded everyone what he is capable of when he times things right, turning over Romeo Ability. Kim Billingham-Hine's runner produced a very smart 3.83 split and was just far enough in front at the third bend to close the door on the Janssens-trained runner as he challenged. 

Ricky Holloway took the other open on the card with This Approach. It was a fourth win from seven starts since joining the kennel after being purchased in the pre-Derby sales at this track. He led up comfortably enough from his orange jacket, with late challenges to hold off from Venetian Will and Heres Ringo who were running him down late on, with the front pair getting close enough together.